Surgical Options for Lower Back Pain

What are the Surgical Options for Lower Back Pain?

For many patients experiencing pain of the lower back, legs and feet, conservative treatments will help relieve the symptoms of lumbar disc degeneration or injury. Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy, rest, painkillers or anti-inflammatory medications. Some doctors may prescribe electrical stimulation, too. If these first line of treatments fail and your lower back pain persists, then your doctor may suggest surgical options:

• Lumbar Disc Fusion or spinal fusion is a surgical procedure where the damaged spinal disc is removed to reduce spinal cord and/or nerve pressure. Following disc removal, the lumbar vertebrae on either side of the disc space are joined together in a process called spinal fusion.
• Artificial Lumbar Disc Replacement is a surgical procedure that involves removing the damaged spinal disc to relieve symptoms of pain, weakness, numbness and tingling in the lower back, legs and feet. Following the removal of the lumbar disc and any bony materials compressing or pinching the spinal cord and/or nerves, an artificial disc is implanted in its place. This implant is designed to restore proper spacing between the vertebrae, relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, and preserve motion at the treated level.

What is the Difference between Lumbar Fusion and Artificial Disc Replacement?

One of the main differences between lumbar fusion and artificial disc replacement surgery is the latter provides a greater range of motion. To meet the needs of most normal day-to-day activities, the spine and its vertebrae must be free to move in multiple directions. Spinal fusion does not preserve the previous range of motion associated with a healthy disc, but it may be a preferred treatment option for some back conditions.

Millions of people around the world suffer from lumbar disc degeneration, resulting in chronic pain, weakness or numbness of the back, legs and feet. The M6-L™ artificial lumbar disc offers an innovative non-fusion solution in treating degeneration of the lumbar disc. The M6-L device is the only artificial lumbar disc that is designed to mimic the structure and movement of a natural disc, enabling the back:

• to move backward and forward
• to move side to side
• to move up and down
• to rotate left and right

In addition, the M6-L disc is the only artificial lumbar disc featuring a shock-absorbing nucleus and fiber annulus that work together to replicate the controlled range of movement and cushioning effect of the natural disc. By allowing your spine to move naturally, the M6-L disc is also designed to potentially minimize the stress to the discs located above and below the treated level and other vertebral structures.

These benefits are why many patients have chosen the M6-L disc as an innovative next-generation option for people needing artificial disc replacement as an alternative to spinal fusion.