Current Treatment Options
For most patients, non-surgical or conservative treatments will effectively relieve symptoms of Lumbar Disc Degeneration. These treatments may include a combination of rest, physical therapy, or the use of painkillers or anti-inflammatory medications. If pain persists despite these treatments, surgical treatment options may be considered. Your doctor will review the various treatment options available so that you can make an informed decision.
Fusion
The most common surgical procedure for treating Lumbar Disc Degeneration is Spinal Fusion, which removes the degenerated, painful disc and replaces it with a bone graft. Over time, the bone graft will unite with the vertebra above and below the disc space, thus “fusing” the two vertebrae together to form a single column of bone. The goal of spinal fusion is to eliminate pain by eliminating motion between the two vertebrae and restore proper spacing between them. Thus, fusion may reduce or eliminate chronic low back pain. However, because it also eliminates the motion and shock absorption at that segment, the adjacent segments are subject to increased stress, which may lead to more rapid degeneration, a condition known as Adjacent Level Degeneration.
Artificial Lumbar Disc Replacement
Artificial Disc Replacement has been developed as an alternative to fusion. Once the damaged disc is removed, it is replaced by an artificial disc. The artificial disc is designed to restore proper spacing between the vertebrae while preserving motion associated with a healthy disc. This motion may eliminate the occurrence of Adjacent Level Degeneration.
