Disc replacement surgery can be beneficial if you have severe neck and back pain. Your spine surgeon will evaluate your condition before choosing the most appropriate surgery. Rancho Cucamonga disc replacement surgery is an outpatient procedure that reduces the need for hospitalization, ensuring a quick recovery.
When would you need the surgery?
You might need the surgery when you have a bulging disc or degenerative disc disease. If you have a herniated or bulging disc, you can have pain in your limbs due to irritated nerves. Degenerative disc disease can lead to pain when you lose the rubbery cushioning between your spinal discs.
What happens during disc replacement surgery?
Before your spine surgeon starts the procedure, they will place you under general anesthesia to make you comfortable. Next, they will make an incision on your abdomen to access your spine. Using specialized tools, your specialist will remove the damaged discs and bone spurs compressing your nerves.
After removal, they insert an artificial disc and close the wound with stitches and glue. The procedure can take about an hour, but it can take more time if your surgeon replaces more than one disc. If you have one disc replaced, you might leave the hospital the same day, but replacing more discs might require you to stay overnight.
Recovery
Your recovery will depend on how many discs your specialist replaced. If you have more than one disc replaced, you might need more time to recover than a person who only replaces one disc. You might start light activity between the second and fifth week after the operation.
If you undergo a cervical disc replacement, you will wear a soft collar for two weeks post-operation. Once the collar is off, you can start light physical therapy exercises to give you strength and slowly regain mobility. You might need up to four weeks of recovery for a lumbar disc replacement, but limit any activities that strain your abdominals.
The benefits of the procedure
Since it is an outpatient procedure that uses minimally invasive techniques, it has many benefits, including a quick recovery that gives you maximum value for your time. The following are common benefits of disc replacement surgery.
- Minimal scarring
- Less blood loss
- No need for hard collars and bone
- Less postoperative pain
- No need for bone grafting
- Rapid return to normal activities
Risks and complications
You might suffer several complications after disc replacement surgery, like any other surgery. The following are complications associated with the procedure.
- Post-operative bleeding
- Infection
- Tear of the dura, which can cause spinal fluid leakage
- Nerve damage
You can reduce the likelihood of the above complications by choosing a qualified and board-certified neurosurgeon and spine surgeon.
If you have neck or back pain, visit Ali H. Mesiwala, MD, FAANS for disc replacement surgery. Qualified and experienced specialists will thoroughly and carefully evaluate your spine and check on the health status of your discs. After evaluation, they can offer disc replacement surgery as treatment. Call or book an appointment online today.