Medically reviewed by Dr. Scheid
Chronic back or neck pain that hasn’t responded to conservative treatment can reach a point where it shapes every part of daily life — limiting how you move, how you sleep, and what you’re able to do. For patients dealing with conditions like degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, or spinal instability, spinal fusion may offer a reliable path to lasting relief. When the source of pain is movement between unstable vertebrae, fusing those segments together can eliminate that motion and, with it, the pain.
At NeuroSpine Plus, we provide spinal fusion for patients throughout the Hamilton area and across New Jersey. Under the care of Dr. Edward Scheid, a spine surgeon with over 20 years of experience and more than 8,000 successful surgeries, our patients receive thorough evaluations and personalized treatment plans built around their specific condition. Our Hamilton location at 3836 Quakerbridge Road places high-quality spine care close to home, and our team is here to help you understand every step of the process.
What Is Spinal Fusion?
Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure designed to permanently connect two or more vertebrae, eliminating painful movement between them. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the procedure is essentially a welding process where vertebrae are encouraged to grow together into a single solid bone. This is typically achieved using bone graft material, which promotes new bone growth between the fused segments, and may be supported by hardware such as screws, rods, or plates to hold the spine stable during healing.
When Is Spinal Fusion Recommended?
Our spine care procedures include fusion as one option within a broader range of surgical and non-surgical treatments. Spinal fusion is generally recommended when a patient’s pain is directly tied to motion at a specific spinal segment and conservative treatments have not provided adequate relief. Common conditions that may lead to a recommendation for spinal fusion include:
- Degenerative disc disease: Breakdown of the cushioning discs between vertebrae, causing bone-on-bone pain and instability
- Herniated disc: When a damaged disc presses on nearby nerves and the instability around it contributes to persistent pain
- Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal that causes nerve compression, sometimes requiring decompression followed by fusion
- Vertebral fracture: Trauma to the spine that compromises structural integrity
- Revision surgery: Patients who have previously undergone spine surgery and require correction or additional stabilization
Not every patient with these conditions will need fusion. We evaluate each patient individually and discuss all available treatment options before recommending surgery.
Minimally Invasive Approaches to Spinal Fusion
One of the key advantages of choosing NeuroSpine Plus is our commitment to minimally invasive surgical techniques. Traditional open spine surgery requires long incisions and significant disruption to surrounding muscles, which can mean longer hospital stays and extended recovery periods. Minimally invasive spinal fusion achieves the same structural goals through much smaller incisions, reducing trauma to soft tissue and allowing patients to recover more efficiently.
How Minimally Invasive Fusion Works
Rather than opening a large portion of the back, our approach uses specialized instruments to access the spine with minimal disruption. Our minimally invasive spine surgery guide provides a helpful overview of these techniques and what to expect. Dr. Scheid performs both anterior and posterior spinal fusion procedures, approaching the spine from the front or back depending on the patient’s condition and anatomy. This flexibility allows him to select the technique most appropriate for each individual case.
Minimally invasive fusion typically results in less blood loss, reduced infection risk, shorter hospital stays, and a faster return to normal activity compared to traditional approaches. While the biological process of bone healing takes time regardless of technique, patients often experience meaningfully better short-term recovery with minimally invasive methods.
What to Expect From Spinal Fusion Treatment
A thorough diagnostic process comes before any surgical recommendation. Dr. Scheid reviews imaging studies including X-rays, CT scans, and MRI to pinpoint the source of a patient’s symptoms. Understanding the exact location and nature of the problem is central to our approach to spine conditions and guides every treatment decision.
If fusion is the right course of action, the procedure itself is performed under general anesthesia. Recovery involves a structured process that begins in the hospital and continues at home. Patients are typically encouraged to begin gentle movement relatively soon after surgery to support healing, while avoiding bending, twisting, or lifting during the early weeks. Full fusion — the point at which the bone has fully healed and solidified — can take several months, though many patients notice significant improvement in their pain long before that milestone.
Our team supports patients throughout recovery and is available to answer questions at every stage. With six convenient New Jersey locations, including our Hamilton office, follow-up care is accessible without long travel.
Contact NeuroSpine Plus in Hamilton, NJ
Spinal fusion is a meaningful step that can offer real, long-term relief for patients whose quality of life has been affected by chronic spine pain. At NeuroSpine Plus, we take the time to fully evaluate each patient, explain their options clearly, and recommend surgery only when it is the most appropriate path forward. Dr. Scheid and our team bring decades of combined experience and a genuine commitment to minimally invasive care to every patient interaction.
When you’re ready to learn more about whether spinal fusion may be right for you, we encourage you to meet our medical team and find out what sets NeuroSpine Plus apart. To schedule a consultation at our Hamilton office or any of our New Jersey locations, please contact us today.
Schedule an Appointment
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Scheid & The Team at NeuroSpine Plus
Last updated: May 1, 2026The team at NeuroSpine Plus is led by Dr. Edward Scheid, a board-certified neurosurgeon with over 20 years of experience and 8,000+ successful surgeries. Along with his dedicated team of physician assistants and medical professionals, NeuroSpine Plus specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery and comprehensive spine care across six convenient locations in New Jersey. Our clinical expertise in treating complex spine conditions ensures all content is medically accurate and based on proven treatment approaches we use daily in our practice.