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Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures Specialist

New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center

Ajay Kumar, MD

Interventional Spine and Pain Physician & Interventional Pain and Regenerative Therapies located in Hackettstown, NJ, Warwick, NY and Matamoras, PA

Conservative methods of treatment are often favored over surgery, but the state-of-the-art minimally invasive spine procedures performed by interventional spine and pain physician Ajay Kumar, MD, can be more effective in relieving your symptoms permanently. At New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Matamoras, Pennsylvania, and Warwick New York, Dr. Kumar treats degenerative disc disease, spinal tumors, and more using low-risk, minimally invasive spine procedures. Find out if surgery is necessary to treat your condition by calling the nearest office or booking an appointment online today.

Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures Q & A

What are minimally invasive spine procedures?

Minimally invasive spine procedures, or minimally invasive spine surgery, is a mode of treatment reserved for conditions and injuries of the spine. Dr. Kumar often tries conservative and noninvasive approaches to treatment first, but some cases require surgery for more effective and lasting relief.

Minimally invasive spine procedures involve small incisions with less chance of harming nearby healthy muscles and tissues. This also allows for less pain in the days following your surgery and faster recovery times. 

What can minimally invasive spine procedures treat?

Dr. Kumar provides minimally invasive spine procedures to treat several common and uncommon conditions of the spine. If minimally invasive spine surgery is an option for your treatment, it is preferable and generally safer than more invasive surgeries. He may recommend it as a solution for:

  • Herniated discs
  • Spinal infections
  • Spinal deformities (e.g., scoliosis)
  • Vertebral compression fractures
  • Lumbar spinal stenosis

If he finds that it’s necessary in your case or at least worth a try, he tells you what you can expect and how it may relieve your pain. He gives you a thorough list of instructions to follow leading up to your procedure to minimize potential complications.

What are some common methods of minimally invasive spine procedures?

Minimally invasive spine procedures involve the use of a device called a tubular retractor. During your surgery, Dr. Kumar makes a small incision near the source of your pain along your spine. The tubular retractor tunnels through tissues to reach your spine and create a pathway. Dr. Kumar directs small tools through this pathway to repair your spine.

Common surgeries that use this method are:

Discectomy

During a discectomy, Dr. Kumar removes your herniated disc or trims the part placing pressure on your nerves.

Decompression

During decompression surgery, Dr. Kumar removes a small part of your vertebrae to take the pressure off the nerves within. This is a common treatment for spinal stenosis, the narrowing of your spinal canal.

To learn more about the state-of-the-art techniques for minimally invasive spine procedures, call New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center, or book a consultation online today.