Is pain affecting your quality of life? If that pain is in either your neck area or the lumbar area of your spine, there are surgical methods to correct these painful conditions by replacing damaged spinal discs with artificial or manufactured discs. The procedure is minimally invasive and involves a short hospital stay. What are the benefits of artificial disc replacement?
What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?
Degenerative disc disease causes deterioration of the spinal discs in the cervical (neck area) or the lumbar (lower back) area. This condition is quite common as we get older, however, it can occur from an injury, may be due to family history, or from lifestyle choices like smoking or being obese. Living with deteriorated discs can be very painful and typically affects your daily living.
What Are Treatments for Degenerative Disc Disease?
Once a patient is diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, most physicians will recommend non-surgical and conservative treatments first.
These can include the following:
- Anti-inflammatory medications for pain
- Physical therapy
- Steroids either taken orally in pill form or via an injection.
If these treatments fail to provide pain relief, a may recommend artificial disc replacement surgery. In the past spinal fusion was the gold standard, but today artificial disc replacement provides a better result for most patients.
Benefits of Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR) Surgery
There are many positives compared to spinal fusion surgery.
You Can Move Normally
You will be able to bend, flex, twist, and rotate your spine as normal. This type of surgery only affects the one disc, whereas with spinal fusion multiple discs are affected, limiting movement. Preserving natural spine function is a hallmark of ADR surgery.
Usually an Outpatient Procedure
This makes for a shorter recovery and less time in the hospital. In fact, you will recover in about half the time it takes after a fusion surgery.
Treats Multiple Disc and Spinal Issues
This type of surgery can also improve other conditions like lumbar spinal stenosis, herniated discs, facet joint osteoarthritis, and other spinal injuries.
Restores Function and Stability to Your Spine
The result gives back the quality of life you experienced before your spinal disc condition.
Affords Long-Term Pain Relief
This means less need for future surgery.
Contact Texas Spine Associates if you are suffering with back pain, and find out if you are a candidate for artificial disc replacement surgery during a consultation at one of our locations in the DFW area. Give us a call at (972) 987-0969 today to get started, or request an appointment through our secure online form.
Sources:
Benefits & Success Rate of Artificial Disc Replacement – Cuéllar Spine (cuellarspine.com)
Lumbar Disc Replacement Surgery: Benefits, Risks & Costs – Spine.MD