Sciatica Surgery · Greenville County, Upstate SC
Sciatica surgery for Greenville, SC patients
From Greenville, SC, endoscopic sciatica decompression is outpatient, takes about an hour, and uses local anesthesia. No general anesthetic, no overnight stay.
Patients from Greenville, SC
From Greenville, SC, US-123 west or I-85 runs about 45 minutes to the practice — manageable for most patients. For drivers, the route is US-123 west or I-85 — roughly 30 miles from the practice. For patients flying in, the GSP-to-Seneca leg adds about 45 minutes by car after landing. Most Greenville, SC patients combine consultation and sciatica surgery into one trip when scheduling permits. The Greenville County, Upstate SC catchment regularly produces patients pursuing sciatica surgery after exhausting conservative options or receiving fusion recommendations elsewhere.
Transparent bundled pricing
Pricing is transparent and disclosed before any scheduling commitment. The lumbar endoscopic procedure is priced at $15,000 for 2026; cervical at $16,000. These numbers cover the procedure end-to-end — surgeon fee, accredited facility fee, anesthesia, recovery, and routine post-operative follow-up.
When you’ve been told fusion is the only option
If fusion has been recommended for you and you’re uncertain, the second-opinion path here is straightforward. Submit your imaging for free review by mail. If your specific pathology is addressable endoscopically, you’ll learn that. If fusion really is what’s needed, you’ll learn that too — along with a referral to an appropriate fusion surgeon.
Your next step from Greenville, SC
For Greenville, SC patients pursuing sciatica surgery, the typical flow is: free MRI review first (3-5 business day turnaround), phone consultation if you’re a candidate, then an in-person visit that combines consultation and procedure into a single 2-3 day trip. The office handles Greenville County, Upstate SC patients routinely. Phone: (864) 886-9888 (local) or (833) 770-8100 (toll-free). Email: info@synergyspinecenter.com. The MRI review portal at /free-mri-review-start/ is the fastest way to begin.
Why patients from Greenville, SC travel to Synergy
Greenville is the closest major metro to the practice. Many Greenville-area patients arrive after consultations elsewhere recommended fusion. The drive from Greenville, SC is about 45 minutes via US-123 west or I-85, covering roughly 30 miles. Beyond drive logistics, the specific reasons patients from Greenville, SC choose Synergy are consistent: (1) full-endoscopic spine surgery — a technique with limited U.S. availability — is what the practice does, (2) transparent bundled pricing published in advance at /transparent-spine-surgery-pricing/ replaces the opaque quoted-plus-supplemental-billing pattern common in the U.S. spine market, and (3) the no-fusion promise means patients get a candid assessment of whether fusion is genuinely required — not the reflexive fusion recommendation that dominates U.S. spine surgery for stenosis and herniated disc cases. For patients from Greenville, SC researching options, the practice’s free MRI review is the practical entry point.
What sciatica is (and isn’t)
Sciatica is a symptom pattern — pain radiating from the lower back or buttock down the leg in a nerve-root distribution — not a diagnosis. The underlying cause is compression or irritation of one or more nerve roots (typically L4, L5, or S1) from a herniated disc, foraminal stenosis, or lateral recess narrowing. The pain follows the anatomical distribution of the affected nerve — L5 sciatica typically produces pain down the outside of the leg to the foot; S1 sciatica produces pain down the back of the leg to the heel. See /sciatica-treatment-options/ and /radiculopathy/.
When surgery becomes appropriate
Most sciatica does not require surgery. The natural history of sciatica from acute disc herniation is favorable — many patients improve within 6-12 weeks with conservative care. Surgery becomes appropriate for severe unrelenting radicular pain not responding to conservative care over an adequate trial period, progressive weakness or numbness in the affected nerve distribution, and urgently for cauda equina syndrome (bowel/bladder dysfunction with saddle anesthesia — a surgical emergency requiring immediate evaluation).
Endoscopic surgery for sciatica
When surgery is warranted, the goal is to remove or address the tissue compressing the affected nerve root. For sciatica from a herniated disc, the procedure is endoscopic discectomy. For sciatica from foraminal stenosis, the procedure is endoscopic foraminotomy. For combined pathology, the procedure combines approaches. The specific recommendation depends on what your imaging shows — the free MRI review makes this determination based on the actual pathology rather than symptom description alone.
Planning your visit from Greenville, SC
Greenville, SC is in the practice’s regional catchment area at about 45 minutes via US-123 west or I-85. Regional patients typically follow the standard 3-day plan — arrival evening before day 1, in-person consultation and pre-op on day 1, procedure on day 2, post-op evaluation on day 3, departure. Some regional patients from Greenville, SC prefer to compress this into a 2-day model with the pre-op and procedure on consecutive days; feasibility depends on the specific procedure and patient. Lodging near the practice is recommended for the overnight stay; the office team provides recommendations during scheduling. Post-operative follow-up is conducted remotely at standard intervals. Detailed logistics at /out-of-town-patients/.
Frequently asked
How long is the drive from Greenville, SC to Seneca?
Plan on about 45 minutes for the drive, covering roughly 30 miles via US-123 west or I-85. The route is well-traveled. For early-morning procedures, arriving the night before is what most Greenville, SC-area patients do. For candidacy assessment specific to your imaging, the free MRI review is the practical starting point.
Which airport works best from Greenville, SC?
Patients flying from Greenville, SC typically use Greenville-Spartanburg International (GSP) and connect into GSP. Rental cars are simpler than rideshare for the return, since post-op patients often want flexibility on departure timing. Full logistics and pathway detail are at /how-it-works/.
Can I combine consultation and sciatica surgery into one trip from Greenville, SC?
This is the most common scheduling pattern from Greenville, SC. The free MRI review confirms candidacy ahead of any travel; consultation and procedure are then back-to-back during the visit. The 3-day plan page covers the typical cadence. For candidacy assessment specific to your imaging, the free MRI review is the practical starting point.
Am I likely a candidate for sciatica surgery at Synergy?
Candidacy depends entirely on what your imaging shows. The free MRI review screens for this without any consultation fee or travel commitment. Patients who aren’t candidates are told directly, often with guidance about what would be appropriate. For candidacy assessment specific to your imaging, the free MRI review is the practical starting point.
Does Dr. McMillan personally perform every procedure?
Yes. The practice has been a single-surgeon model since founding — Dr. McMillan performs all endoscopic and percutaneous procedures himself. Patients who specifically want a high-volume operator come here for that reason. The 3-day out-of-town visit structure is documented at /3-day-plan/.
What if sciatica surgery isn’t appropriate for my situation?
If the review identifies that sciatica surgery won’t address your specific anatomy, you’ll be told directly and given orientation about what would be appropriate instead. This often includes a candid referral to a fusion surgeon when fusion is the right answer. Transparent bundled pricing is published at /transparent-spine-surgery-pricing/.
How can I tell if my sciatica needs surgery, from Greenville, SC?
Clinical thresholds for sciatica surgery: (1) severe pain not responding to 6-12 weeks of appropriately structured conservative care, (2) progressive neurological deficit, or (3) cauda equina syndrome (urgent). Patients whose symptoms are stable or improving with conservative care typically do not need surgery. Patients whose imaging shows pathology matching symptoms AND whose symptoms meet the threshold above are appropriate candidates. Transparent bundled pricing is published at /transparent-spine-surgery-pricing/.
What’s the difference between epidural injections and surgery for sciatica?
Epidural steroid injections reduce inflammation around the compressed nerve root; they don’t remove the compressive tissue. Injections can provide meaningful pain relief lasting weeks to months, sometimes allowing the underlying pathology to resolve naturally. Surgery removes the compressive tissue itself. The decision between them depends on symptom severity, imaging findings, and prior treatment response. Transparent bundled pricing is published at /transparent-spine-surgery-pricing/.
How long does sciatica surgery recovery take for a patient from Greenville, SC?
Most patients notice pain relief within 2-5 days of endoscopic surgery. Return to sedentary work: 1-2 weeks. Return to manual labor: 4-6 weeks depending on physical demands. For patients traveling from Greenville, SC, immediate post-procedure travel home is usually well-tolerated within 24-48 hours. Follow-up is remote (phone, video, secure messaging) with routine intervals at 1, 2, 6 weeks and 3 months post-op. Full logistics and pathway detail are at /how-it-works/.
