Question 1

1) What Is degenerative disc disease?

Accepted Answer

The role of spinal discs that separate the vertebrae is to absorb shock in the spine while allowing movement. Degenerative disc disease is a disease in which the discs in the spine gradually worn down and eventually fail.

Question 2

2) What are the symptoms of degenerative disc disease?

Accepted Answer

Low back pain is the most common symptom seen in the people suffering from degenerative disc disease.

Question 3

3) What is a spine lumbar disk replacement?

Accepted Answer

A spine lumbar disk replacement is a type of spine surgery. Our spine is comprised of bones called vertebrae. These vertebrae are stacked on top of each other and disks between them work like cushions to allow them to rotate and move. The main purpose of these cushions is to prevent the bones from rubbing against each other. Spine lumbar disk replacement involves substituting a worn or deteriorated disk in the lower part of the patient's spine with an artificial metal or plastic disk.

Question 4

4) What makes a person a good candidate for a spine lumbar disk replacement surgery?

Accepted Answer

You are a good candidate for a spine lumbar disk replacement surgery if your:

Back pain mostly comes from only one or two disks in your lower spine

Or you:

Are not excessively overweight
Don’t have scoliosis or another spinal deformity
Don't have compression on the nerves of your spine
Have no significant joint disease
Haven’t previously had spinal surgery

Question 5

5) What are the risks of a spine lumbar disk replacement?

Accepted Answer

Like all surgeries, spine lumbar disk replacement has some risks. A disk replacement is riskier lumber fusion surgery.

Some of the possible risks of this surgery involve:

Blood clots in the legs
Dislocation or dislodging of the artificial disk
Implant failure or fracture
Implant loosening or wear
Infection of the artificial disk
Infection to the area around the disk
Stenosis
Stiffness or rigidity of the spine

Question 6

6) What type of anesthesia is used?

Accepted Answer

Spine lumbar disk replacement is commonly seen as an alternative to the more conventional spinal fusion surgery which permanently joins two vertebrae together. Spine lumbar disk replacement is major surgery and requires general anesthesia and a hospital stay.

Question 7

7) How does one get ready for a spine lumbar disk replacement?

Accepted Answer

You need to get some physically examed, your medical history reviewed and undergo imaging tests that will help your physician to identify the true nature and extent of your spinal damage. If you smoke, then you will be asked to stop doing that. You also need to inform your physician about all your prescriptions, vitamins, and supplements that you are taking and may even need to stop taking them if your doctor suggests so, and you may also have to stop eating and drinking several hours before the surgery.

Question 8

8) Who decides if a person needs a spine lumbar disk replacement?

Accepted Answer

The main reason a person may need a spine lumbar disk replacement is to treat his or her low back pain. That does not mean everyone with low back pain is a good candidate for a spine lumbar disk replacement surgery. The physician decides if the procedure is the right procedure for you.

Question 9

9) What happens during a spine lumbar disk replacement?

Accepted Answer

The patient is first put under general anesthetic. Then a team of surgeons starts the procedure together. They usually make an incision in the abdomen and the organs and blood vessels are moved to the side to allow access to the patient's spine. The surgeon removes the damaged disk and puts the new artificial disk in its place and organs and blood vessels are put back in place and the incision is closed. The patient is then taken to a recovery area for close monitoring until he or she awakes from the anesthesia.

Question 10

10) What happens after a spine lumbar disk replacement?

Accepted Answer

The patient will mostly need to stay in the hospital for a few days after the surgery. As a lumbar disk replacement doesn’t require bone to heal, the recovery period is much quicker compared to other back surgeries. Most patients can expect improvement of lower back pain and disability in weeks to months following replacement. But disk replacement only improves but does not completely eliminates pain.

Question 11

11) What is the cost of spine lumbar disc replacement in India?

Accepted Answer

The cost of Lumbar Disc Replacement Surgery in India ranges from INR 4,60,000 to INR 5,00,000, which is comparatively lower than the other countries.

Lumbar Disc Replacement

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Treatment

Risks

After Procedure

Lumbar Disc Replacement from one of the best multi-speciality hospital: Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road Earlier Columbia Asia Hospital Sarjapur Road, Sarjapur Road, India

Dr. Balamurali Krishnan