Adrspine: Artificial Disc Replacement 101

Artificial disc replacement surgery grants a patient artificial discs in the spine after procedure. A surgeon removes a part of the spinal cord to replace it with an implant. This procedure only occurs when part of the individual vertebrae of the spinal cord is damaged.

Today, you’ll be learning about how artificial disc replacement works here at Adrspine.com. You’ll find all the useful information that will help you make the decision of replacing your spine, or your family member if they need to.

A brief recollection of the human anatomy

The spine is segmented into different discs that allows your body to twist and bend flexibly. As you may know, the spinal cord’s purpose is to help someone stand straight up where you can support your own weight.

The spinal cord is different from the spinal column wherein the former is the long line of bones that help you move around and bend. The spinal column is where the brain and spinal cord connect where your brain sends impulses for the spinal cord to work properly.

The benefits of the artificial disc replacement

Artificial discs help patients with spinal cord problems mitigate the effects of bone, nerve, and muscle damage attributed to the injuries. Usually, the procedure takes the individual bones that are damaged beyond repair and replaces them with a synthetic bone-like disc that mimics the function and look of a vertebrae.

Furthermore, it also gives a conscious effort on behalf of the patient to sit upright and have a good posture overall to avoid future complications relating to the spinal cord. Aside from damages, it also alleviates pressure, pain, and aches when standing up or sitting down, and it provides comfort to the patients to have a normal spinal cord that works perfectly.

When should you replace your vertebrae?

There are many reasons to replace your spinal cord, or at least, the individual vertebrae that composes it. If you’re having back problems that affect your day-to-day life, it wouldn’t hurt to ask your doctor for a checkup so that you can plan on what the next course of action is.

An artificial disc replacement may not be needed in most cases, but constant discomfort and affected lifestyle are both huge factors to consider before going to your surgery. While it’s definitely expensive, the comfort you’ll feel afterwards is more than enough to go for it and have an artificial disc replacement surgery when you get a chance.