Treatment

Discectomy

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What is it for?

To help treat back problems

Treatment overview

Back problems are painful, distressing, and debilitating. As many as five to ten million working days are lost every year due to back pain. If back pain is affecting your quality of life, The London Clinic can help. We provide specialist treatment by world-leading spinal surgeons and a calm, comfortable environment in which to recover.

A discectomy is specialist surgery to remove damaged discs in the spine. Spinal decompression surgery relieves areas of pressure on the spinal cord and the nearby nerves while preserving your back's strength, function, and flexibility. What is a slipped disc?

There are pads of soft tissue between the bones in the spine, they absorb shocks, protect the nerves, and facilitate movement. Injury, arthritis or overuse can make these discs tear or burst.

The soft tissue can bulge out, causing back pain, stiffness, and weakness. The prolapsed or herniated disc can also press on the sciatic nerve, causing numbness and pain in the legs, hips, and buttocks known as sciatica.

Slipped discs usually resolve gradually with rest, physiotherapy, and analgesia. However, if these conservative treatments haven’t provided relief, surgery to remove the burst disc may be necessary to ease pain and restore mobility. Slipped disc surgery at The London Clinic

The London Clinic has a multi-disciplinary team of neurologists and spinal consultants that specialise in the investigation and treatment of back pain.

We have a state-of-the-art imaging suite offering a range of diagnostic tests, including the latest MRI scanners, nyelography, discography, and CT scanning.

Your orthopaedic consultant will order tests to diagnose your back problem and customise a treatment plan for your needs.

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Hip location

More about slipped discs:

Slipped discs usually resolve gradually with rest, physiotherapy, and analgesia. However, if these conservative treatments haven’t provided relief, surgery to remove the burst disc may be necessary to ease pain and restore mobility. Slipped disc surgery at The London Clinic

The London Clinic has a multi-disciplinary team of neurologists and spinal consultants that specialise in the investigation and treatment of back pain.

We have a state-of-the-art imaging suite offering a range of diagnostic tests, including the latest MRI scanners, nyelography, discography, and CT scanning.

Your orthopaedic consultant will order tests to diagnose your back problem and customise a treatment plan for your needs.

There are several operations to treat back pain and disc prolapse. Your specialist surgeon will consider the damage to your back, your lifestyle, and your preferences before recommending surgery to address the problem and resolve your symptoms.

Spinal decompression surgery can include:

  • Laminectomy
  • Laminectomy is surgery to remove a segment of bone from one of the vertebrae or spinal bones. This helps reduces any pressure or pinching of the nerves.

Spinal fusion

Spinal fusion is an operation to join two or more of the spinal bones together using a bone graft.

Discectomy

Surgery to remove the damaged part of one or more intervertebral discs.

Following surgery, the dedicated physiotherapy team will support your healthy rehabilitation using The London Clinic’s cutting-edge facilities and aquatic therapy suite.

Discectomy surgery facts

At The London Clinic, your specialist surgeon will perform a discectomy under general anaesthetic. You will be asleep and supported by an expert anaesthetist throughout the procedure and won’t feel any pain.

Admission is on the day before surgery or the morning of your procedure, depending on the operation time. Our team will give you specific preparation advice and let you know when to stop eating and drinking.

The surgeon will make a vertical cut along the spine. The length and position of the incision will depend on the number of discs affected and their location. The surgeon will separate the back muscles to access the spine. They will then remove a small section of the bone covering the spinal cord.

The consultant will carefully excise the parts of the discs that are damaged and bulging out. This helps to relieve the pain and any pressure on nerves in the area. They will then suture the muscle and skin closed and apply a dressing to protect the wound.

Microdiscectomy surgery

The highly-skilled surgeons at The London Clinic may be able to operate on your back through a ‘keyhole’ procedure. This is known as micro-endoscopic surgery and has a quicker recovery time than traditional, open operations.

Surgeons perform a microdiscectomy through small incisions. A tiny camera relays images to a computer screen; using the screen for guidance, the surgeon uses specially-designed instruments to operate on the spine.

If you are suitable for a microdiscectomy, your surgeon will talk you through the pros and cons of the procedure and take time to answer all your questions. Recovering from a discectomy

Your recovery following spinal surgery will depend on the number of discs treated and your health, strength, and fitness. Some pain and discomfort are normal after an operation. The orthopaedic team will provide pain-relief to maintain your comfort and help you get back on your feet.

You will usually be able to go home the day after surgery. Your orthopaedic surgeon, together with the expert multi-disciplinary team, will provide a personalised plan of rest, recovery, and rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation is a crucial part of your treatment. The London Clinic’s dedicated physiotherapists will support and guide you. They'll give you exercises to perform at home to strengthen your muscles, ease stiffness, and restore your mobility and function.

The team will arrange an appointment to remove your stitches at around ten days. Most people with non-physical jobs can return to work between four and six weeks after the operation. If you have any concerns, the staff at The London Clinic are always available to offer support and guidance.

Why choose The London Clinic

Excellence in one place

We operate as teams of experts with world-class resources dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of medical care. You are surrounded by the latest treatments and advice with everything you need to get back to your best health.

Personal care, every time

Exceptional patient care is a way of life for us. Our nurses, clinicians and support teams are dedicated to the care of a very small number of patients, so have more time for you. They’ll be with you every step of the way, tailoring your care around you and giving the peace-of-mind that comes with knowing you’re in the best hands.

Effortlessly simple

We work together as one to guide you through each step of your experience, with complexities unravelled and answers readily to hand. Your personal treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.

What's included in your package?

Choosing The London Clinic means your treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.

 

Your treatment package will include:

  • Enhanced pre-admission assessment
  • Your treatment with our complete care team at your fingertips
  • Personalised aftercare and follow-up

We want you to be in control of your health. That’s why we also offer optional services such as comprehensive recovery packages and extra touches for you to choose from during your stay with us.

How to pay

  • You can use private medical insurance (PMI) to access this treatment. We work with all major PMI providers in the UK and many internationally
  • You can pay for yourself (self-pay)
  • If you’re paying for yourself, we have finance options available with Chrysalis
     
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