Back surgery for a herniated disc might be recommended to address debilitating pain if four to six weeks of conservative treatment does not provide sufficient relief. However, at Tidewater Orthopaedics in Hampton Roads, spine specialist Dr. Jonathan Mason almost always views surgical intervention as a last resort.
The reason Dr. Mason favors a conservative treatment approach for herniated disc patients in Hampton, Newport News, and Williamsburg, Virginia, is twofold. First, when a herniated disc is asymptomatic, which is often the case, a patient requires no treatment at all. In fact, the patient may be completely unaware of the existence of the condition. Second, in the majority of symptomatic cases, the mild to moderate discomfort that accompanies a herniated disc will either resolve on its own or respond favorably to a customized regimen of non-surgical approaches, thus eliminating the need for surgery. For instance, many patients achieve satisfactory results with:
When back surgery for a herniated disc is necessary, Dr. Mason offers advanced techniques, including minimally invasive outpatient spine surgery. Having completed his residency training at the University of Virginia and his fellowship training at Twin Cities Spine Center in Minneapolis, MN, Dr. Mason sees patients at our office locations in Hampton and Williamsburg, VA, and performs surgery at the Orthopaedic Hospital at Sentara CarePlex. In addition to herniated discs, Dr. Mason treats cervical stenosis, lumbar stenosis, degenerative scoliosis, and spondylolisthesis.
To learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Mason, call Tidewater Orthopaedics at (757) 276-3743.