Q: What is a herniated disc, and how can minimally invasive lumbar discectomy help?

Dr. Christopher Taleghani, Neurosurgeon, Maui Brain and Spine: A herniated disc is a condition that occurs when a portion of one of the discs in your spine gets pushed out of place. This can cause severe pain and other symptoms, including weakness and tingling.

Spinal discs are like small, round cushions that sit between the vertebrae in your back. They support the vertebrae and help protect the spinal cord. Each disc has a soft interior with a tough outer layer. When that outer layer breaks down due to age or injury, the inner tissue can push out, putting pressure on the spinal cord and irritating the nerve. Symptoms can be felt in your back and can also travel down one or both of your legs, interfering with your mobility or regular activities.

Minimally invasive lumbar discectomy can help repair a herniated disc and relieve symptoms. During a discectomy, the surgeon will remove the damaged part of the disc, taking pressure off the spinal cord and nerves. If the entire disc needs to be removed, the surgeon will replace it with a piece of real or synthetic bone, then fuse the vertebrae on either side.

This procedure is minimally invasive, which means the surgeon will make tiny incisions, and thread a small tube into your back, maneuvering tools through this tube to perform the surgery. Advantages of this approach include less postoperative pain, faster recovery time, and lower risk of complications and infection. It also results in less scarring and better cosmetic outcomes after the procedure.

Like all surgeries, minimally invasive lumbar discectomy has some risks, including infection, bleeding, blood clots and nerve injury. Usually, your doctor will want to try nonsurgical options before considering surgery. These can include physical therapy or steroid injections to reduce symptoms.

At Maui Brain & Spine, located in the Maui Memorial Medical Center Outpatient Clinic, we have a team of highly skilled neurosurgeons that perform minimally invasive spine surgery, including discectomy, right here on Maui. To learn more about Maui’s award-winning neurosurgery program, visit mauihealth.org/neurosurgery.

Q: How often should senior citizens exercise?

Dr. Lisa Sodetani, Internal Medicine, Pacific Permanente Group: Exercise is important to nearly everyone’s everyday health, including our kupuna. Experts say seniors should be as active as possible and recommend that adults aged 65 and older should get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, such as brisk walking. For most people, this translates to 30 minutes a day, five days a week. It is not always easy to get tutu or papa to stay active, for many different reasons, including physical limitations. That’s why it is important for our kupuna to always consult with their doctor before beginning any new activities or exercise programs. If joint or arthritic pain is a concern, stationary biking and swimming are good exercises. Balance is essential as we age, and exercise can help prevent falls and injuries by working on strength and flexibility. Activities like stretching, tai chi, yoga and low-impact aerobics are good ways to improve balance. The best way to get your loved one moving is to help them find an enjoyable activity like gardening, walking with friends and family, going to the beach, paddling or biking. For more kupuna health and safety tips including fall prevention classes, visit mauihealth.org/kupuna.

* Physicians, providers and administrative staff who practice at Maui Health hospitals and clinics answer questions from the public in Healthwise Maui, which appears on Thursdays. Maui Health operates Maui Memorial Medical Center, Maui Memorial Medical Center Outpatient Clinic, Kula Hospital & Clinic and Lana’i Community Hospital and accepts all patients. To submit a question, go to the website at mauihealth.org/healthwise.