As people age, the discs that cushion the spaces between each vertebra begin to lose water content. What's more, small tears in the discs' outer lining also tend to develop. Pain in the lower back, buttocks, pelvis or back of the hips or thighs.
Sufferers often require rest, medication, bracing or physical therapy for relief.
For the very few who fail to respond to those options, surgery to replace the damaged disc and stabilize the surrounding vertebrae with metal rods and screws may be necessary. Traditionally, a large incision was required as the procedure involved spreading away the layers of muscle surrounding the spine. As a result, patients often experienced considerable blood loss and pain. Now, percutaneous spinal fusion, a new procedure developed by Dr. Herman at Lutheran General Hospital, helps patients experience an easier, faster recovery. It's really quite amazing.