Lumbar hernia surgery, usually a microdiscectomy, removes the piece of a slipped disc in the lower back that is compressing a nerve root and causing sciatica. Only the herniated fragment is taken; the rest of the disc is left.
It gives faster relief of leg pain than waiting. After one to two years, people treated with and without surgery report similar results, so for most it is a choice about speed of recovery, not a necessity. It does little for back ache itself.
What Lumbar Disc Hernia Surgery (Microdiscectomy) involves
You lie face down on a frame that lets the abdomen hang free. The level is confirmed with X-ray. Through a midline cut of 2 to 3 cm, the muscle is lifted off one side of the spine and a small retractor is placed. Using an operating microscope, the surgeon nibbles a few millimetres from the edge of the lamina and removes the yellow ligament to enter the spinal canal. The nerve root is identified and gently moved towards the midline, exposing the bulging disc. Loose fragments are removed with fine forceps and the space under the nerve is probed to make sure it runs free. The wound is closed in layers with absorbable stitches.
Who is a good candidate for Lumbar Disc Hernia Surgery (Microdiscectomy)?
Surgery is reasonable when leg pain matches an MRI hernia and is still disabling after 6 to 12 weeks, and it is urgent when nerves are failing.
- Persistent sciatica despite painkillers, physiotherapy and perhaps a nerve root injection
- Progressive weakness such as foot drop
- Cauda equina syndrome, which is an emergency
- Severe pain that cannot be controlled
It is usually not the right choice if:
- Back pain without leg pain
- A disc bulge on MRI that does not match the side or level of symptoms
- Sciatica that is steadily improving
- Instability or severe stenosis, where a different operation is needed
الخيارات التقنية
- Microdiscectomy: The reference standard, with a microscope through a small incision.
- Tubular microdiscectomy: Muscle is dilated not stripped; similar outcome with a slightly smaller wound.
- Endoscopic discectomy: Camera based keyhole option for suitable hernias.
- Discectomy with fusion: Reserved for repeated recurrences or associated instability.
ماذا يحدث خلال علاجك
It takes 45 to 75 minutes under general anaesthetic. You walk the same evening and go home after one night. Leg pain is often markedly better on waking, while the wound aches for a week or two.
الإعداد لرحلتك
Plan for 7 to 10 days in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.
- Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
- Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
- Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
- Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly
التعافي والنتائج
Walk a little more each day. Sit for short periods at first. Avoid lifting over about 5 kg and repeated bending for 6 weeks. Office work is possible after 2 to 4 weeks and heavy work after 8 to 12 weeks. Numbness may take months to fade and can be permanent if the nerve was compressed for long.
- Back to everyday activity: 2 to 4 weeks for desk work
- When results show: Leg pain often better immediately
- How long they last: Lasting for 9 in 10 people
سياسة السلامة والمخاطر والتنقيح
Complications are uncommon; recurrence is the one to know about.
- Recurrent hernia in about 5 to 10 in 100 people
- Dural tear with spinal fluid leak, usually repaired on the spot
- Wound or disc space infection
- Nerve root injury with lasting numbness or weakness, rare
- Persistent back pain
- Bleeding in the spinal canal, rare
- Operating at the wrong level, prevented by X-ray checks
Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.
Cost of Lumbar Disc Hernia Surgery (Microdiscectomy) in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for Lumbar Disc Hernia Surgery (Microdiscectomy), because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- Technique and equipment used
- Number of levels
- Revision surgery through scar tissue
- Recent MRI and any nerve tests
- Hospital nights
Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
الأسئلة المتكررة
When is it an emergency?
New difficulty passing urine, loss of bowel control, numbness around the genitals or back passage, or rapidly worsening weakness in both legs. Go to your nearest emergency department; do not plan travel.
Is this the same as a disc operation for a back hernia?
Yes. Disc operation, discectomy and lumbar hernia surgery all describe removing the herniated part of the disc.
Will I need a fusion?
Not for a first simple disc hernia. Screws and cages are for instability, deformity or multiple recurrences.
How long should I wait before choosing surgery?
Most hernias shrink on their own. Six to twelve weeks of conservative care is usual unless there is weakness or unmanageable pain.