Disc Problems

Disc problems usually refer to conditions affecting the soft, cushion-like discs between the bones (vertebrae) of your spine. These discs help absorb shock and allow the spine to move.

Dr. Sanjeev Srivastava specializes in the management and surgical treatment of acute and chronic spinal disc conditions using both minimally invasive and motion-preserving techniques.

Core Disc Conditions Treated

  • Herniated / Bulging Discs (Cervical, Thoracic & Lumbar): Displacement of the inner nucleus pulposus through a tear in the outer annulus fibrosus, causing direct neural compression, severe back or neck pain, and radiculopathy (sciatica).

  • Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD): Progressive dehydration, height loss, and wear-and-tear of intervertebral discs over time, leading to local inflammation, mechanical spinal instability, and chronic localized pain.

  • Spinal Stenosis (Secondary to Disc Degeneration): Narrowing of the central spinal canal or neural foramina driven by bulging discs, facet joint hypertrophy, and thickened ligaments, compressing the spinal cord or exiting nerve roots.

  • Cervical Radiculopathy & Myelopathy: Severe neural compression in the neck due to herniated discs or spondylotic osteophytes, causing arm numbness/weakness or spinal cord dysfunction.

Treatment Approaches for Disc Conditions

ConditionMinimally Invasive / Advanced TechniquePrimary Operational Objective
Lumbar Disc HerniationTubular Microdiscectomy / Endoscopic DiscectomyMuscle-sparing removal of herniated disc fragment to relieve nerve compression.
Cervical Disc HerniationCervical Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)Motion-preserving replacement of the damaged disc with a prosthetic device to avoid fusion.
Multilevel Disc DegenerationAnterior/Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF/XLIF)Restoration of disc height and spinal alignment via minimally invasive corridors.
Spinal Canal StenosisMinimally Invasive Decompression (Laminectomy)Targeted micro-resection of hypertrophied tissue and disc bone spurs to widen canal space.

Procedural Workflow (Minimally Invasive Disc Management)

Initial Clinical & Diagnostic Assessment

Comprehensive physical examination, neurological testing, and high-resolution 3T MRI mapping to identify exact disc pathology

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Conservative Care Trial

Targeted physical therapy, activity modification, anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy, or selective epidural steroid injections

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Surgical Planning & Navigation

Selection of muscle-sparing approaches (e.g., microdiscectomy or motion-preserving artificial disc replacement) guided by 3D navigation

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Targeted Decompression & Rapid Recovery

Precise micro-resection of offending disc material, followed by early mobilization and fast-track rehabilitation