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Is Artificial Disc Surgery Safe?

Most people experience at least one episode of back pain during their lifetime. One of the primary causes of back pain is degenerative disc disease, a condition in which the discs that provide a cushion between the spinal vertebrae become hard and stiff. This condition can be extremely painful. Surgery is often the recommended treatment.

One of the newer surgical treatments involves the insertion of artificial discs, to replace the damaged ones, as an alternative to traditional spinal fusion surgery. However, the criteria for such surgery are very strict, which limits the number of eligible candidates.

You may be unaware of the fact that as many as 90% of all patients who are afflicted with lower back pain can address their condition through non-surgical alternatives, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). These alternatives are even more important to consider when looking at some of the potential complications of artificial disc surgery, which include:

• Bladder problems
• Male sexual dysfunction
• A possible need for additional surgery
• Infection
• Pain
• Paralysis
• Allergic reactions to the implants

Not surprising, the non-surgical methods suggested by the AANS include physical therapy, steroid injections, yoga and biofeedback. However, chiropractic care is extremely effective at relieving many types of disc problems. Because chiropractors are conservative by nature, we do not advocate drugs and surgery for the initial treatment of degenerative disc disease. Along with chiropractic care, we may suggest adjunctive procedures such as massage, specific exercises and rehab protocols.

It is always best to take a conservative approach to start with, and move to treatment that is more risky if the pain does not respond or worsens over time.