Can I Replace More Than One Diseased Disc in My Lower Back?

Degenerative disc disease affects most of us as we age — after the age of 60, about 90% of people show evidence of degeneration in their spinal discs. And for many, this degeneration paves the way to low back pain and other symptoms.

Making your lower back issue more challenging, you have more than one damaged disc that’s contributing to your discomfort, and you want to know whether artificial disc replacement is off the table. The good news is that, no, artificial disc replacement is still very much an option.

At our neurosurgery practice, Dr. Ali H. Mesiwala and our team have been helping patients with disc-related lower back pain for decades. In fact, Dr. Mesiwala is a leading expert in artificial disc replacement surgery, a motion-preserving, pain-relieving procedure that has helped scores of patients reclaim their lives.

Here’s a look at how we can address multilevel disc replacement to get you moving without pain again.

The nature of disc-related back pain

Lower back pain represents the largest disability around the world, and experts predict that global numbers will jump from 619 million to 843 million by 2050 thanks to an aging population. 

Though many conditions fuel these increasing numbers, disc-related issues in the lower back account for more than their fair share.

Over time, these discs can lose moisture and become more brittle, leaving them vulnerable to herniation and bulging. And when disc matter escapes its intervertebral space, it can come into contact with nearby nerve roots and fibers, leading to serious symptoms in your lower back and legs.

To resolve disc-related back pain, fusion procedures in which the diseased disc is removed and the vertebrae fused have been common, but drawbacks are possible, primarily a loss of motion and adjacent segment disease, which is a common complication of fusion surgeries.

For these reasons, our team often recommends artificial disc replacement when available, which not only relieves your symptoms, but also preserves the motion in your lower back.

Multilevel lumbar disc replacement

Artificial disc replacement isn’t a new spine surgery, but one that we’ve been using for two decades now. This is good news because this extended time period has allowed us to perfect and expand the procedure, which is why multilevel disc replacement is an option.

If your low back pain stems from two diseased discs, Dr. Mesiwala can often replace both discs during the same procedure. Performing a multilevel disc replacement means a longer surgery, but it doesn't necessarily mean a longer recovery, especially if you follow our postoperative instructions for re-strengthening your spine.

Who may not be a candidate for artificial disc replacement

There are instances in which artificial disc replacement isn’t a great option, whether it’s one disc or two, such as:

• The presence of severe facet joint disease
• Structural issues, such as scoliosis
• Poor bone density and osteoporosis
• Previous spine surgery
• Obesity
• Other health conditions that can complicate surgery

If none of these apply, then there's every reason to believe that you would make a good candidate for artificial lumbar disc replacement. The best way to know for sure is to see us for an evaluation. 

To sit down with one of our artificial disc replacement experts, please contact one of our offices in Newport Beach, Marina del Rey, or Rancho Cucamonga, California, today to schedule an appointment.