New spinal surgery taps into Central TX

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Millions of Americans suffer from sciatica, or worse - a herniated disc.

And if you've ever had either, you know how excruciating it can be. You can't stand, function or sleep.

However, a new surgical procedure can relieve the spinal pressure. It's just been performed for the first time in Central Texas on an Austin woman, who described her pain as a 12 on a scale of one to 10.

"I was crying with it," said spinal patient Kathy Johnson. "It was very disturbing because I've never had pain like that before with anything. You hurt so bad you can't do anything about it."

The symptoms began at Christmas, and soon Johnson was bedridden and writhing in sleepless agony. A visit to the Seton Spine and Scoliosis Center and an MRI confirmed Johnson's herniated disc.

The rupture in her spine created unthinkable pain in her back and a leg so numb and weak it couldn't support her.

"It was like hot electricity running through your body," said Johnson.

Seton neurosurgeon Dr. John Stokes and his patient opted for the new procedure. A 5 millimeter tube is inserted from a side angle in the back, going around the spine rather than through it.

In that tube are a camera, called an endoscope, and the surgical instruments needed to repair the damage.

The procedure is less invasive or traumatic to bone, tissue or nerves and take just more than half an hour. The recovery time is quicker than the older standard procedure. And there's another advantage to this new technique.

"Since there's not that much trauma to the local tissue, we do it with the patients awake," said Stokes. "There is no better indicator of irritation to one of the nerves that we're trying to avoid than the patient saying, 'Ouch, that hurt my leg.'"

With patient feedback, doctors can adjust their procedure as they go.

Johnson went home the same day, and quickly the excruciating pain in her back and the debilitating weakness in her leg went away. She could walk, work and, blessedly, get a night's sleep.

"I wasn't awakened during the night with pain or having to go to the restroom, which was great because before that it was an hour or so at a time that I could sleep," said Johnson.

This new procedure requires new instruments and a new surgical skill set, but it could be the future.

"This is newer technology," said Stokes. "There's certainly a learning curve associated with it, so surgeons are going to have to become a little more comfortable with doing it this way."

Johnson is returning to work as a business consultant and said if your condition qualifies you for this new approach, go for it.

"I don't understand what the other procedure is, but I figure it takes longer to recuperate," said Johnson. "I'd go with the shortie, the quickie. And it really helped, I was so amazed afterward."