Dr. Miver Erem Tokuş
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Spine Surgery
Lumbar discectomy in Turkey
What a lumbar discectomy in Turkey costs compared with the UK, US and Germany, when surgery for a slipped disc is justified, how microdiscectomy and endoscopic discectomy differ, what the trip and recovery look like, and which risks and red flags to know before you travel.
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Lumbar discectomy in Turkey: what to know before you book
A lumbar discectomy removes the part of an intervertebral disc that has pushed out of place and is pressing on a nerve root in the lower back. The aim is to relieve sciatica — pain, tingling or weakness running into the buttock, leg or foot — rather than back pain itself. On our site a lumbar discectomy in Turkey starts at €7,160 at an accredited hospital, which is the hospital's own price for international patients.
Travelling for spine surgery is a bigger decision than travelling for cosmetic surgery, because the diagnosis must be exact: the surgeon needs your MRI, and the operation only makes sense if the disc on the scan matches the leg symptoms. This guide covers when surgery is reasonable, what it costs against the UK, US and Germany, which technique to expect, and how recovery and the flight home work. For other spine operations see the neurosurgery hub.
Do you need a discectomy?
Most sciatica caused by a disc herniation improves without surgery over weeks to a few months, and national guidance such as NICE NG59 (low back pain and sciatica) recommends staying active, analgesia and physiotherapy first. Surgery is usually considered when leg pain from a confirmed disc herniation remains severe after roughly six to twelve weeks of non-operative care, when there is progressive weakness, or when pain stops you working or sleeping. The SPORT trial (Weinstein et al., JAMA 2006) found that patients who had surgery improved faster than those treated without it, while the non-operative group also improved substantially over time. Surgery is therefore a choice about speed and severity, not a rescue from damage.
Some symptoms are emergencies and must not wait for a trip abroad: loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness between the legs or in the saddle area, or rapidly worsening weakness in both legs. These suggest cauda equina syndrome and need an emergency scan and surgery where you are.
How much does a lumbar discectomy cost in Turkey?
Hospitals on this page list lumbar discectomy from €7,160, shown in your currency in the hospital list. The price normally covers the surgeon, anaesthesia, the operating theatre, a hospital stay of one to three nights, medication and an in-hospital physiotherapy session. Pre-operative MRI, hotel nights and transfers vary by hospital and are written in the quote. Costs rise with an implant or a fusion, a longer stay or a revision after earlier surgery.
| Country | Typical price of a lumbar discectomy (approximate) | Usually included |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | from €7,160 | Surgeon, anaesthesia, hospital stay, medication, physiotherapy; transfers and hotel by agreement |
| United Kingdom (private) | about £8,000–£14,000 | Surgeon, anaesthesia, hospital; follow-up sometimes extra |
| United States | about $20,000–$50,000 | Facility, surgeon and anaesthesia billed separately; insurance changes what you pay |
| Germany (self-pay) | about €8,000–€15,000 | Surgeon, anaesthesia and hospital stay |
Non-Turkish figures are approximate and vary widely; confirm every Turkish price in a written quote that lists what is and is not included. Through the NHS the operation is free in the UK, but waiting times for non-urgent spinal surgery can be long, which is the main reason patients ask about discectomy cost abroad.
Types of surgery for a herniated disc
The technique is chosen from the MRI and the level, not from a price list. Ask which one is planned and why.
| Technique | How it works | Typical stay |
|---|---|---|
| Microdiscectomy | A small incision of about 2–3 cm in the back; the surgeon uses a microscope to remove the herniated fragment and free the nerve | 1–2 nights |
| Endoscopic discectomy | A tube of under 1 cm and a camera; less muscle disturbed, suited to selected herniations | 0–2 nights |
| Open discectomy or laminotomy | Larger exposure for a large or migrated fragment or narrowing; sometimes combined with laminectomy | 2–3 nights |
| Discectomy with cage fusion | Disc removed and a cage placed to fuse the segment; used when the spine is unstable or the disc is badly worn | 3–5 nights |
A simple herniation does not need a fusion. If a surgeon proposes fusion for a first disc herniation without instability, ask for the reason in writing and get a second opinion.
What happens during the operation
You lie face down under general anaesthesia. The surgeon marks the level with an X-ray, makes a small incision, moves aside the muscle, removes a little bone or ligament to reach the nerve, then removes the herniated fragment and any loose disc material. The operation usually takes 45 to 90 minutes. Most patients stand with a physiotherapist within hours and many leave on the first or second day.
Microdiscectomy recovery: week by week
Recovery depends on your job and on whether nerve weakness was present before surgery. As a general pattern:
- Days 1–3: leg pain usually eases quickly; wound pain is managed with tablets. You walk short distances several times a day.
- Weeks 1–2: daily walks, no lifting beyond a kettle, avoid long sitting and bending. Wound stitches are removed or dissolve.
- Weeks 2–6: desk work commonly resumes between two and four weeks; driving when you can brake hard without pain. Physiotherapy begins.
- Weeks 6–12: gradual return to heavier work and sport as your surgeon and physiotherapist allow. Numbness or weakness may take months to recover, and sometimes does not recover fully.
Searches for slipped disc surgery recovery time show how many patients worry about this; the honest answer is that the leg pain often improves within days while strength and sensation follow the nerve at its own pace.
Your trip to Turkey, in outline
Allow about 5 to 7 days: arrival and pre-operative checks, surgery, one to three hospital nights, then wound check and a first physiotherapy session before the flight. The general steps are on the how it works page. Flights are usually allowed once you can sit comfortably and walk well; get up and walk every hour, and ask the hospital for a letter and a copy of the operation report and MRI images on disc for your doctor at home. See also our note on flying after surgery.
Risks and limits of discectomy
- Recurrent herniation at the same level is reported in roughly 5 to 15 in 100 patients in the published literature, mostly in the first year or two.
- Dural tear (a small leak of spinal fluid) occurs in a few in 100 operations and is usually repaired during surgery.
- Infection, bleeding and clots are uncommon; walking early and a clean wound lower the risk.
- Persistent pain or numbness: surgery relieves leg pain more reliably than back pain, and a nerve compressed for a long time may not fully recover.
- Nerve injury is rare, but it is the reason to choose a hospital with a neurosurgical team and intensive care.
Spine surgery abroad also carries the practical risk that a complication appears after you have flown. Ask who you contact, in what language and at what hour, and whether the hospital sends records to your own doctor.
Choosing a hospital and surgeon
Look for a neurosurgeon or orthopaedic spine surgeon who performs spine operations regularly, a hospital with intensive care, a requirement to see your MRI before agreeing to operate, and a written quote. Be wary of anyone who promises surgery without seeing the scan, offers a fixed price before your imaging, or recommends fusion by default. Compare the hospitals offering neurosurgery, or read our guide to choosing a safe surgeon in Turkey.
Hospitals with Neurosurgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Hospitals on this page list lumbar discectomy from [[price:removal-of-lumbar-disc-discectomy|7156]], including surgeon, anaesthesia, hospital stay and medication. Fusion, implants or a longer stay cost more, and the written quote states what is included.
The operation is routine in hospitals with a neurosurgical team and intensive care. The risks are the same as anywhere: recurrent herniation, a dural tear, infection and, rarely, nerve injury. Safety depends on the hospital, on seeing your MRI beforehand and on aftercare arrangements.
Leg pain often eases within days. Desk work commonly resumes after two to four weeks and heavier work or sport after six to twelve weeks, depending on your job and surgeon's advice. Numbness and weakness can take months to settle.
Plan 5 to 7 days: consultation and tests, one to three nights in hospital, a wound check and physiotherapy before you fly.
Usually after the surgeon checks the wound and you can walk and sit comfortably, often 4 to 7 days after surgery. Walk every hour on the journey and carry your operation report and MRI images.
Often yes. Many herniations shrink and sciatica improves within weeks to months with activity, analgesia and physiotherapy, as NICE NG59 describes. Surgery is for severe or persistent leg pain or progressive weakness.
Both remove the herniated fragment through a small opening. Microdiscectomy uses a microscope and a 2–3 cm incision; endoscopic discectomy uses a narrow tube and camera and suits selected herniations. The surgeon chooses from your MRI.
Not for a typical disc herniation. Fusion is considered for instability, slippage or a disc badly worn at several levels. Ask why in writing if it is suggested for a first herniation.
Yes. Published series report recurrence at the same level in roughly 5 to 15 in 100 patients, mostly within the first two years.
Loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the saddle area or rapidly worsening weakness in both legs. These need emergency assessment where you are.
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