The rest of the disc is intact. This part of the procedure is painless. The procedure takes 30 minutes to an hour. You will normally feel little, if any, pain or discomfort. Upon completion of the procedure, a band-aid is applied over the probe site.
Most patients feel immediate relief from pain following the procedure.
Walking is permitted the same day and the patients are discharged from the hospital that afternoon. Some patients experience low back muscle spasms that may last a few days following the procedure. This pain can be relieved with muscle relaxants and analgesics, if needed. Following your discharge, a physical therapy program is recommended. Little, if any, postoperative medication is required for most patients.