Back pain: Is artificial disc replacement right for you?

Back pain: Is artificial disc replacement right for you?

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Back pain and stiffness are familiar health complaints for many people, and rightly so. Chronic neck or spine pain can fall anywhere on the scale from an annoyance to completely debilitating, especially if mobility is affected.

No one should have to go through life in pain if something can be done to improve the situation. When it comes to chronic back pain, there are a variety of treatment options available to patients, including both nonsurgical and surgical methods.

One patient's treatment plan, however, can be vastly different from the next, so it is important to get properly evaluated by a medical professional and follow his or her suggestions.

Back pain: Is artificial disc replacement right for you?

Your spine

The anatomy of the spinal column is an intricate puzzle of bones, discs, nerves, and muscle—all working together to aid in the body's movements and support body weight.

Located between the vertebrae sit the spinal discs that act as shock absorbers for the spine and provide flexibility in the spinal column. As a person ages, the spinal discs can weaken, causing cracks, tears or bulging, often leading to a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is somewhat of a misnomer, as it is not a disease but a condition in which pain, among other symptoms, is caused by damaged intervertebral discs. Unfortunately, degeneration in these discs is a natural part of the aging process, and symptoms can be experienced at varying degrees, including no symptoms at all.

Generally, the most common complaint with degenerative disc disease is pain. However, there are several symptoms that are fairly consistent across the board, including the following:

  • Pain that is worse with prolonged seating
  • Pain that becomes worse when twisting, bending down or lifting
  • Decreased pain while walking or changing positions
  • Pain that seems to flare up for days or months and go away
  • Pain that radiates to the low back, buttocks, and thigh
  • Numbness or tingling in the arms and legs
  • Weakness in the arm or leg muscles

Treatment options

When a patient does not respond to more conservative, non-surgical treatment options, such as physical therapy, for back or neck pain, surgical intervention may be considered.

Traditionally, spinal fusion was the gold standard for chronic back pain and spinal instability. Spinal fusion involves removing the damaged discs and permanently connecting two or more vertebrae by placing bone or other bone-like material within the spaces between the painful vertebrae.

The vertebrae then heal to form one unit, which immobilizes part of the spine. Unfortunately, spinal fusion changes movement and flexibility of the back and can place additional strain on the adjacent areas of the spine.

However, with the advancements in technology, artificial disc replacement is an effective solution for many back and neck conditions. The purpose of artificial disc replacement is to reduce pain brought on by the degenerating discs and improve or maintain spinal mobility.

During a disc replacement procedure, the surgeon uses an anterior approach, meaning the surgery is performed through the front of the neck or abdomen. The surgeon carefully accesses the spine and removes the damaged disc, replacing it with an artificial disc.

After surgery is complete, the patient is monitored in the hospital for approximately one or two days, with a full recovery expected to be reached in about six weeks. Following initial recovery in the hospital, it is likely the surgeon will recommend working with a physical therapy team to aid in the recovery process.

Back pain: Is artificial disc replacement right for you?

The benefits of artificial disc replacement may include:

  • Less invasive surgery, resulting in lower surgical risks and less pain
  • Preservation of motion for a more natural feeling in the neck and back
  • Prevention of premature breakdown in adjacent discs and vertebrae
  • Lower risk of surgical revision

While artificial disc replacement has its benefits, not every patient is a good candidate for this type of surgery. In order to determine if a patient fits within the guidelines, a surgeon usually performs a series of tests to determine the source of the pain.

If you are living with chronic back or neck pain or have radiating pain into your extremities, or if you have additional questions about treatment options, please call The Disc Replacement Center at Jordan Valley Medical Center at 1-855-216-6531. Also, visit our team online at FixDisc.com.

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Jordan Valley Medical Center

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