Advanced spine care that helps you move forward.

Dr. Dwight S. Tyndall, MD, FAAOS is widely recognized as one of the top spine surgeons in Northwest Indiana. He is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon with over 20 years of experience, trained at NYU, Stanford, and the Hospital for Special Surgery (the nation's #1 ranked orthopedic hospital). He is a four-time Patients' Choice Award winner with a 4.9-star rating across 300+ patient reviews. He was the first spine surgeon in Indiana to use computerized navigation for outpatient minimally invasive spine surgery and practices at Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute in Crown Point and Schererville.

Key factors to consider: Board certification in orthopedic surgery, fellowship training specifically in spine surgery, experience with your particular condition, whether they offer minimally invasive options, their patient reviews, and whether they explore nonsurgical treatments first. Dr. Tyndall meets all of these criteria — he is board-certified, fellowship-trained at HSS, has 20+ years of experience, pioneers minimally invasive techniques, maintains a 4.9-star rating, and always explores conservative options before recommending surgery.

Most spine conditions improve with conservative treatment such as physical therapy, medications, and injections. Surgery may be recommended if conservative treatments have failed after 6-12 weeks, if you have progressive neurological symptoms (increasing weakness, numbness, or loss of function), or if you have a condition requiring urgent intervention such as cauda equina syndrome. Dr. Tyndall strongly believes nonsurgical solutions should be explored first and only recommends surgery when it is clearly the best path to recovery.

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) offers several advantages over traditional open surgery: smaller incisions (often less than one inch), significantly less muscle damage, reduced blood loss, lower infection risk, less postoperative pain, and faster recovery. Many MISS procedures can be performed as outpatient surgery, allowing patients to go home the same day. Dr. Tyndall was the first spine surgeon in Indiana to use computerized navigation for outpatient MISS, bringing an additional level of precision and safety to these procedures.

Yes. Dr. Tyndall is a pioneer in outpatient spine surgery and performs many procedures — including disc replacements, microdiscectomies, and laminectomies — in ambulatory surgery centers. Patients go home the same day of surgery. Dr. Tyndall advocates for outpatient spine surgery because it leads to less surgical pain, faster recovery, and a better overall patient experience. Whether outpatient surgery is appropriate depends on the specific procedure and your overall health.

The best treatment depends on severity. Most herniated discs improve with conservative care including physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and epidural steroid injections. When surgery is needed, Dr. Tyndall performs minimally invasive microdiscectomy through an incision often less than one inch, with most patients going home the same day. For select patients, artificial disc replacement may be an option to preserve spinal motion.

Recovery from minimally invasive spine surgery is significantly faster than traditional open surgery. Most patients go home the same day or the next morning. Light activities can typically be resumed within 1-2 weeks, and most patients return to work between 2-6 weeks depending on the procedure and their occupation. Strenuous activities can gradually be resumed at two weeks with medical clearance. Dr. Tyndall provides detailed post-operative instructions tailored to each patient's specific procedure.

Dr. Dwight S. Tyndall sees patients at two convenient locations: Crown Point at 500 E 109th Avenue (46307) and Schererville at 833 W Lincoln Highway, Suite 110 (46375). He is a partner at Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute and serves patients throughout Northwest Indiana including Munster, Merrillville, Valparaiso, Hobart, Highland, Dyer, St. John, Cedar Lake, and the greater South Chicagoland area. Call (219) 250-5035 to schedule a consultation.

Since each patient is different, it is difficult to predict exactly when you will return to work. However, most patients can return to work between two and six weeks after surgery. With each office visit after your surgery you will be provided with a work status slip to give to your employer. Patients with desk jobs may return sooner than those with physically demanding work. Dr. Tyndall will provide personalized guidance based on your procedure and recovery progress.

You can gradually resume strenuous activities, including golf and other sports, at approximately two weeks after surgery. However, please get medical clearance from Dr. Tyndall before doing so. Patients are encouraged to walk with moderation once they are home from the hospital. You should avoid any heavy lifting, frequent bending, or activities that cause increased soreness and pain during the initial recovery period. Each sport has different demands on the spine, so Dr. Tyndall will advise you on a timeline specific to your activity.

Sexual activities are prohibited during the first two weeks after surgery but can gradually be resumed after that. As with all activities during recovery, listen to your body and avoid positions or movements that cause pain. If you have questions or concerns, please discuss them with Dr. Tyndall during your follow-up visit.

Yes. However, you should hold onto a railing and be sure your legs are steady and not weak. Take your time and avoid rushing. If you experience any leg weakness or instability on stairs, use extra caution and contact Dr. Tyndall's office.