Patient Success Stories

Spine Surgery | YESS Procedure | Minimally Invasive Scoliosis Surgery | Adolescent Scoliosis | Adult Scoliosis

New minimally invasive spine surgery sends patients home same day

Kathy began experiencing excruciating pain in her back that radiated into her leg at Christmas time. She also had weakness and numbness into her leg. “It was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. I wasn’t able to stand for more than a minute or two,” she remembers. “It was like hot electricity running through your body.” Soon Kathy was bedridden, but unable to sleep because of her symptoms.

Not only did her pain remain, it worsened, so Kathy made an appointment with Dr. John Stokes, a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon at Texas Spine and Scoliosis. During her visit an MRI confirmed that she had a herniated disc. Dr. Stokes discussed with Kathy her treatment options, including a new minimally-invasive surgery known as the YESS procedure.

This technique is designed to relieve symptoms caused by herniated discs. With the YESS procedure, also known as Selective Endoscopic Discectomy, a trained spine surgeon uses a tiny probe with a camera to operate through a small incision and visualize the disc. The piece of herniated disc is then removed and pressure is taken off the nerve.

The YESS procedure involves an incision about 1/4 inch in size, or the size of a pencil eraser. The tiny incision causes less disruption to muscles and ligaments. This makes recovery much faster and less painful. Dr. Stokes performed the YESS procedure on Kathy and she was able to go home later the same day. Her relief from pain was nearly immediate. ”Right after the procedure the shooting leg pain was gone and my weakness began to resolve,” she remembers. Today, Kathy is back to work as a business consultant.

Click here or select the image above to download a PDF of Kathy's experience with Dr. John Stokes.

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