Care happens in Fresno, not Bakersfield
Central Valley Advanced Spine has one office, and it is in Fresno. We do not have a clinic, a satellite office or visiting hours in Bakersfield. Every visit, and the surgery itself if you have one, takes place in Fresno.
Bakersfield has its own spine surgeons, and its hospitals offer spine care. Many people are well served close to home. The patients who come to us from Kern County usually want one of two things: a second opinion before they agree to surgery, or a direct conversation about whether endoscopic surgery fits their problem.
From central Bakersfield to central Fresno is about 110 miles. Without stops, the drive is about an hour and 45 minutes to two hours, almost all of it north on Highway 99 through Delano, Tulare and Selma. Traffic near both cities can add time, so plan a cushion for morning appointments.
The procedure in brief
In endoscopic spine surgery, the surgeon works through a narrow tube and watches a magnified camera view on a screen. Small tools go down the same tube to remove the piece of disc or bone that is pressing on a nerve. The back muscles are moved aside rather than cut away.
It is most often used for a single problem at one spot, such as a disc herniation in the low back. It is usually not the right tool for an unstable spine, a large curve or work at many levels. When that is the case, we will say so and explain what a different operation would involve.
Kern County work and back problems
Kern County produces most of California's oil and is also one of the largest farm counties in the country, with grapes, citrus, almonds and carrots among its main crops. Jobs on a rig, in a packing shed or in the fields often mean heavy lifting, twisting and long hours on your feet or in a truck.
That kind of work does not cause every back problem, and plenty of people with desk jobs get herniated discs too. But when leg pain from a pinched nerve keeps you off a job that depends on your back, the questions become practical. How long is the recovery? When can I lift again? Is there a smaller operation that fits my problem? Those are fair questions to bring to a consult, and the answers depend on your imaging and your exam.
The most common reason people ask about this surgery is sciatica from a herniated disc: pain, tingling or numbness that runs down one leg. Some people with narrowing of the lower spinal canal may also be candidates, depending on where the narrowing is.
Planning the trip from Bakersfield
Most patients from Bakersfield make a small number of trips to Fresno. The first is the consultation. If you already have an MRI, that visit can often cover both the exam and the imaging review. If surgery is recommended, there is surgery day and then follow-up visits over the next weeks and months.
- Send imaging ahead. If your MRI was done at a Bakersfield hospital or imaging center, ask them to send the actual images. The written report by itself is not enough. A disc copy in your bag is a good backup.
- Bring your history. A list of medicines, notes on any injections or physical therapy you have tried, and the names of your local doctors help us see the whole picture.
- Surgery day. The procedure takes place at Fresno Surgical Hospital. Many endoscopic procedures are outpatient, so you may go home the same day. That still means close to two hours in a car right after surgery. You cannot drive yourself, so plan for an adult driver.
- Think about a night in Fresno. Some people from Kern County book a hotel room in Fresno for the night before an early surgery time, or for the night after, so the long ride home is not the first thing they do.
Our guide on getting a second opinion on spine surgery explains what records to gather and what to ask.
Questions from Bakersfield patients
Do you see patients in Bakersfield?
No. All visits and all surgery take place in Fresno. We do not have an office or clinic hours in Kern County.
My Bakersfield surgeon recommended a larger operation. Can you look at my case?
Yes, you can request a second opinion. Bring or send your MRI images and the notes from your other surgeon. Sometimes a second opinion agrees with the first plan. Sometimes it offers a different option. Either way you get more information.
How long will I be in the car on surgery day?
Plan on about two hours each way between central Bakersfield and central Fresno, more with traffic or stops. We will tell you how often to stop and stretch on the way home.
Can I do physical therapy back home?
Often, yes. If therapy is part of your recovery, it can usually be done at a clinic near you in Bakersfield. We will send the orders and stay in touch about your progress.
Will I be back at work in the oil field right away?
Not right away. Return to heavy or physical work depends on the procedure, how you heal and what your job requires. We will set a plan with you before surgery so you can talk to your employer early.