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Featured Procedures

Select Procedure... DISC Nucleoplasty Screening Colonoscopy

DISC Nucleoplasty

Normal Disk	Contained herniated Disc

Chronic lower back pain is often caused by a contained herniated disc. This occurs when a portion of the vertebra expands beyond its usual size and bulges on one side. The bulge may create pressure on nearby nerves, resulting in lower back and/or leg pain.

Some people with herniated disc find rest, medicine, injections, or physical therapy relieves their pain. For those who need further treatment, DISC Nucleoplasty is an option.

DISC Nucleoplasty is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that requires only local anesthesia and a mild sedative. Once the patient is anesthetized, the doctor inserts a needle into the center of the herniated disc. The needle emits radio waves that dissolve excess tissue, reducing the bulge and relieving the pressure inside the disc and on surrounding nerves.

Recovery is rapid, with no bracing needed. To date, more than 10,000 patients have been treated using this technology, with 89 percent patient satisfaction.*

Lakewalk Surgery Center offers the medical equipment required for DISC Nucleoplasty. For more information on this procedure or other back or chronic pain treatments, please contact Lakewalk or The Pain Center at Lakewalk.

*Chen YC, Lee SH, Lau E. Percutaneous Disk Decompression: Nucleoplasty for Chronic Discogenic Back Pain with or without Sciatica: A Preliminary 6-Month Follow-up Study. Stanford Interventional Spine Center, Stanford, CA.

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Screening Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is a simple but important outpatient medical procedure that should be performed by a Board-certified Gastroenterologist such as Dr. Daniel McKee of Northland Gastroenterology, P.A.

The American Cancer Society recommends that those without a family history of colon cancer or polyps have a screening colonoscopy at age 50 and, if normal, once every ten years thereafter. Those with a family history of colon cancer or polyps should begin screening at an earlier age. A patient’s doctor may recommend a colonoscopy at any time for preventive reasons or to treat an existing condition.

During a colonoscopy, Dr. McKee examines the lining of the colon (large bowel) for abnormalities using a small and flexible fiberoptic tube. Through this tube, at the end of which is a tiny camera, the doctor can view the lining of the colon.

During the procedure, Dr. McKee may take a sample of the colon lining for a biopsy or remove polyps – growths in the colon lining that are usually non-cancerous. Because cancer begins in polyps, it is important to remove them to help prevent colorectal cancer.

If a colonoscopy is being performed to identify sites of bleeding in the colon, Dr. McKee can control the bleeding by injecting medications or by sealing off the bleeding vessels using heat treatment.

The colonoscopy itself takes only 15-60 minutes. Medication administered intravenously (through an IV) relaxes the patient and eases discomfort. Typically, the patient experiences little or no pain, although a feeling of pressure, bloating or cramping during the colonoscopy may occur.

Afterward, the patient usually feels drowsy and may sleep for a little while. After recovery, Dr. McKee goes over the results with the patient, and a Lakewalk Surgery Center nurse or technician provides post-procedural instructions.

For more information, please contact Northland Gastroenterology, P.A.


Lakewalk Center
1420 London Road, Suite 202 € Duluth, MN 55805
Phone: (218) 724-3411 € Fax: (218) 724-340

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