An Afternoon Picker-Upper

Ewwww....

"Open discectomy is usually performed under general anesthesia ...while the patient is lying face down or in a kneeling position. During the procedure, the surgeon will make an approximate 3-inch incision in the skin over the affected area of the spine. Muscle tissue is removed from the bone above and below the affected disc and retractors hold the muscle and skin away from the surgical site so the surgeon has a clear view of the vertebrae and disc. In some cases bone and ligaments may have to be removed for the surgeon to be able to visualize and then gain access to the bulging disc without damaging the nerve tissue, this is called a laminectomy or laminotomy depending on how much bone is removed. Once the surgeon can visualize the vertebrae, disc and other surrounding structures, he or she will remove the section of the disc that is protruding from the disc wall and any other disc fragments that may have been expelled from the disc. This is often done under magnification. No material is used to replace the disc tissue that is removed. The incision is then closed with sutures and the patient is taken to a recovery room." (www.spine.org/articles/discectomy.cfm)

Think of me at around 11:15am next Wednesday on April 18. It's 6 months before my 34th birthday. And if you are bored, definitely come by and visit! (I'll likely be there until Saturday morning.)