Herniated disc · Louisville, KY

Herniated disc surgery

The waiting area at miiSpine in Louisville

Find out whether your disc needs surgery, or just time.

What a herniated disc is.

A disc is the cushion between two bones in your spine. It has a tough outer ring and a soft center. When the ring tears, some of the soft center can push out and press on the nerve next to it. In the lower back, that nerve runs down your leg, which is why a disc problem in your back is often felt as pain, tingling or weakness in your buttock, thigh, calf or foot. The disc itself usually isn't the thing that hurts. The nerve is. That's why treatment is aimed at taking pressure off the nerve, not at the disc as a whole.

Dr. Venu Vemuri at miiSpine in Louisville

Who microdiscectomy can help.

Leg pain that won't settle

Sciatica from a disc that matches your MRI, after therapy, medication or an injection haven't given lasting relief.

Weakness in the leg or foot

A foot that drags or a leg that gives way is a reason to move faster, because a nerve under pressure for too long recovers less well.

Pain that's worse sitting

Sitting loads the disc. Pain that spikes in the car or at a desk and eases when you stand and walk often points to a disc.

Most herniated discs get better on their own. For the ones that don't, there's microdiscectomy.

A herniated disc in your lower back can press on a nerve and send pain, numbness or weakness down your leg. That's sciatica. Most of the time it settles with time, therapy and sometimes an injection. When it doesn't, a microdiscectomy removes just the piece of disc pressing on the nerve, through a small incision, and leaves the rest of the disc alone. At miiSpine it's outpatient surgery: you go home the same day. No referral needed, and same-week appointments are available. Hablamos español: (502) 362-1780.

Call (502) 242-6370

Most

Herniated discs improve without an operation

Home

The same day, for most microdiscectomies

Small incision in the lower back

5,000+

Spine surgeries by Dr. V

Most

Herniated discs improve without an operation

Home

The same day, for most microdiscectomies

Small incision in the lower back

5,000+

Spine surgeries by Dr. V

When surgery makes sense, and when it doesn't.

Most herniated discs shrink and settle on their own. The first plan is almost always conservative: time, physical therapy, medication and sometimes an epidural injection. Surgery comes into the conversation when leg pain hasn't eased after a fair trial of that, when there's real weakness in the leg or foot, or in the rare case of trouble with bladder or bowel control, which is an emergency. Dr. Vemuri goes over your MRI with you and tells you which situation you're in. If the answer is to wait, he'll say so.

How microdiscectomy goes.

A small incision in the back

Dr. Vemuri makes a short incision over the level that's herniated and works through a narrow tube that moves the muscle aside instead of cutting it.

The fragment comes out

Under magnification, he removes the piece of disc that's pressing on the nerve. The rest of the disc stays where it is. Nothing is fused.

You walk out the same day

After a few hours in recovery you go home. Many patients notice the leg pain is different as soon as the pressure is off the nerve.

What to expect.

Before

A visit with Dr. Vemuri and your MRI reviewed with you in the room. If you don't have an MRI yet, our standing MRI is $399 self-pay and can be done the same week.

The day of surgery

Microdiscectomy at miiSpine is outpatient surgery. You arrive in the morning, have the procedure, spend a few hours in recovery, and go home. Someone will need to drive you.

After

Walking starts the same day. You get a written plan for sitting, driving, lifting and work. Recovery is different for everyone, so the plan is built around your job and your goals.

Questions about herniated disc surgery.

What is a microdiscectomy?

Surgery that removes the piece of a herniated disc pressing on a nerve, through a small incision in the back and under magnification. The rest of the disc is left in place and nothing is fused.

How do I know if I need surgery?

Usually you don't. Surgery is considered when leg pain hasn't improved after a fair trial of conservative care, or sooner if there's real weakness. Dr. Vemuri will tell you which applies after looking at your MRI with you.

Is it outpatient surgery?

Yes. At miiSpine, microdiscectomy is done as outpatient surgery. You go home the same day.

How long does recovery take?

You walk the day of surgery. Beyond that it depends on your body and your job, so we don't promise a date. Dr. Vemuri gives you a written plan for activity, driving and returning to work.

Can the disc herniate again?

It can, in a minority of cases, because the rest of the disc is still there. Dr. Vemuri will go over your own risk and what you can do to lower it.

¿Hablan español?

Sí. Llame al (502) 362-1780, las 24 horas, o visite miispine.com/accidentes.

Do I need an MRI first?

To plan surgery, yes. If you don't have one, our standing MRI is $399 self-pay, no referral needed, and it can be done the same week. Bring any imaging you already have.

Do I need a referral?

No. Call (502) 242-6370 or request an appointment online. Same-week appointments are available.

Does insurance cover microdiscectomy?

Most plans cover it when it's medically necessary. Our team checks your benefits before surgery and tells you what to expect. If you're paying cash, we'll give you the price before you book.

This content is for general information and isn't a substitute for a medical evaluation. Every spine is different. Talk to a spine specialist about your specific symptoms.

5,000+

Spine surgeries

4,000+

Office visits per year

1,000+

Outpatient procedures in five years, in surgery centers since 2014

Dr Venu
Vemuri

Dr. Venu Vemuri, D.O. (Dr. V) is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon and is board-certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery. He opened miiSpine in 2021 as an independent alternative to corporate medicine. He has performed more than 5,000 spine surgeries, has done minimally invasive spine surgery in ambulatory surgery centers since 2014, and microdiscectomy is one of the operations he does most often.

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