Frequently asked questions

Referral requirements vary by insurance plan. Call the clinic at (785) 368-0767 or contact your insurer to confirm whether your plan requires a referral or authorization before the visit. Learn more →

Yes — a second opinion before any major elective spine surgery is reasonable, and surgeons expect it. Fusion is not reversible, and opinions on whether and how much to fuse genuinely differ. Bring your imaging and records; we will give you an honest assessment, even if that means recommending no surgery. Learn more →

Often, yes. Most lumbar disc herniations improve with time, activity modification, and non-surgical care, and many resorb on their own. Surgery is typically considered after six or more weeks of failed conservative treatment, or sooner for progressive weakness or bladder and bowel symptoms, which need urgent evaluation. Learn more →

See a doctor if sciatica lasts more than a few weeks, keeps you from work or sleep, or comes with leg weakness or numbness. Go to the emergency department immediately for new bladder or bowel problems or numbness in the groin — these can signal cauda equina syndrome. Learn more →

Preparation starts four to six weeks out: reviewing medications with your care team, stopping nicotine, arranging help at home, and following pre-operative washing and fasting instructions. Our office provides written, step-by-step instructions for your specific surgery — call (785) 368-0767 if you have not received yours. Learn more →

It depends on the procedure. Microdiscectomy patients often go home the same day and return to desk work in one to two weeks; fusion recovery runs several months. Every procedure page on this site lists typical hospital stay, walking, driving, and return-to-work expectations for that operation. Learn more →

Persistent pain after back surgery has many causes: incomplete decompression, scar tissue, adjacent-level degeneration, hardware problems, or a diagnosis the first operation could not fix. Some causes are treatable. A structured review of your imaging and operative records — a formal second opinion — is the right first step. Learn more →

Microvascular decompression is performed at a small number of Kansas centers, including by Dr. Tuchek at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka. MVD treats trigeminal neuralgia at its source when medications fail or cause intolerable side effects. A consultation determines whether you are a candidate for MVD, radiosurgery, or continued medication. Learn more →

Yes. Dr. Tuchek performs craniotomy for brain tumor, meningioma resection, and biopsy at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka, following fellowship training in neurosurgical oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center. Some complex cases are best treated at high-volume centers — when that is true, we say so and help coordinate the referral. Learn more →

Timing and patient selection drive the result. Kyphoplasty is done for a recent, painful vertebral compression fracture — usually within weeks of the fracture, and after a trial of conservative care. It is typically an outpatient procedure. Whether it is the right choice for you depends on the age of the fracture and what your imaging and exam show. Learn more →

Track four things daily: pain level, walking, wound appearance, and sleep. A simple daily record shows whether you are trending in the right direction and makes follow-up visits far more useful. Free tools — from a paper log to a recovery-tracking app — can do this; consistency matters more than the tool. Learn more →

Cotton O’Neil / Stormont Vail Health participates with most major insurance plans. Coverage still depends on your specific plan — call the clinic or your insurer to confirm participation and any authorization requirements before your visit. Learn more →