How Long Does Artificial Disc Replacement Last?
Modern artificial discs are designed to function for many years, with some implants expected to last 20 years or longer. However, there is no fixed expiration date, and how long an artificial disc lasts depends on the implant, the treated spine, surgical technique and the patient's overall health.
Artificial disc replacement (ADR), also called total disc replacement or disc arthroplasty, is…
Revision Microdiscectomy vs Fusion for Recurrent Disc Herniation
A microdiscectomy can provide meaningful relief from leg pain, numbness, weakness, or sciatica caused by a herniated lumbar disc. However, a disc can herniate again after the initial surgery.
When that happens, the next step is not automatically another microdiscectomy or spinal fusion. The key question is whether the problem is mainly the recurrent disc or whether the spinal segment itself…
Sciatica Surgery: Treatment Options for Leg Pain Relief
People experience leg pain for a variety of reasons. When the pain originates in the lower back or hip and radiates into the leg, it may be due to sciatica. Symptoms of sciatica develop because of irritation or pressure that is applied to the sciatic nerve.
For many, sciatica goes away on its own or responds to conservative treatments. Sometimes, however, surgery may be necessary.
What is…
Scoliosis Braces for Children and Teenagers
Scoliosis Bracing (also called orthotics) remains a valid and widely used treatment option for children and teenagers with spinal deformity. Although doctors have used bracing as a scoliosis intervention for centuries, modern advances in orthotic materials have enabled spine specialists to help slow or halt the progression of abnormal curvature.
However, scoliosis bracing is generally…
Vertebral Body Tethering Surgery for Scoliosis
Scoliosis affects about 2-3 percent of the American population. This disease causes your spine to curve to one side and usually develops during childhood or early adolescence. For most patients, scoliosis treatment often relies on the help of a rigid brace. Although braces can prevent the progression of abnormal curvature, they can’t reverse the existing problem.
For children and teenagers…
5 Daily Habits to Help Manage Chronic Back Pain
Living with chronic pain, particularly chronic back pain, is a daily struggle for millions of Americans, impacting every aspect of life; from physical comfort to emotional well-being. While daily habits cannot replace a personalised diagnosis or treatment plan, they can play a meaningful role in supporting long-term pain management.
Let’s look into five daily habits that may help manage…
Strength Training for Scoliosis
Living with scoliosis doesn't mean you have to avoid strength training. In fact, the right exercises can improve core stability, reduce muscle fatigue, and make everyday activities feel easier. While strength training won't straighten a structural spinal curve, it can play an important role in managing symptoms.
For many patients in Morristown, Bridgewater, and Rockaway, NJ, a personalized…
Microdiscectomy Recovery Timeline
While every person's healing journey is different, recovery after a microdiscectomy is often quicker than many people expect. Most patients are walking the same day, return to light daily activities within one to two weeks, begin physical therapy around four to six weeks and resume most normal activities within three to six months. Although recovery looks different for everyone, a study…
How Microdiscectomy Differs for Cervical and Lumbar Herniated Discs
If you are dealing with a herniated disc, you have probably heard the term microdiscectomy. It is one of the most reliable, minimally invasive procedures available. But there is a common misconception that a disc herniation is treated the exact same way regardless of where it happens.
In reality, location changes everything.
What Does a Microdiscectomy Do?
Despite what the name implies,…
Cervical vs. Lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement: Understanding the Difference
Cervical and lumbar artificial disc replacement both remove a worn disc and replace it with a motion preserving implant, but the neck and the lower back put very different demands on that device. A cervical disc is small and built for turning your head, while a lumbar disc is larger and carries your body weight with every step. That difference changes the surgical approach, who qualifies, and…