(864) 886-9888 Toll-Free (833) 770-8100 Medicare & BlueCross BlueShield accepted
Told you need a spinal fusion?

Relieve your back pain without screws, rods, or fusion.

Full-endoscopic spine surgery removes the source of your pain in about an hour — outpatient, with the full price known before you decide.

0U.S. patents
Since 1992Yale & Tufts trained
Medicare& BCBS accepted
Why the right decision matters

Three things no one should have to accept

Living in pain

Another year of cancelled plans, missed time with family, and a life shaped around what your back will allow.

An irreversible fusion

Screws, rods, and plates that permanently change your spine — an operation many patients are told is their only option.

Surprise bills

Hidden facility fees and a final cost no one will quote you until long after the decision is made.

A clear path forward

Getting an honest answer is simple

  1. Send your MRI

    Upload the MRI you already have. There’s no cost and no obligation to review it.

  2. Get a candid answer & price

    McMillan tells you whether you’re a candidate — and the full, all-inclusive price.

  3. Get relief in about an hour

    If endoscopic surgery is right for you, it’s outpatient. Most patients go home the same day.

What we treat

Spine care built around the least-invasive option that works

Flagship procedure

Full-Endoscopic Spinal Surgery

The alternative to spinal fusion. A pencil-sized, lighted tube enters through an incision less than ⅓ inch and removes only the herniation or stenosis pressing on your nerve — the actual source of the pain.

No screwsNo rodsNo platesNo fusion
Learn about the procedure
3D illustration of the full-endoscopic approach to the spine, showing the instrument reaching the source of the pain

Spinal Stenosis

Relief from narrowing of the spinal canal — most patients do not need fusion to treat it.

Learn more →

Herniated Disc

Endoscopic removal of the disc material pressing on the nerve, with comparable results to open surgery.

Learn more →

Sciatica

Targeting the nerve compression that sends pain down the leg, at its source.

Learn more →

Facet Rhizotomy

Interventional pain treatment for arthritic facet-joint pain — evidence-based and least-invasive.

Learn more →

Discography

Precise diagnostics to confirm the true source of pain before any treatment decision.

Learn more →

COOLIEF

Cooled radiofrequency treatment for chronic joint and spine pain — a non-surgical option.

Learn more →
Marion R. McMillan, MD, founder and medical director of Synergy Spine Center
Marion R. McMillan, MD
Founder & Medical Director
“For many people, fusion isn’t the only answer — and often isn’t the best one. I’ll tell you the truth about what you need.”
Two U.S. patentsin minimally invasive spinal technique
Yale & Tuftsundergraduate and medical training
In practice since 1992focused on endoscopic spine surgery
Published internationallyin peer-reviewed spine literature

Read McMillan’s story

Patient stories

Relief, in their own words

5.0based on verified patient reviews

“I was told I needed fusion. One hour, outpatient, and I walked out the same day. I wish I’d found this sooner.”

Patient testimonial
Upstate South Carolina

“They told me the full price before anything happened. No surprise bills. That alone earned my trust.”

Patient testimonial
Out-of-town patient

“McMillan called to check on me a month later. I’ve never had a surgeon do that.”

Patient testimonial
Seneca, SC

Read more patient stories

Imagine

Getting back to the life pain put on hold

A morning walk without bracing for it. A full day in the garden. Picking up a grandchild without a second thought.

WalkingWorkingGardeningTime with grandkids
Before you commit

The cost of the wrong operation isn’t just money

A spinal fusion permanently changes your spine. For many patients with stenosis or a herniated disc, the evidence doesn’t support that the bigger operation produces a better result — only a longer recovery and a higher bill.

A free MRI review costs you nothing and can tell you, candidly, whether there’s a less-invasive path before you decide.

A second opinion before back surgery is never wasted

If you’re a candidate for endoscopic surgery, you’ll know. If you’re not, we’ll tell you that too — we recommend against procedures the evidence doesn’t support.

Request a free MRI review
See the approach

See the procedure for your condition

Three of the most common reasons people come to Synergy — and the actual, less-invasive approach for each. Watch, then read the full page.

Bulging disc

A contained bulge that has not ruptured — often treatable without open surgery.

Learn about bulging disc

Herniated disc

Removing only the fragment pressing on the nerve, not the whole disc.

Learn about herniated disc

Spinal stenosis

Decompressing the narrowed canal endoscopically — without fusion.

Learn about spinal stenosis
Free download

The Alternative to Fusion

A plain-language guide to endoscopic spine surgery — what it treats, what it costs, and how to know if you’re a candidate.

Who you’ll meet

Your surgeon, start to finish

Marion R. McMillan, MD, founder and medical director of Synergy Spine Center

Marion R. McMillan, MD

Founder & Medical Director

At Synergy, you aren’t handed off between providers. McMillan personally reviews every MRI, performs the procedure, and follows your recovery. Yale- and Tufts-trained and in practice since 1992, he holds two U.S. patents in minimally invasive spinal technique — and he’ll tell you honestly when surgery isn’t the answer.

Read McMillan’s story View full CV (PDF)
Visit us

Seneca, South Carolina — and reachable from anywhere

Address
Synergy Spine Center & Physician Group, P.A.
457-E Bypass 123
Seneca, SC 29678
Phone
(864) 886-9888  ·  Toll-free (833) 770-8100
Hours
Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm
Traveling for care?
See the out-of-town patient pathway →
Accessibility
On-site parking with ADA-accessible access.
Common questions

What patients ask before they decide

Is endoscopic spine surgery a real alternative to fusion?
For many patients with a herniated disc or spinal stenosis, yes. Full-endoscopic surgery removes only the tissue pressing on the nerve, leaving the rest of the spine intact — no screws, no rods, no plates, and no fusion. The instrument enters through an incision less than one-third of an inch, so there is far less disruption to surrounding muscle and bone. Published randomized studies have found outcomes comparable to conventional surgery, with fewer complications. For the right candidate, it removes the source of the pain without permanently changing how the spine moves. Read more about the procedure.
How long does the procedure take, and is it outpatient?
The procedure itself typically takes about one hour and is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. There is no hospital admission and no overnight stay required for most patients. After a short recovery period in the office, the great majority of patients go home the same day. Many people rest more comfortably at home than they would in a hospital, which can support healing. Your specific timeline is reviewed with you before anything is scheduled.
Do you publish your prices?
Yes. We publish all-inclusive pricing so you know the full cost before any procedure is scheduled. One price covers the surgeon, the anesthesiologist, and the facility fee — there are no hidden charges added afterward. This transparency is a core conviction of the practice, not a promotion. It lets you compare honestly and decide without fear of a surprise bill. See our transparent pricing.
What is a free MRI review?
Send us the MRI you already have, and McMillan will personally review it. He will give you a candid answer about whether you’re a candidate for endoscopic surgery — and, just as importantly, will tell you if you’re not. There is no cost and no obligation to proceed. It’s designed especially for patients who’ve been told they need a fusion and want an honest second opinion. Out-of-town patients can begin the entire process this way before traveling.
Do you accept Medicare and insurance?
We accept Medicare and work with major insurers including BlueCross BlueShield for outpatient endoscopic spinal surgery and other spine care. Coverage details vary by plan and by procedure, so the office will help you understand what applies to your situation. Because our cash pricing is transparent and all-inclusive, some patients also choose to self-pay. We’re glad to walk you through both paths. Contact the office to confirm your individual coverage before scheduling.
Can you help patients who travel from out of town?
Yes. Many patients travel to Seneca for care, and the practice is built to make that straightforward. It typically begins with a free MRI review so you know whether the trip is worthwhile before you make it. A toll-free line and a dedicated out-of-town pathway help coordinate scheduling, evaluation, and the procedure efficiently. Because care is outpatient, most travelers spend only a short time in the area. See the pathway.
Before your visit

Patient resources

Everything you need to prepare for a visit, in one place. Download, complete, and bring these with you — or send them ahead.

Hear from McMillan

Short recordings on the questions patients ask most.

On epidural steroid injections
Interview: a different approach to spine care
No cost. No obligation. Just the truth.

Get Your Free MRI Review

Send us the MRI you already have. We’ll tell you whether there’s a less-invasive path — and the full price — before you decide anything.

Get Your Free MRI Review
Get Your Free MRI Review →
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