There's no anesthesia involved in the process, although the more needle-phobic might wish otherwise.

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As a POW, he found himself doing procedures in prison with no anesthesia, no sanitary rooms, and few medical instruments.

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Then University of Pennsylvania physiatrist Curtis Slipman persuaded him to try a new 30-minute outpatient procedure that repairs herniated discs using a needle, no general anesthesia required.

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