Herniated Discs

Your cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine is made up of vertebrae (bones) and in between the vertebrae are cushions called discs. The center of the disc is soft and surrounded by a tougher outer layer. When the outer layer gets damaged or weakened due to aging, injury, or strain, the soft center can push out (herniate) through a tear or weakened spot in the outer layer.

Sometimes, this happens without you ever knowing, because you may not have any symptoms.

When the herniated disc pushes or touches the spinal cord or nerves, it can cause symptoms such as:

  • Pain going down your arm or leg

  • Weakness in your hands, arms, legs, and feet

  • Numbness, tingling, burning

  • Electric shock pains down the spine

  • Imbalance, frequent falls

  • Urinary incontinence

Treatments

Non-Operative Options

  • Observation

  • Physical Therapy

  • Injections with Pain Management

  • Medication (e.g., gabapentin)

Surgical Options

  • [Minimally invasive] Decompressive Laminectomy and Foraminotomy

  • [Minimally invasive] Laminectomy and Discectomy

  • [Minimally invasive] Laminectomy and Fusion

  • [Minimally invasive] Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)

  • Thoracic Discectomy and Fusion

  • Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)

  • Cervical Disc Arthroplasty

Meet Dr. Lee

Dr. Michaela Lee is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon with expertise in complex spine and cerebrovascular surgery. She completed her residency and an enfolded complex spine fellowship at The George Washington University Medical Center, followed by advanced training in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery at Barrow Neurological Institute under Dr. Peter Nakaji.

After helping establish an academic neurosurgery department with Dr. Nakaji, she continues their partnership at Scottsdale Neurosurgery Specialists, where she is dedicated to delivering exceptional, patient-focused spinal care.

🔗 Links:
• Learn More About Dr. Lee → Click Here