Annual Strength & Structure Section
Motion-preserving treatments can relieve pain while preserving mobility.
Understanding Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion is a surgery that connects two or more bones in the spine, preventing movement and thereby helping prevent pain. While this procedure can be an effective option to provide pain relief and stability, fusing the bones can permanently reduce mobility and place stress on adjacent levels above and below the fusion, which can cause faster breakdown at those levels. However, thanks to innovations in surgical techniques, motion-preserving treatment options are now available.
Alternatives Available
- Cervical disc replacement restores a disc in the neck, relieving pressure on nerves and the spinal cord.
- Lumbar disc replacement restores a disc in the lower back, treating chronic pain caused by disc degeneration.
- Facet joint replacement replaces diseased facet joints in the lumbar spine while maintaining motion.
- Microdiscectomy removes only the portion of a disc compressing a nerve, treating sciatica caused by a herniated disc while preserving stability.
- Spinal decompression removes structures that compress nerves, such as bone spurs or thickened ligaments, relieving pressure while preserving motion.
- Lumbar total joint replacement is designed to replace the function of both the disc and facet joints in the lower back to help relieve pain while preserving motion and function (pending FDA approval).
Benefits and Outlook
These alternatives to spinal fusion can treat pain and symptoms while preserving mobility and restoring quality of life by stabilizing the spine without permanently locking vertebrae together. If you are suffering from chronic neck or back pain caused by a damaged disc or other condition, speak with your doctor about whether a motion-preserving procedure is right for you.
An Expert Weighs In
Meet the Author
Rachel Studebaker, BA, English, Summa Cum Laude
Rachel Studebaker is a graduate of Lee University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in advertising with the distinction of summa cum laude and served as editor-in-chief of the university’s biannual magazine, The Vindagua. After graduation, Rachel joined CMC Media & Marketing Group as an editor. Today, she serves as managing editor and is responsible for leading the editorial team in the development and completion of content for 17 publications involving health & wellness, business, sports, and lifestyle published in print and online for HealthScope® and CityScope® magazines as well as Choose Chattanooga® and Choose Huntsville™ – premier publications serving Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia, and North Alabama. In addition to writing, editing, and coordinating copy, Rachel oversees networking and reputation management for the company’s publications. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, attending concerts, trying new restaurants, and traveling with her husband.
