Topic: Disc Health

Degenerative disc disease is a condition that is commonly misunderstood. A degenerated disc is not actually a disease—it is part of the normal aging of the spine. When a spinal disc degenerates, it loses its ability to function efficiently as part of the spinal joint, which in turn can lead to back pain and possibly pain that radiates through the extremities. As a disc degenerates, the soft inner gel in the disc can leak back into the spinal canal. This is known as disc herniation, or herniated disc. Once inside the spinal canal, the herniated disc material then puts pressure on the nerve, causing pain to radiate down the nerve leading to sciatica or leg pain (from a lumbar herniated disc) or arm pain (from a cervical herniated disc).

Artificial Disc Replacements: What Patients Need to Know Artificial Disc Replacements: What Patients Need to Know
Artificial Disc Replacements: What Patients Need to Know
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Medical and Scientific Board
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Should I Wait? Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Should I Wait?
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Medical and Scientific Board
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Deciding on a Cervical Implant Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Deciding on a Cervical Implant
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Deciding on a Cervical Implant
Medical and Scientific Board
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Finding a Surgeon Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Finding a Surgeon
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Finding a Surgeon
Medical and Scientific Board
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Replacing a Fusion with an Artificial Disc Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Replacing a Fusion with an Artificial Disc
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Replacing a Fusion with an Artificial Disc
Medical and Scientific Board
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Europe and Disc Replacement Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Europe and Disc Replacement
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Europe and Disc Replacement
Medical and Scientific Board
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Spine Surgery and Quality of Life Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Spine Surgery and Quality of Life
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Spine Surgery and Quality of Life
Medical and Scientific Board
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Fusion, Artificial Disc, Or Both? Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Fusion, Artificial Disc, Or Both?
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): Fusion, Artificial Disc, Or Both?
Medical and Scientific Board
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): FDA Approval and Spine Surgery Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): FDA Approval and Spine Surgery
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): FDA Approval and Spine Surgery
Medical and Scientific Board
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): What is a Cervical Disc and Why Consider Disc Replacement? Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): What is a Cervical Disc and Why Consider Disc Replacement?
Artificial Disc Replacement (Neck Pt 1): What is a Cervical Disc and Why Consider Disc Replacement?
Medical and Scientific Board
Compare the Outcomes of Disc Replacement Versus Disc Fusion Compare the Outcomes of Disc Replacement Versus Disc Fusion
Compare the Outcomes of Disc Replacement Versus Disc Fusion
James Schwender, MD Twin Cities Spine Center, Minneapolis, MN