Spinal disc herniation is a condition in which one or more of the gel-filled cushions between the vertebrae (called the spinal discs) bulge out through a tear in the outer ring of cartilage. The disc bulge causes pressure on nearby nerves, either putting pressure on them or compressing them causing irritation, numbness, and muscle weakness. By having degenerative disc disease surgery, you can alleviate the pressure and irritation on the nerves. Artificial disc replacement is a way to relieve back pain caused by a worn-out disc or by arthritis. It is an alternative to using just an artificial spacer (also called a fusion).
Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease
The signs and symptoms that accompany degenerative disc disease may include pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, instability, and other problems with walking or standing. The symptoms are often gradual in onset. They may act up the day after you first experience an episode of pain, or they may come on so slowly that you don’t realize it’s happening.
Replacing a Disc
To be able to have an artificial disc replacement, you will have a surgery where the vertebrae are removed and then replaced with a metal or plastic disc. This type of surgery is also called a fusion because it fuses (or welds) the vertebrae back together. As time progresses, the vertebrae and the disc-replacement will fuse together. Artificial disc replacement may be better than fusing the vertebrae because it allows for more flexibility in your back.
The artificial disc replacement is usually made out of metal or ceramic but always has a soft outer covering. This covering is made out of polyethylene. The discs can also be made out of metal and plastic, just like artificial spacer devices (also called cages). The disc replacements can be flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid.
Going through an Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery
The surgery to implant the artificial disc replacement is major surgery. It will probably require you to stay in the hospital for a few days, especially if it’s your first time having spinal fusion surgery. The surgery to insert the replacement disc will either be done from the front or from the back, depending on what you decide during your consultation with your surgeon.
The surgery to insert the replacement disc typically takes between 90 minutes and five hours. During the surgery, your surgeon will make an incision around the damaged disc, and remove parts of the vertebrae that have been damaged by the bulging disc. Then they will then push in and place the artificial disc replacement into place.
The incision will be closed with stitches or surgical staples and a drain is usually placed to prevent swelling. The artificial disc should be placed in the same position that your natural disc was in before the injury.
After you have the artificial disc replacement, it will probably take a few weeks for your body to start absorbing the disc (using it as an additional cushion between your vertebrae), but you can expect to have some back pain for a few months, especially at night time when your muscles are relaxed.
Having an artificial disc replacement is a great way to alleviate the pain and pressure on your nerves. It will help you to be able to do things that you thought you would never be able to do again. Artificial disc replacement surgery can also help slow down the progression of back pain caused by degenerative disc disease. If you are experiencing back pain, lower leg pain or numbness in your legs, you should contact a doctor immediately because these could be symptoms of other diseases besides just degenerative disc disease.