Medication in the form of an anti-inflammatory such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, celebrex or vioxx may be taken. As these medications have side effects, patients should carefully read the package material or consult their doctor if taking any medications for longer than a few days. If symptoms improve then a gradual resumption of normal activity follows. Some patients may be able to go home the day of surgery. Most, however, stay for 24 to 48 hours.
Some surgeons use an endoscope to perform discectomy.
This allows for a smaller incision and less muscle dissection. The downside is that visualization and ability to remove some disc fragments may be compromised. These techniques are used much less frequently than standard discectomy. This site is for informational purposes only. Read our disclaimer for more details.