Lumbar Spine
Lumbar Microdiscectomy
A focused outpatient operation to relieve pressure on a single nerve root from a herniated lumbar disc.
What it is
A microdiscectomy is a focused operation that removes the small fragment of disc material pressing on a single lumbar nerve root. The disc itself stays in place — only the herniated piece is removed.
It is performed through a small incision in the lower back, typically with the operating microscope or a tubular retractor. Most patients are home the same day.
Why this procedure when surgery is needed
When leg pain from a herniated disc has not improved with physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, and an epidural injection — and when the imaging clearly matches the symptoms — a microdiscectomy is one of the most reliable operations in spine surgery. Pain relief is typically immediate and durable.
The procedure is conservative by design. We do not fuse, instrument, or remove the disc itself. We only remove what is causing the nerve compression.
What to expect
Surgery takes about an hour. You go home the same day.
Most patients walk that afternoon, return to desk work in 1–2 weeks, and return to driving when off narcotics — usually within a week.
Heavy lifting and bending are restricted for the first 4–6 weeks while the disc heals.
Long-term: most patients have lasting relief. Re-herniation occurs in roughly 5–10% of cases over a lifetime.
Approach
- Tubular or microscope-assisted minimally invasive technique
- Single small incision, typically 1 inch
- Outpatient, general anesthesia
- Operating microscope used for nerve visualization
Typical indications
- Single-level lumbar disc herniation with matching radicular symptoms
- Failed 6+ weeks of appropriate conservative care
- Progressive motor weakness
- Cauda equina syndrome (urgent indication)
Alternatives we considered
- Continued physical therapy and time — many herniations resolve over 6–12 weeks
- Epidural steroid injection for severe inflammatory pain
- Lumbar laminectomy if there is broader stenosis as well
- Conservative observation if symptoms are mild and stable
Videos for this procedure
- Preparing for Your Spine Surgery (Ages 50–65)(in production · 9 min)
- Lumbar Microdiscectomy(in production · 6 min)
Last reviewed: 2026-05-09· Author: Chad Tuchek, MD · Cotton O'Neil Neurosurgery and Spine Center, Stormont Vail Health
The information on this page is general patient education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. For urgent symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For non-urgent questions, call (785) 368-0767.