The trip from Clovis
We do not have an office in Clovis. All visits take place at our practice in Fresno, California. From central Clovis the drive is about 9 miles, usually around 15 to 20 minutes on Highway 168 (the Sierra Freeway), depending on traffic and where in Fresno you are headed. That short distance makes it easy to come in for the consultation, a second visit if you need one, surgery day and the checkups that follow.
Because the trip is short, many Clovis patients schedule visits before or after work. On surgery day, though, someone else will need to drive you home.
What endoscopic surgery does
The surgeon makes a small cut, often around a third of an inch, and places a narrow tube next to the pinched nerve. An endoscope, which is a thin camera with a light, goes through the tube and sends a magnified picture to a screen. Instruments pass through a channel in the scope to remove the disc fragment, ligament or bone spur that is pressing on the nerve. The back muscles are pushed aside instead of cut. For a step-by-step version and the full list of risks, see our endoscopic spine surgery page.
Who from Clovis it may help
The best fit is usually one or two nerves pinched in a small area. Common examples include a herniated disc in the low back that causes pain down the leg, called sciatica, and narrowing where a nerve leaves the spine. In selected cases, a herniated disc in the neck may be reached with an endoscope too.
Clovis Unified School District is the city's largest employer, and Clovis Community Medical Center is the second largest. Teachers, bus drivers, custodians and coaches are on their feet, lifting and bending all day. Nurses and hospital staff lift and move patients. Many Clovis residents also drive Highway 168 up into the foothills for hiking, fishing and time at the mountain lakes. Any of these can flare up an existing disc problem, and so can plain bad luck while picking up a grocery bag. We ask about your job and your weekend activities so the recovery plan fits the life you want to get back to.
Endoscopic surgery is not used for an unstable spine, a large curve or problems across many levels. Most people also try therapy and time first. A surgical opinion may be worth getting when leg pain stays severe after several weeks of good care, when the foot feels weak or catches when you walk, or when pain keeps you from sleeping or working. Sudden loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the groin, is an emergency and needs a trip to the nearest emergency room, not an office visit.
Getting ready from Clovis
Having the right records at the first visit saves a second trip.
- Your MRI. If your scan was done at Clovis Community Medical Center or another imaging center, ask them to send the images on a disc or through a secure link. The written report alone is not enough to plan surgery.
- What you have tried. Therapy notes, injection dates and a list of medications, including any blood thinners.
- Your symptom story. When the pain started, where it travels and whether you have numbness or weakness in the foot.
- Surgery day. Surgery is done at Fresno Surgical Hospital, a short drive from Clovis. Plan an adult driver and someone to stay with you the first night. You should not drive while taking opioid pain medicine.
- After surgery. Short walks are usually encouraged the same day or the next. If physical therapy is part of your plan, you can often choose a clinic in Clovis.
A longer checklist is in our article on preparing for spine surgery.
A typical sequence of visits
Consult
Exam, symptom review and a look at your MRI with Dr. Higginbotham.
Decision
If new imaging is needed, a short follow-up to go over results and options.
Surgery
Often outpatient. Many people go home the same day.
Checkups
A wound check in the first weeks, then visits to follow your nerve recovery.
Clovis patient questions
Is there a CVA Spine office in Clovis?
No. Our only office is in Fresno. For most Clovis residents it is a quick drive down Highway 168.
I teach in Clovis. Could I have surgery over a school break?
Many teachers try to plan around breaks, and that can work if your symptoms allow it. People with lighter duties often return in one to three weeks. If your job involves lifting students or equipment, the return may take longer. We can talk about timing at your visit.
When can I go back up to the lakes or hike after surgery?
Walking is encouraged early. Longer hikes, fishing from a boat or carrying a pack usually wait a few weeks, until the incision has healed and your leg feels stronger. We will give you a timeline based on your healing.
Will the disc herniate again?
It can. A repeat herniation can happen after any discectomy, open or endoscopic, most often in the first months. Following lifting limits early may help.