Spine Disc Replacement

Spine Disc Replacement: New Jersey Spine Specialist

Spine Disc Replacement New Jersey Spine Specialist

When you need a spine disc replacement in New Jersey, contact the medical office of Dr. Grigory Goldberg. Shorten your travel time by contacting one of our various locations.

Accidents and aging wear down your body, especially on the cervical spine and the discs between your vertebrae. In some cases, these occasions can lead to deteriorating discs, which can cause severe and chronic pain. 

We offer solutions at the office of Dr. Grigory Goldberg, an expert in endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery and other spine treatments. After an evaluation, we can determine if a spine disc replacement would be a good option for you.

Spine Disorders That May Require Disc Replacement

Back pain stands as one of the most common medical ailments in modern times. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, we can expect 70 to 80% of all people to experience lower back pain. Furthermore, a study in Oxford’s Occupational Medicine journal indicates that one-tenth of men and one-fifth of women experience thoracic spine pain. 

Regardless of these numbers, all back pain does not necessitate surgery. The ones that do tend to fit into a few specific categories, such as:

Disc Issues

Your spine has rubbery cushions called discs that help connect the bones, absorb shock, and assist with mobility. As you age, these discs wear down naturally, often causing a reduced range of motion. In these cases, surgery isn’t always necessary, but we can suggest it depending on the amount of pain you experience.

More commonly, degenerative disc diseases and accident-related injuries damage the spine. The damage often appears as degradation or herniations (ruptures) in the shape of this body part. These changes pressurize the spinal nerves and sometimes even the spinal cord, which can affect other parts of the body.

Overgrown Bone

Sometimes, due to stress injury, or a physical disorder, the bone will produce growths called spurs. The unnecessary bone growth often causes pain, usually through putting pressure on nerves or reducing available disc space. You see bone spurs often occur with conditions like osteoarthritis or in injured areas that healed over improperly.

What Are Some Degenerative Disc Disease Signs?

As a note, degenerative disc disease covers any damage to the spinal discs. The diagnosis comes from the fact the disc is causing pain rather than a specific illness or disorder. Even if the disc damage occurred due to an accident, a doctor may diagnose you as having degenerative disc disease. 

Because this term functions as a catch-all for disc damage, the symptoms may vary depending on the person and injury location. For example, someone with lumbar or lower back issues may feel tingling or numbness in their legs. Someone with cervical disc damage may feel neck and shoulder pain or a tingling feeling in their arms.

The amount of pain varies per person as well. In some cases, it causes mild pain, but in others, it can be physically debilitating. 

Disc Replacement Surgery as a Solution

We often try to retain as much of the natural body as possible for the sake of your adaptability. However, depending on the severity of the disc condition or spinal issue, we may suggest a spine disc replacement instead.

Disc replacement surgery takes the damaged disc out and puts a mechanical one in its place. The device should move with the spine and function the same way the natural disc did before the degeneration. 

Artificial discs have shown increasing amounts of approval and success. A lumbar surgery study reported in a 2017 edition of the Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine reported an 87.5% clinical success rate. About 75% of them could return to work after the recovery period, a higher rating than after spinal fusion surgery.

Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery: Your Need To Know

All disc replacement surgeries in New Jersey require a hospital stay and ample time for rehabilitation. However, the surgery has become minimally invasive with time, so you generally don’t need to worry about big wounds.

During the procedure, you would be under general anesthesia. The surgeon would make a small incision above the space with the damaged cervical disc and remove its parts. Once removed, the surgeon replaces it with the mechanical one.

We close the incision with absorbable stitches that do not require future removal. Then, we cover the site of the incision to prevent agitation. For cervical surgeries, we may place you in a neck collar to restrict movement for the initial recovery process.

Of course, the procedure may differ depending on your medical needs. We discuss the details thoroughly and ensure your approval before we start any surgical planning.

Finding the Doctor That Is Right for You

Finding the Spine Doctor in NJ

Dr. Grigory Goldberg has a treatment philosophy that focuses on patient care and recovery. When you trust us with your health, we do our best to provide top-quality orthopedic care that exceeds expectations.

Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and personal injury protection (PIP). Contact the office closest to you to discuss your spine disc replacement options in New Jersey. Same-day appointments may be available.

FAQs About Spine Disc Replacement

How is disc replacement surgery in your neck different from your back?

While the back is a sensitive spot, the neck is even more so. The difference in location means that we look out for different body conditions and features to ensure your safety. As such, medical procedures have adapted cervical disc replacements to be less invasive than lumbar or thoracic spine surgeries.

What are the risks of spine disc replacement surgery?

As with any surgery, you risk reactions to anesthesia, bleeding, and infection. Due to the location of the surgery, you may also risk spinal fluid leakage, voice changes, or difficulty swallowing or breathing. Because of the severity of the surgery, our office puts as much emphasis on careful practice and expertise as possible.

How long does it take to recover from disc replacement surgery?

You can usually expect a full recovery around 6 to 12 weeks. It helps to incrementally practice physical therapy maneuvers to get your body used to the new disc.

Book An Appointment