When Nothing Else Has Worked.
Sometimes conservative treatment isn’t enough. You've done months of physical therapy, tried injections, modified your life around pain and nothing's working. That's when surgery might make sense.
What We Evaluate
If you're considering surgery or have been told you need surgery, we provide:
Thorough review of your history and imaging
Physical examination focused on function
Honest assessment of whether surgery is truly necessary
Discussion of alternatives you may not have tried
Clear explanation of surgical vs. non-surgical options
Our Approach.
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At NefraHealth, we perform both minimally invasive procedures and complex spinal surgery.
You'll get a clear explanation of which approach makes sense for your specific situation and what to expect from the procedure.
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Endoscopic discectomy (removing herniated disc material)
Foraminotomy (opening space where nerves exit spine)
Radiofrequency ablation for chronic pain
Camera-guided procedures with minimal tissue disruption
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Multi-level fusions
Significant reconstruction
Deformity correction
Cases requiring extensive surgical approaches
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Some patients genuinely need surgery. Drs. Hassan and Kumar perform everything from minimally invasive procedures to complex spinal reconstruction. You'll get a clear explanation of what's needed and which approach makes sense for your specific situation.
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Many patients come to us having been told they need surgery. After evaluation, we often recommend they try conservative approaches they haven't yet attempted.
Signs Surgery Might Be Appropriate:
Progressive Neurological Symptoms
Numbness, weakness, or loss of function that's getting worse despite treatment. This can indicate nerve damage that will become permanent if not addressed.
Structural Problems That Can't Heal on Their Own
Complete ligament tears, severe disc herniations with nerve compression, spinal instability. Conservative treatment can't fix structural mechanical failure.
Failed Conservative Treatment
You've given PT, injections, and activity modification a real try over the course of months. And you're still significantly limited.
Severe Impact on Quality of Life
You can't work. You can't sleep. You can't do basic activities of daily living. Conservative approaches have been exhausted.
When Surgery Becomes the Right Answer.
Our philosophy: Surgery should be your last good option, not your first.
Drs. Hassan and Kumar are skilled at performing minimally invasive spine procedures, as well as complex spinal surgery. But here's what sets us apart: we only recommend surgery when we truly believe it's your best path forward.
Why does this matter? Because we make our living on non-surgical treatments. If we're recommending surgery, it's because you actually need it.
What We Evaluate.
Comprehensive second opinion
If you're considering surgery or have been told you need surgery, we provide:
Thorough review of your history and imaging
Physical examination focused on function
Honest assessment of whether surgery is truly necessary
Discussion of alternatives you may not have tried
Clear explanation of surgical vs. non-surgical options
When Surgery Isn’t the Answer.
Sometimes people come to us expecting surgery, and we tell them no.
Their MRI might look severe, but their symptoms don't match the imaging. They haven't truly exhausted conservative options. Or surgery simply wouldn't help their specific problem.
This disappoints some patients. They've decided surgery is the answer, and we're telling them to do more PT.
But if you're not a good surgical candidate, we won't send you to get cut open just because you're frustrated. We'd rather disappoint you now than have you regret surgery later.
"I had a tear in my L4 or L5. I had my surgery on 8/15/25. I'm not gonna lie, the healing process was so bearable that my back felt so much better. I listened to what Dr. Hassan told me to do as far as rehabilitation and recovery. Within about 2-3 months I was able to do light workouts at home. Within 6 months, I was able to workout full time. I thank Dr. Hassan and his staff for taking care of me."
— Brian D.