Medically reviewed by Dr. Scheid
Living with chronic neck or back pain from a damaged disc can make every movement feel like a struggle, leaving you wondering if you’ll ever find relief without sacrificing your spine’s natural mobility. While spinal fusion has traditionally been the go-to surgical solution for severe disc problems, disc replacement surgery offers an innovative alternative, preserving motion at the affected level. Understanding this advanced spinal procedure and whether it might be right for you can open new possibilities for achieving lasting pain relief while maintaining your spine’s natural function.
At NeuroSpine Plus, Dr. Edward Scheid stays at the forefront of spine surgery innovation, offering advanced treatment option,s including disc replacemen,t to patients throughout New Jersey. With over 20 years of experience and more than 8,000 successful surgeries, Dr. Scheid focuses on minimally invasive approaches, prioritizing both pain relief and preservation of your spine’s natural biomechanics.
What Is Disc Replacement Surgery?
Disc replacement surgery, also called arthroplasty, removes a damaged or degenerated disc and replaces it with an artificial disc designed to maintain motion at that spinal segment. Unlike spinal fusion, which eliminates movement between vertebrae, disc replacement preserves the spine’s natural range of motion while eliminating the pain caused by the damaged disc. The artificial disc mimics the function of a healthy natural disc, allowing the spine to bend, flex, and rotate normally.
The procedure can be performed in either the cervical spine in your neck or the lumbar spine in your lower back, though cervical disc replacement is more commonly performed and has been available longer. Artificial discs are made from medical-grade materials such as metal, polyethylene plastic, or a combination of both, designed to withstand the forces and movements your spine experiences daily. These devices have undergone extensive testing and refinement to ensure they provide long-lasting, reliable function.
Conditions Treated With Disc Replacement
Disc replacement surgery is primarily used to treat degenerative disc disease causing chronic pain and not responding to conservative treatments. This condition occurs when the cushioning discs between vertebrae break down due to age, injury, or wear and tear, leading to pain, inflammation, and sometimes nerve compression. When the disc degeneration is isolated to one or two levels and isn’t accompanied by significant instability or deformity, disc replacement may be an excellent option.
Herniated discs in the cervical spine causing arm pain, numbness, or weakness may also be treated with disc replacement, particularly when the disc damage is severe enough that simply removing the herniation isn’t sufficient. Cervical radiculopathy, where nerve root compression causes radiating arm pain, can be effectively addressed with disc replacement when the problem stems from disc degeneration at a single level.
Not all spine conditions are suitable for disc replacement. Patients with significant osteoporosis, spinal instability, facet joint arthritis, or deformities like scoliosis typically aren’t good candidates for this procedure. Previous surgery at the same level, infection, or certain anatomical variations may also make fusion a better choice. Your surgeon will evaluate your imaging studies, overall health, and specific spinal condition to determine if disc replacement is appropriate for you.
The Disc Replacement Procedure
Disc replacement surgery typically takes one to two hours, depending on whether you’re having a cervical or lumbar procedure and how many levels require treatment. You’ll receive general anesthesia, and your surgical team will use imaging equipment throughout the procedure to ensure precise placement of the artificial disc.
For cervical disc replacement, your surgeon makes a small incision in the front of your neck, similar to the approach used for cervical fusion. The muscles, blood vessels, and windpipe are gently moved aside to access the spine without cutting through them. Your surgeon then removes the damaged disc and any bone spurs compressing the nerves or spinal cord. The disc space is carefully measured and prepared to receive the artificial disc, which is then inserted and positioned precisely to restore proper disc height and alignment.
Lumbar disc replacement requires a similar anterior approach through an incision in your abdomen. A vascular surgeon often assists with this procedure to safely move aside the major blood vessels lying in front of the lumbar spine. Once the spine is accessed, your surgeon removes the damaged disc, prepares the space, and inserts the artificial disc. The artificial disc is designed to fit securely between the vertebrae without requiring screws or other fixation devices in most cases.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
Recovery from disc replacement surgery is often faster than recovery from fusion surgery as you don’t need to wait for bone healing to occur. Most patients stay in the hospital for one to two days following cervical disc replacement, though some may go home the same day. Lumbar disc replacement typically requires a slightly longer hospital stay of two to three days.
You’ll be encouraged to walk within hours of surgery to promote circulation and prevent complications. A soft cervical collar may be worn for a week or two after cervical disc replacement for comfort, though it’s not always necessary. Pain management will include prescribed medications, and most patients find their arm or leg pain improves immediately as nerve compression is relieved.
Physical therapy usually begins within the first few weeks after surgery. Your therapist will guide you through exercises designed to restore range of motion, strengthen supporting muscles, and optimize the function of your artificial disc. Most patients can return to desk work within two to four weeks, while those with more physically demanding jobs may need six to twelve weeks before resuming full duties. Unlike fusion surgery, disc replacement doesn’t have the same long-term restrictions on bending, twisting, or lifting, though you’ll still need to use proper body mechanics to protect your spine.
Contact NeuroSpine Plus for Disc Replacement Surgery
Disc replacement surgery represents a significant advancement in spine care, offering patients the opportunity to eliminate pain while preserving their spine’s natural motion. This innovative procedure provides an alternative to fusion for carefully selected patients, potentially offering faster recovery and fewer long-term restrictions. At NeuroSpine Plus, Dr. Scheid’s skills with advanced surgical techniques ensure you receive comprehensive evaluation and, if appropriate, quality surgical care prioritizing both pain relief and functional outcomes.
If you’re experiencing chronic neck or back pain from a damaged disc not responding to conservative treatment, a thorough evaluation can help determine whether disc replacement might be right for you. With six convenient locations throughout New Jersey, including Paramus, Edison, North Bergen, Mount Laurel, Jersey City, and Hamilton, accessing quality spine care is easy and convenient. Fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation with Dr. Scheid and explore whether disc replacement surgery can help you achieve lasting relief while maintaining your spine’s natural mobility.
Disc Replacement FAQs
At NeuroSpine Plus, the chances of complications from surgeries like this are rare due to our surgeons’ steady, skilled hands. With decades of experience and over 8,000 surgeries, Dr. Scheid is well-versed in how to provide patients with lasting pain relief.
All surgical procedures have an inherent level of risk associated with them. With artificial disc replacement surgery performed by our board-certified neurosurgeons, the risks are rare. All risks and benefits associated with undergoing any procedure are discussed at length with our board-certified neurosurgeons prior to proceeding with surgery.
Disc replacement surgery offers a lot of benefits, such as:
- Increased flexibility and mobility
- Reduced stress and pressure on the spine
- Lower risk of complications
- Fast recovery
Ideal candidates typically have disc-related pain that hasn’t responded to conservative treatments, have only one or two damaged discs, maintain good overall spinal alignment, have no significant facet joint disease or osteoporosis, and are not significantly overweight. Dr. Scheid at NeuroSpine Plus will evaluate your specific condition to determine if this procedure is appropriate for you.
There are several FDA-approved artificial disc devices available for both cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) applications. These devices typically consist of two metal plates with a mobile core between them that allows for movement. Dr. Scheid will discuss the specific options appropriate for your condition.
Clinical studies show that artificial disc replacement can be highly effective for properly selected patients, with success rates comparable to or better than fusion surgery for certain conditions. Most patients experience significant pain reduction and improved function after recovery from the procedure.
Modern artificial discs are designed to last many years, potentially for the remainder of a patient’s life. However, long-term data is still being collected as these devices have been in widespread use for less than 20 years. Some patients may eventually require revision surgery if the device wears out or complications develop.
Most artificial discs are made of materials that may trigger sensitive metal detectors. It’s advisable to carry a medical implant card (which Dr. Scheid can provide) when traveling through security checkpoints, though many patients report no issues with standard metal detectors.
Coverage varies by insurance provider and policy. Cervical disc replacement has better coverage than lumbar procedures, as some insurance companies still consider lumbar disc replacement investigational. NeuroSpine Plus’s staff can help verify your coverage and discuss financial options prior to treatment.
On average, it takes around 6 weeks to return to normal activities following a disc replacement. Sometimes, it can take longer to recover, based on the complexity of the surgery.
If you believe you may be a candidate for an artificial disc replacement surgery, call our office today to book your consultation at 201-399-3388.
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Medically Reviewed by Dr. Scheid & The Team at NeuroSpine Plus
Last updated: March 3, 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.