Many patients with pinched nerves feel frightened when they hear the word “surgery.” The thought of large incisions, long hospital stays, and painful recovery often makes them postpone treatment. However, Dr. Christian Permana, Sp.BS, a neurosurgeon at Mandaya Puri Hospital, reveals a surprising fact: modern pinched nerve surgery technology now requires an incision of less than 1 cm and offers a quick recovery time.
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Why Aren’t All Pinched Nerves Immediately Operated On?
Dr. Christian explains that pinched nerve treatment is highly individualized and depends on each patient’s condition.
“Not every case requires immediate surgery,” emphasizes the doctor who studied in Turkey and Korea.
Treatment decisions are based on:
- Severity of symptoms – Whether they are mild or severe
- Duration of complaints – How long the patient has been experiencing symptoms
- Response to conservative treatment – Whether symptoms improve with non-surgical therapy
- Impact on quality of life – How much daily activities are affected
Types of Pinched Nerve Treatments
1. Non-surgical (Conservative) Therapy
This is the first-line treatment, consisting of several stages:
Medication (Pharmacological Treatment)
Initial treatment usually includes:
- Pain relievers: To reduce pain
- Muscle relaxants: To relieve muscle spasms
- Anti-inflammatories: To reduce nerve inflammation
Physiotherapy
If medication shows improvement, the next step is physiotherapy. The benefits include:
- Strengthening spinal muscles as a support system
- Training correct posture
- Improving flexibility and range of motion
- Reducing pressure on the nerves by strengthening surrounding muscles
“The spinal muscles act as a support system, like friends helping protect the nerves from being pinched,” explains Dr. Christian with an easy-to-understand analogy.
Alternative Therapies
Other complementary therapy options include:
- Acupuncture – Stimulates certain points to relieve pain
- Regular exercise such as swimming – Strengthens muscles without excessive pressure
- Other therapies tailored to the patient’s condition
2. Pain Intervention
If conservative therapy doesn’t yield optimal results, the next step is pain intervention. This is a minimally invasive procedure done before considering major surgery.
The Technological Revolution in Pinched Nerve Surgery
When all conservative methods have been tried but are still ineffective, surgery becomes the last resort. Dr. Christian outlines three types of available surgeries:
1. Open Surgery (Conventional Surgery)
- Traditional surgical technique with large incisions
- Requires longer hospitalization
- Higher risk of infection
- Longer recovery time
2. Microsurgery
- Uses a microscope for high precision
- Smaller incision than open surgery
- More accurate and safer results
3. Endoscopic Surgery
Endoscopy is the most advanced development in pinched nerve surgery. Its advantages include:
- Minimally invasive (surgical wound is very small—less than 1 cm)
- Fast recovery (patients can go home the same day or the next)
- Minimal pain (post-surgery discomfort is much lower, significantly reducing the need for painkillers)
- Low risk of infection
When Should a Pinched Nerve Be Operated On?
Dr. Christian recommends surgery if:
- Conservative therapy (medication + physiotherapy) has been ongoing for at least 3–6 months
- Symptoms persist or worsen
- Severe neurological symptoms appear (muscle weakness, urinary/bowel dysfunction)
- Quality of life is severely affected
- Daily activities become significantly limited
Why Is Endoscopic Technology the Preferred Choice?
Medical technology is progressing toward procedures that are:
- Safer with minimal complication risks
- More comfortable for patients
- More efficient in recovery time
“With endoscopic technology, the paradigm of pinched nerve surgery has completely changed. Patients no longer need to fear the idea of major surgery and lengthy recovery,” says Dr. Christian.
“Don’t let the fear of surgery stop you from getting the right treatment. Modern technology allows us to offer safe, effective, and comfortable solutions for patients. The most important thing is to consult as early as possible to avoid delayed treatment.”
Dr. Christian’s Schedule at Mandaya Puri Hospital
Dr. Christian is a neurosurgeon specializing in pinched nerve treatment, especially using minimally invasive methods.
He offers various minimally invasive or low-incision treatments for pinched nerves, including PLDD, PELD, PSLD, ACDF, and Microdiscectomy.
In addition to treating pinched nerves, Dr. Christian can also treat spinal tumors and provide treatment for spinal infections.
You can meet Dr. Christian at Mandaya Royal Puri Hospital on:
- Tuesday: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Interested in consulting directly with Dr. Christian about a pinched nerve? Visit Mandaya Royal Puri Hospital.
To make your visit easier, use the chat feature via WhatsApp, book an appointment, or download the Care Dokter app from Google Play or the App Store to simplify your visit, check queue numbers, and access complete information.
