• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Front Range Spine
and Neurosurgery
  • Bill PayRequest Appointment
    (303) 790-1800
Denver Hip & Knee Clinic
  • Home
  • Meet the Team
    • Meet the Surgeons
  • Conditions & Surgeries
    • Colorado Artificial Disc Institute
    • Cranial Conditions & Tumors
    • Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Spine & Nerve-Related Conditions
    • Hip & Knee Conditions
  • Treatments
    • Hip & Knee Treatments
    • View All Treatments
  • Patient Resources
    • New Patient Forms
    • Opiod Consent Form
    • Post-Op Care
    • Preparing for Surgery
  • Contact & Locations
    • Lone Tree
    • Parker
    • Colorado Springs
    • Castle Rock – Trail Boss Drive
    • Castle Rock – Limelight Ave

The Benefits of Artificial Discs

December 28, 2018

The vertical midline of your back comprises a series of stacked bones called vertebrae. Between each set of two vertebrae lies a small, cushiony disc that provides flexibility and shock absorption, while also helping to protect the nerves in the spinal cord.

A healthy spine flexes and moves comfortably at each of these discs. But as we age, our backs can begin to feel the wear-and-tear after many years of bending and twisting.

Many people don’t suffer pain or other complications from an aging back. But for others – especially those who have engaged in high-impact sports or active professions – the normal, age-related breakdown of the backbone can be much more severe. Your doctor may recommend surgery to replace your spinal discs that are causing pain.

Why Do I Need Disc Replacement?

You may be experiencing excessive cracking and drying of one or more discs in your spine, causing pain and limiting function. You may feel intense back pain, and this may also hinder your ability to move as much or as well as you used to.

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) can develop due to injury or a disease in your body. DDD most frequently occurs in the lower back (lumbar spine) or the neck (cervical spine), and it feels worse when you sit down – because there is more pressure being placed on your spinal discs.

Surgery for disc disease and back pain is reserved for severe cases that cause intense pain and debilitation – and when medication, physical therapy, and alternative treatments have failed. Having spine surgery can help you feel less pain and more mobility.

Types of Spinal Surgery

The two most common surgical treatments for disc problems are spinal fusion and artificial disc replacement. Let’s take a look at these two types of spinal surgery:

Spinal Fusion

Spinal fusion (arthrodesis) used to be the most common type of surgery for correcting disc problems in the back. In spinal fusion, two vertebrae are fused together after the disc in between them has degenerated or has been severely injured.

In spinal fusion surgery, the two vertebrae are connected together with screws, plates, and/or screws to hold the bones together permanently. This procedure immobilizes that segment of the back, so there is less mobility than before – but there should also be much less pain, or perhaps no more pain at all.

Artificial Disc Replacement

Artificial disc replacement (ADR) is a newer type of surgery for correcting degenerative disc disease. Rather than fusing the vertebrae together, the surgeon actually replaces the discs with new prosthetic discs – thereby allowing a degree of back movement.

These new artificial discs perform the job of a normal, healthier disc. They are made of metal and plastic materials and fit in the space where the healthy disc once was.

Advantages of Spinal Disc Replacement Surgery

There are a number of advantages to having artificial discs as opposed to spinal fusion, including:

  • Unlike spinal fusion, ADR preserves movement of the affected spinal segment.
  • ADR uses prosthetic materials, not bone grafts.
  • ADR may help prevent or slow down the degeneration of nearby vertebrae and discs.
  • An artificial disc is safe to implant, and it is reliable and long-lasting.

Back Pain Doctors in Colorado Springs

There’s no reason to continue living with back pain. Our team at Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery can help your back or neck condition, so you can start living more pain-free and feeling like your old self again. We have three locations for your convenience: Colorado Springs, Aurora, and Lone Tree.

To schedule a consultation with our surgical team, call us today at (303) 790-1800 or fill out our online appointment request form. We look forward to helping you get back to the active lifestyle you enjoy.

Filed Under: Artificial Disc Replacement Tagged With: Artificial Discs, artificial spinal disc replacement

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Acupuncture
  • Arachnoid Cysts
  • Artificial Disc Replacement
  • Back Pain
  • Back Surgery
  • Brain Surgery
  • Brain Tumor
  • Chronic Pain
  • Concussion
  • Disc Replacement Surgery
  • General
  • Lower Back Pain
  • Lumbar Spine
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • Neck Pain
  • Nerve Pain
  • Neurological Conditions
  • Neurosurgeon
  • Neurosurgery
  • Spinal Cord
  • Spinal Fusion
  • Spinal Surgery
  • Spine Surgeon
  • Stereotactic Radiosurgery
  • Stroke
  • Tumor
  • Upper Back Pain
  • Workers Compensation
December 2018
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Nov   Jan »

Tags

artificial disc replacement artificial disc replacement Colorado Springs CO artificial disc replacement Denver CO artificial disc replacement Lone Tree CO artificial disc replacement near me Artificial Discs artificial spinal disc replacement back pain back pain treatment near me Back Surgery Best Spine Surgeon near me Brain Surgeon in Colorado brain surgery Brain Tumor brain tumor symptoms Chronic Pain Concussion Front Range Spine & Neurosurgery Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery Lower Back Pain minimally invasive spinal surgery minimally invasive spinal surgery Colorado Springs CO minimally invasive spinal surgery near me Neurological Disorders neurologist neurosurgeon neurosurgeon colorado neurosurgeon Colorado Springs neurosurgeon Colorado Springs CO Neurosurgeon Denver CO Neurosurgeon experts Near Me neurosurgeon Lone Tree CO neurosurgeon near me neurosurgery neurosurgery Aurora CO spinal discs spinal disorders spinal fusion Spinal Surgery spine surgeon Lone Tree CO spine surgeon near me spine surgery spine surgery Aurora CO Spine Surgery near me traumatic head injury

Footer

Read Our Blog

Get the most up-to-date information about our practice and the latest advances in neurosurgery with our exclusive blog.

Learn More

Patient Education

Broaden your knowledge of the conditions we treat with our comprehensive patient education library.

Learn More

  • Home
  • Meet the Surgeons
  • Conditions & Surgeries
  • Treatments
  • Patient Resources
  • Contact & Locations
  • HIPAA Privacy Policy
  • ADA Disclaimer
  • Sitemap

Phone: (303) 790-1800
Fax: (303) 790-1809

Copyright © 2023 Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery. All Rights Reserved

iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

The neurosurgeons at Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery specialize in Colorado Artificial Disc Institute, Cranial Conditions & Tumors, Minimally Invasive Surgery, and Spine & Nerve-Related Conditions.