Living with chronic back and neck pain can affect every aspect of life. For many people, traditional treatments only offer limited pain relief. However, artificial disc surgery offers hope, especially for those suffering from severe vertebral disc degeneration. This innovative procedure replaces damaged discs with synthetic implants, restoring mobility and alleviating chronic pain.
Understanding artificial disc surgery
Back pain stemming from disc degeneration can significantly impact quality of life, making even simple everyday tasks unbearable. When conservative treatments such as physical therapy, medications, and injections fail to provide relief, procedures like artificial disc surgery become a viable option.
Artificial disc replacement surgery, or total disc replacement, is where a neurosurgeon removes a degenerated or damaged disc from a patient's spine, typically from the lumbar (lower back) or cervical (neck) region. They then replace it with a device that mimics the function and motion of the natural disc. These artificial discs allow the spine to move and protect the vertebrae from rubbing against each other. Artificial disc surgery offers an alternative to traditional spinal fusion, preserving the patient's natural range of motion while addressing the underlying cause of their back or neck pain.
How artificial disc surgery provides chronic pain relief
Reducing pain and inflammation
Artificial disc surgery directly addresses the root cause of pain by replacing damaged discs with synthetic alternatives. By removing the damaged disc, the neurosurgeon can relieve compression on nearby spinal nerves. This targets back pain at its source, reducing pain and restoring function to the affected vertebrae. Artificial disc surgery provides immediate pain relief and promotes long-term healing by facilitating proper spinal alignment and reducing inflammation.
Preserving everyday function and mobility
Additionally, artificial disc surgery offers spinal stabilization without sacrificing everyday function and mobility. Unlike traditional spinal fusion, which immobilizes the treated area of the spine, artificial disc replacement preserves the patient's natural motion and allows patients to maintain flexibility and engage in everyday tasks and activities without pain or restriction. Moreover, it improves the patient's overall comfort and function, encouraging them to lead more active and fulfilling lives free from the limitations of chronic spinal pain.
Maintaining spinal motion
Spinal motion is essential for various tasks and activities, from bending over and twisting to getting up and sitting down. This surgical approach allows the following:
- Flexion and extension. Artificial discs enable the patient to bend forward and backward, facilitating functions like bending over to pick something up or looking up.
- Rotation. Twisting and turning are essential for driving, reaching, and participating in physical activity.
- Lateral flexion. Artificial discs allow the patients to bend side-to-side, which is essential for keeping their balance and moving from place to place.
This approach to spinal care also minimizes the risk of developing disc degeneration in nearby areas of the lumbar or cervical spine.
Ideal candidates for artificial disc surgery
While artificial disc surgery offers many benefits, not everyone is a suitable candidate for this treatment method. Neurosurgeons evaluate patients based on several factors to ensure that artificial disc replacement would effectively fit their needs. These factors include:
- The severity of the patient's condition
- Body size or weight
- Overall health
- Lifestyle habits
- History of previous surgical procedures
- Other underlying medical conditions (e.g., osteoporosis or scoliosis)
Furthermore, not all spinal conditions are suitable for artificial disc treatment. Patients with herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and minor cases of spinal stenosis may be able to benefit from this procedure. However, it is important for those suffering from persistent back or neck pain and limited mobility to consult a neurosurgeon to determine if artificial disc surgery is right for their needs.
Schedule a consultation today
Artificial disc surgery offers a beacon of hope for those struggling with chronic back pain. If conservative treatments have failed to provide you with adequate pain relief, you may benefit from artificial disc surgery. Call our Phoenix office to learn more or to schedule a consultation.
Request an appointment here: https://arizonaneurosurgeon.com or call Randall Porter, M.D. at (602) 603-8951 for an appointment in our Phoenix office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Artificial Disc Surgery in Phoenix, AZ.
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