Disk replacement eases back pain while maintaining normal spine movement. At Medicus Spine & Joint, the well-known team of orthopedic spine surgeons with five locations in Brunswick, Georgia, Mount Pleasant and Bluffton, South Carolina, and Gainesville, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville, Florida, performs disk replacement to treat lower back pain caused by herniated disks. To find out if you’re a candidate for disk replacement, call the office nearest you or schedule a consultation online today.
Disk replacement is a newer procedure for lower back pain. Similar to knee and hip replacement procedures, disk replacement involves removing your damaged intervertebral disk (the cushion between the vertebral bones) and replacing it with a prosthetic device.
The purpose of the artificial disk is to restore spinal movement and stability while easing lower back pain. Unlike other types of spine surgery, disk replacement is thought to correct common motion issues and is a popular alternative to spinal fusion.
The orthopedic spine surgeons at Medicus Spine & Joint determine who should have disk replacement after an evaluation. They perform imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to examine your spine and intervertebral disks.
The surgeons may consider you a candidate for disk replacement if you have back pain from damaged intervertebral disks in the lumbar spine (lower back). They may not consider you a candidate for the procedure if you’re overweight or have a history of previous spine surgery.
Surgery for disk replacement takes two to three hours. Your orthopedic spine surgeon at Medicus Spine & Joint approaches your lumbar spine from the front of your body (anterior), allowing them to access your spine and the problematic disk without disturbing the nerves.
Your surgeon removes the damaged disk and inserts the prosthetic device.
Medicus Spine & Joint has you stay at the hospital for a few days during your initial recovery from disk replacement surgery. They have you stand and walk within the first day and start physical therapy during your hospital stay.
Your surgeon sends you home with specific instructions about activity and exercises and has you continue with physical therapy to support your recovery. You may notice improvements in pain within a few weeks. Recovery time varies but may take several weeks.
Lower back pain affects your quality of life and is a common cause of disability. Disk replacement may provide the relief you need to help you get back to doing the things you love.
Are you a candidate for disk replacement? Call Medicus Spine & Joint or schedule a consultation online to find out.