Annular Tears, chemical radiculopathy.

[mmglobal]

Originally Posted by guymontag

All the more reason to avoid a discectomy if you can.

I don't agree on avoiding discectomy. All spine surgeries should be avoided if possible. However, if you are a good candidate for a discectomy; properly done in a timely manner, it represents an excellent opportunity heal up and avoid bigger surgeries. I DO NOT believe the "90% of discectomy patients never need another spine surgery" statement that we hear from the surgeons. I do believe that for SOME of us who do not respond well to conservative treatment, it represents the best chance for long term success. (Long term success may be defined as simply avoiding bigger surgeries for some number of years... not necessarily forever.)

Mark