A Closer Look at How We Replace Discs

If you’ve ever been in a car with less-than-stellar shocks, you know how essential impact absorption is. That’s especially true in your body, where every step you take creates forces your joints have to absorb. 

Fortunately, your spine has shock absorbers between every bone (vertebra). These gel-like spinal discs allow you to move comfortably as you walk, run, bend, twist, or do anything else your day demands. 

Unfortunately, if one of the discs runs into issues, you feel it. That’s why Patrick S Hill, MD, offers disc replacement. With this specialized surgery, he can swap out a faulty disc for an artificial one to restore your comfort and mobility. 

If you have persistent back pain or you’ve been told you need disc replacement, don’t hesitate to visit Dr. Hill at our office in Beverly Grove, Los Angeles, California. 

As you wait for your appointment, we can give you a better idea of what to expect with this guide. 

The details on disc replacement surgery

Disc replacement surgery is a type of arthroplasty, meaning it’s surgery with the goal of restoring function to a joint. You might not think of your spine as having joints, but it needs to bend and flex, just like your knee or elbow. 

Specifically, Dr. Hill specializes in both anterior lumbar disc arthroplasty and cervical disc arthroplasty. That means he has expertise in replacing discs in both your lower back and upper spine, near your neck. 

Dr. Hill performs disc replacement under general anesthesia, so you’re asleep the whole time. Once you’re under, he makes a very small incision near the problem disc. 

Next, he removes the damaged disc through the incision. Then, he inserts the synthetic disc into the now-open space and secures it in place. That disc might be made from metal, medical-grade plastic, or a combination of the two. Dr. Hill can talk with you about your options, so you can choose the right one for your spine. 

After securing the new disc in your spine, he closes the small incision with absorbable stitches and bandages the area. 

Usually, disc replacement surgery takes 2–3 hours. 

To get a clearer idea of what to expect, you can see some before-and-after X-rays in our gallery. 

Using the best resources available

To minimize your risk and improve your outcomes, Dr. Hill uses minimally invasive surgical techniques. That means he performs your disc replacement through the smallest incision possible. As a result, you have less bleeding and a lower risk for infection.

At the same time, minimally invasive surgery shortens your recovery period. 

The longest you should need to stay in the surgical center is two nights, and some people even go home the same day as their disc replacement surgery. 

Dr. Hill may have you wear a back or neck brace for a few weeks during your recovery. Generally, you’ll take medication and go to physical therapy to support your healing process.

Most people fully recover from minimally invasive disc replacement within three months. At that point, they step into a life with no back pain.  

If you want to learn more about disc replacement or find out if it’s right for you, call our office or schedule your appointment with Dr. Hill online today.