Neurosurgery: Lumbar and Cervical Surgeries

neurosurgery - lumbar and cervical

Pain Treatment Centers of America offers a variety of minimally invasive pain treatment procedures that we have perfected to help you achieve pain relief. Our treatments are effective and are at the forefront of pain management. Our goal is to increase a patient's overall function to regain a better quality of life. Below is a list of the surgeries we offer. Please continue reading to learn more about them.

 

Lumbar Surgeries

Neurosurgery

Surgical procedures involving the nervous system are called neurosurgery. Many people think of neurosurgery as brain surgery, but it is so much more. It is a medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from injuries to, or diseases/disorders of, the brain, spinal cord, and spinal column, as well as peripheral nerves throughout the body.

 

Both adult and pediatric patients are treated in the field of neurosurgery. A neurological surgeon may provide surgical and non-surgical care depending on the nature of the injury or disease.

 

Microdiscectomy

Microdiscectomy, also known as Microlumbar Discectomy (MLD), is a procedure used to treat patients with a painful lumbar herniated disc. Microdiscectomy is one of the most common surgeries performed by spine surgeons. The herniated or protruding portion of the intervertebral disc that compresses the traversing spinal nerve root is removed during the process. Only in a few cases is a second (repeat) microdiscectomy required.

 

Hemilaminectomy

Hemilaminectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat excruciatingly painful spine problems. A Hemilaminectomy may be the solution when your vertebrae pinch or restrict your spinal cord or nerve roots. Hemilaminectomy is a surgical procedure frequently used in conjunction with other techniques, such as hemilaminectomy discectomy, to treat a spinal condition.

 

Your spine is both the foundation of your central nervous system and the main structural component of your skeletal system. When pain in any part of your spine flares up, it can rapidly become chronic and debilitating. A Hemilaminectomy, which means "half a laminectomy," involves removing half as much bone from your spine.


Microforaminotomy

Microforaminotomy is a minimally invasive spinal decompression surgery commonly used to help alleviate spinal nerve root and spinal cord compression. A microforaminotomy is a procedure in which your spine surgeon expands the size of a nerve root pathway—the neuroforamen—by removing bone spurs and soft tissue (e.g., a herniated disc), that is pressing on a neural structure in the spine. Compression of the spinal nerves is a common cause of back and neck pain.

 

Removal of Synovial Cyst

Synovial cysts form in the joints of your spine and, even though they are benign, they can still grow large enough to pinch spinal nerves. Pain Treatment Centers of America's physicians provide a variety of interventional treatments to manage your pain without any surgical procedure. Still, when your condition worsens, synovial cyst removal is the best choice.

 

Your treatment will begin with conservative measures such as activity modification and physical therapy when your symptoms are mild. As your pain worsens, interventional pain management techniques such as facet joint or epidural steroid injections may be recommended to relieve your discomfort.

 

When your pain becomes chronic and severe enough to interfere with your daily routines, it is time to think about cyst removal. Minimally invasive surgery removes synovial cysts, resulting in less postoperative pain and a faster recovery.

 

Sacroiliac Fusion

The sacroiliac joint fusion procedure is used to stabilize a dysfunctional pelvic joint. When conservative methods fail to provide pain relief, this procedure is used. Pain in the lower back, pelvis, or leg on the affected side can result from sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

 

Conservative measures such as physical therapy, medications, or injections are used to treat sacroiliac joint dysfunction at first. If conventional treatment does not ease the symptoms, surgery is recommended.

 

Interspinous Clamps

They function as a spacer between the spinous processes in the back to treat the symptoms of neurogenic claudication caused by lumbar stenosis. Another way, the device separates the spinous functions from the very back of the spine, stretches the ligaments inside the canal where the nerve routes pass, and relieves pressure on the nerve roots.

 

Initially used only for spinal stenosis, these clamps are now being used to provide a lower stiffness fusion at the decompressed level. As a result, in older patients who do not lead active lives, the physician may recommend an Inter-Spinous clamp/device to boost rigidity at that level after nerve decompression.

 

Lumbar or Thoracic Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is used to treat spinal compression fractures. These fractures are typically caused by pathologies such as osteoporosis or cancer. They develop because of compression on the diseased bone of the spine. As a result, the spine cannot support the weight and structural stresses that have been placed on it. The vertebra collapses, resulting in pain, hunched posture (kyphosis), and loss of height. The importance of early intervention in treatment cannot be overstated.

 

The thoracic spine is treated with kyphoplasty. T1-T12 vertebrae make up the thoracic spine. It could also affect the lumbar spine, which includes the L1-L5 vertebrae. A small incision through the back, adjacent to the degenerated vertebra, is required for lumbar and thoracic kyphoplasty. A small tube will be inserted through the pedicle of the diseased vertebral tissue by your surgeon. Fluoroscopic imaging will be used to monitor optimal placement.

 

After inserting the tube, your surgeon will insert a tiny balloon into the vertebra and slowly inflate it until the vertebra is restored to its proper height. Two balloons may be inserted within the vertebra to ensure symmetry. The small balloon is removed after inflation, leaving a cavity.

 

The surgeon will then fill the cavity with polymethylmethacrylate, a cement-like substance (PMMA). The patient will be monitored closely after the injection. This procedure could necessitate a 24-hour hospital stay.

 

Permanent SCS and Trials

Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS), as effective as it can be for some patients, is not for everyone. Since long-term solutions for severe back pain are required to minimize medication dependency, SCS devices are placed under the skin to provide ongoing pain relief, a kind of "set and forget" solution.

 

However, before permanent implantation, there is usually a trial period to assess the efficacy of SCS therapy. The trial gives both the doctor and the patient an idea of how successful SCS can be. Since these stimulators are programmable, the electrical pulses can be adjusted to achieve the best results. SCS trials are critical for both effective pain management programming and placement.

 

SCS trials typically last about a week. To track how the SCS device affects your pain sensations, you will keep a pain log. The trial may include keeping track of any medications you take on an as-needed basis. Adjustments may be made if adequate pain relief is not obtained during the trial week.

 

A permanent implant can be placed beneath your skin when your trial demonstrates that an SCS device can effectively relieve your back pain. After the incision heals, you can resume normal activities such as showering and swimming.


Permanent Pain Pumps and Trials

Chronic pain is treated with an intrathecal pump. The pump, which is placed beneath the skin of the abdomen, delivers a precise dose of pain medication into the spinal cord, preventing pain signals from reaching the brain. This pain management technique frequently decreases the medicine needed to ease the pain compared to an oral agent.

 

A trial is performed before implanting a pump to determine the effectiveness of the intrathecal pump. A permanent pump is installed if the trail pump reduces a patient's pain by 50% or more.

 

Intrathecal pumps are suitable for patients who have not responded well to more conservative pain management treatments. An intrathecal pump is reversible and can be removed at any time.

 

List of Cervical Surgeries

Cervical Disc Replacement

A diseased cervical disc is removed and replaced with an artificial disc during cervical disc replacement surgery. Before the availability of this procedure, the affected disc was removed, and the vertebrates were fused to prevent motion.

 

A new type of treatment that the FDA has recently approved is the use of an artificial disc to replace your natural cervical disc. Disc replacement surgery may allow more movement and less stress on your remaining vertebrae than traditional cervical disc surgery.


Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion- One Level

Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion, one level may be performed when a herniated disc pinches a nerve in the neck, and non-surgical treatment has not provided adequate relief. Numbness, weakness, and pain in the arm and neck are the most common symptoms of an Anterior Cervical Discectomy.

 

The purpose of the Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion is to remove the disc that is pinching the nerve, thereby eradicating the source of discomfort and numbness. One disc engages in a one-level anterior cervical discectomy with Fusion.

 

Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy and Microdiscectomy

The primary goal of a posterior cervical microdiscectomy is to alleviate pressure on your spinal nerve. A small incision in the back of your neck will be made, and the muscles will be gently spread apart to place the tube through which the surgery will be conducted. After that, specialized instruments will be used to trim the bone and ligament pressing on your nerve. If a herniated disc is causing the issue, it will be removed as well.

 

The advantages of posterior cervical foraminotomy and microdiscectomy include a small incision, less pain, less blood loss, and a faster recovery time.

 

 

 

With experts from multiple medical specialties, CLIA-certified labs, cutting-edge surgery centers, and more, Pain Treatment Centers of America has the most combined pain management experience of any practice in the region. Call us at (844) 215-0731 or visit our website today to learn more about how we can help you find relief from your pain.

Preventing Winter Falls: Balance and Strength Training Tailored for Cold Weather Challenges

By Bob Berendsen • January 15, 2026
Winter, widely considered the season of comfort, is the time for indoor relaxation and quiet contemplation. However, winter also brings with it some very real dangers, including cold, dark, and slippery surfaces. For older adults or those dealing with chronic pain, a small slip on these surfaces can lead to serious injuries that take months to heal. The good news? You can train your body to handle these challenges. Let’s explore some simple, safe exercises you or your loved ones can do from the comfort of your home to build your winter-proof stability. Why Winter Increases the Risk of Falls Cold weather brings more than just chilly air. It changes the way we move, how our muscles respond, and even how we think about walking. When it’s icy, people tend to tense up, take shorter steps, and look down more often. Muscles also get tighter in the cold, which reduces flexibility. Plus, all those bulky layers of clothes mess with your center of gravity and limit how quickly you can react if you start to lose your balance. Your boots might be waterproof and warm, but they're probably not giving you the ankle support or ground feel you'd get from your regular shoes. Then there's the simple fact that many of us move less in winter. Maybe you skip your daily walks when it's freezing, or you stop going to that exercise class because driving feels too risky. But here's the catch: the less you move, the weaker you get, and the weaker you get, the more likely you are to fall. Building a Foundation To prevent this, you simply need to work on two main things: balance and strength. Physical therapy and balance-focused exercises train your muscles, joints, and nervous system to respond faster and more effectively when something throws you off. Balance Training Balance isn’t just about standing still without wobbling. It’s about how your body reacts when something throws it off center. When you step on ice, for example, your brain and muscles have to communicate in an instant to keep you upright. If that connection is slow or weak, you’re more likely to fall. Some simple ways to train your balance include: ● Single Leg Stands : Stand near a sturdy surface like a countertop or wall for support. Lift one foot slightly off the ground and hold that position for 10–15 seconds. Then switch sides. At first, you might wobble, but that’s perfectly normal. Over time, your legs, ankles, and core muscles will get stronger, and your balance will improve. Try doing 3 rounds on each leg daily. ● Heel-to-Toe Walk: Imagine you’re walking on a tightrope. Place one foot directly in front of the other, heel touching toe, as you move slowly across the room. This simple drill strengthens your stabilizing muscles and sharpens coordination. Keep your eyes forward, not down, and use a wall for light support if needed. ● Side Leg Raises: Hold onto a sturdy chair or counter. Lift one leg out to the side while keeping your back straight and your toes facing forward. Lower it slowly and repeat. This exercise builds hip strength, which plays a big role in staying upright on slippery ground. ● Weight Shifts: Stand with your feet hip-width apart and shift your weight from one leg to the other slowly. Feel your balance change from left to right. This gentle exercise teaches your body to adjust quickly. Strength Training Balance and strength go hand in hand. When your muscles are strong, they act like shock absorbers, keeping you stable even when your footing isn’t perfect. Focus on the muscles that support your posture and help you move safely. Here are a few simple exercises to include in your daily routine: ● Chair Squats: Sit down and stand up from a sturdy chair without using your hands for support. Keep your feet flat on the floor and your knees aligned with your toes. This move strengthens your thighs, hips, and glutes—key muscles for stability and control. ● Heel Raises: Stand behind a chair or counter and slowly lift your heels so you’re standing on your toes. Lower back down after holding for a few seconds. This helps strengthen your calves and ankles, improving the small muscle reactions that keep you upright when you slip. ● March in Place: Lift your knees high as if you’re marching. Do this for one to two minutes, rest, and repeat. Marching builds leg endurance and helps train your coordination. ● Core Squeezes: While sitting or standing, tighten your stomach muscles as if you’re zipping up a snug jacket. Hold for 10 seconds, then release. A strong core helps your upper and lower body work together to keep you balanced. These movements may look simple, but they’re powerful. Doing them for just 10–15 minutes a day can make winter walks safer and less stressful. Warming Up Before You Head Outdoors Cold weather tightens muscles and slows blood flow, making your body less responsive. That’s why warming up before heading outside is so important. Think of it as insurance against sudden slips. Try a short warm-up routine before stepping out: ● Arm circles to loosen shoulders. ● Gentle knee bends to wake up leg muscles. ● Shoulder rolls and neck stretches to improve mobility. ● A quick indoor walk or stair climb to raise your heart rate slightly. It’s also wise to check your footwear. Look for rubber soles with deep treads for better traction. Avoid smooth or worn-out shoes, and consider ice grips that attach to your boots if you live in a particularly snowy area. Winter doesn't have to be a season of fear. By investing just 10-15 minutes a day in these simple, safe exercises, you can build the strength and confidence you need to navigate the season safely. You are giving your body the tools it needs to stay upright, stable, and strong. When to Ask for Professional Help If you’ve had a fall before or feel nervous about losing your balance, it’s a good idea to get help from a physical therapist or pain specialist. They can assess your movement patterns and create a personalized exercise plan to strengthen weak areas. At Pain Treatment Centers of America , we often see patients who avoid movement due to fear of falling or pain. With guided therapy, they rebuild strength and confidence. Therapists also teach safe walking techniques, posture corrections, and stretching routines that make winter mobility much easier. Even if you’re recovering from an injury or dealing with chronic conditions like arthritis, a professional can tailor exercises that improve stability without aggravating pain. Our team at Pain Treatment Centers of America can provide you with the comprehensive care you need to manage your pain. Contact us to book an appointment!
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