Frequently Asked Questions

What causes neck pain?

What is a herniated disc?

What is the difference between a herniated disc and a bulging disc?

Are bulging or herniated discs normal?

Does whiplash cause herniated discs?

Should I have a MRI if I have pain?

What can I do to avoid surgery?

Are there alternative therapies available to help me deal with my pain?

When do I need surgery?

Will I have irreversible damage if I delay surgery?

When do I need a fusion?

Why is surgery often done through the front of the neck?

What effect does a fusion have on the rest of the cervical spine?

Should I have allograft or autograft bone?

Will the surgery lessen my mobility?

Will I have pain after my surgery?

What are my chances for success?

What are my risks?

Will I have to wear a collar after surgery?

When will I be back to my normal activities? Driving?

What are common causes of back pain?

How do disc injuries cause back pain?

What is the difference between a herniated disc and a bulging disc?

Is it true that a bulging disc can be normal?

How did I herniate my disc?

What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?

What is the treatment for herniated discs?

What is degenerative disc disease (DDD)?

What is lumbar instability?

What is spinal stenosis?

What is the treatment for spinal stenosis?

My doctor told me that I have arthritis of my spine and that I should learn to live with the pain. Is this true?

When is surgery necessary for patients with spine problems?

What is a laminectomy?

My spinal specialist said I need a fusion. Is that true?

If I have a fusion does that mean I will never be able to bend?

My spinal specialist said he would be using implants in my spine. Is this really necessary?

Does it matter what screws and rods my surgeon uses?

Will fusing my spine cause damage to adjacent areas?

What are the risks associated with spinal surgery?

Do I need to wear a brace after surgery?

Does my insurance cover low back surgery?

How quickly can I expect to recover from surgery?

I have heard people talk about less invasive back surgeries. What are these? How do I know if I am a candidate?

Will I have to have physical therapy? If so, for how long?

Will I have to take medication for pain? Are there any medications I should be concerned about?

I hear that men should not have fusion surgery. Is this true?

What are some of the complications associated with fusion surgery?

How many times will I need to see my surgeon after surgery?

Why do some surgeons approach the spine from the back and others through the abdomen?

What are the risks from going in the from the front?

What are the risks from going in from the back?

My doctor said he would be using a bone graft. What does this mean? What is a bone graft?

My spinal specialist said he will take the bone graft from my hip. How big is that incision compared to the spine surgery?

Are there any alternatives to having a bone graft taken from my hip?

What are the differences between bone taken from my hip and donor bone?

I have heard people talk about the pain associated with harvesting bone from the hip. Does this happen to everyone and how long does it last?

Are there any potential complications with harvesting bone from my hip?

My spinal specialist said that he will perform the fusion from my back and will harvest bone from my hip without a separate incision. Will I be able to tell the difference between that pain and the main procedure pain?

I have heard people talk about hip pain after harvesting lasting up to two years or longer. Is that true?

What is the INFUSE® Bone Graft/LT-CAGE® Device and how does it compare to the natural protein in my body that helps bones to grow?

How does the INFUSE® Bone Graft/LT-CAGE® Device compare to the bone taken from my hip?

Is the INFUSE® Bone Graft/LT-CAGE® Device the same as the natural protein found in my body?

What keeps the INFUSE® Bone Graft/LT-CAGE® Device from growing bone in other places in my body?

Why is my doctor using a sponge with the INFUSE® Bone Graft/LT-CAGE® Device? What will happen to the sponge, will my body absorb it like a suture?

How is the INFUSE® Bone Graft/LT-CAGE® Device made?

Will the INFUSE® Bone Graft/LT-CAGE® Device cause any side effects?

If my doctor uses the INFUSE® Bone Graft/LT-CAGE® Device will I get as strong of a fusion as if he used a bone graft from my hip?

How do I know if I have scoliosis?

Is there someone I can talk to who has scoliosis?

Is scoliosis caused by not drinking enough milk or eating too much junk food?

Does scoliosis hurt?

Why do kids get scoliosis?

What are the goals and expectations of scoliosis surgery?

How much correction do you expect to achieve?

How long will the incision be, and what can I expect in terms of scarring?

Which vertebrae will be fused in the average scoliosis correction?

Do you normally show the patient the hardware that you will use in the surgery?

Can you see or feel the hardware under the skin?

How much growth would you expect the fused portion of my spine to have grown had it been left unfused?

What is a 'crankshaft phenomenon,' and when does it occur?

Would instrumenation without fusion be a better alternative than fusion when growth potential is remaining?

What will I be given for pain after surgery?

How often will I be awakened and checked by a nurse after my surgery?

When will I be able to get up and walk for the first time after surgery?

How soon will I be able to eat and drink after surgery?

What will be done to make my back incision safe after surgery?

Will I need physical therapy after surgery?

What are some types of therapy that I might have to undergo?

WIll I need a special type of mattress on my bed?

How much experience will the person who is monitoring my spinal cord function have?

What is a 'wake up' test and when is it performed?

I want my rib hump corrected. How is this done?

When can I take a bath?

Do I have to get my stitches taken out?

When can I go back to school?

How much can I do after surgery?

How long will I have to take pain medicine?

Do my rods have to be taken out?

Can I have children if I have had scoliosis surgery?

Do I need to eat a special diet and drink extra milk to help my spine heal?

What will my activity restrictions be after scoliosis surgery?

What are the differences between an open and an endoscopic procedure?

How big is the actual incision for an endoscopic procedure?

How long will I have to stay in the hospital after an endoscopic procedure?

What are the results of an endoscopic procedure performed with the CD HORIZON® ECLIPSE® Spinal System?

How will I know if an endoscopic procedure is right for me?

Is there a lot of pain after endoscopic surgery?

Can I shower after the endoscopic surgery?

What are my limitations after an endoscopic surgery?

When can I play sports again after I undergo an endoscopic procedure?

Will I need medication if my doctor performs an endoscopic surgery?

Does my insurance pay for an endoscopic surgery?

Will an endoscopic procedure improve my rib hump?

Are there restrictions for my long-term activity with an endoscopic procedure?

What are the treatment options for degenerative disc disease (DDD)?

What are the treatment options for arthritis of the spine?

What is cervical instability?

What are the treatment options for lumbar spinal stenosis?

What are the treatment options for cervical spinal stenosis?

Do I need to follow a special diet to keep my spine healthy?

How does scoliosis differ in an adult patient versus a younger patient?

What are the treatment options for adults with spinal deformity?

Will a spinal deformity continue to progress if left untreated?

With respect to back or neck pain, when are regular (plain) x-rays used to make a diagnosis?

What types of x-rays are used?

How effective are x-rays?

When do I need to have a MRI if I have back or neck pain?

When do I need to have a bone scan if I have back or neck pain?

When do I need to have a myelogram-CT if I have back or neck pain?

Do I need to have an EMG if I have back or neck pain?

Do I need to have a DEXA Scan if I have back or neck pain?

Are other tests used in diagnosing spinal conditions?

Can I take over-the-counter medications to relieve my back or neck pain?

Can I take a pain medication, such as TylenolŪ (acetaminophen), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) together?

What are the potential benefits and risks of spinal injections?

What is considered conventional treatment for low back pain?

What qualifies a physician to practice as a spinal surgeon?

When is surgery necessary for patients who suffer from a spinal condition?

What is the success rate for spinal surgery?

What are the potential complications of lumbar spinal surgery?

What are the potential complications of cervical spinal surgery?

What are the potential benefits and risks of spinal fusion?

What is the success rate for spinal fusion surgery?

What is a bone graft?

What are the potential benefits and risks of taking bone graft from my hip (pelvis)?

What are the potential benefits and risks of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)?

How long will it take me to recover from spinal surgery?

What will my activity restrictions be after spinal surgery?

Will I need to follow a special diet while I am recovering from my surgery?

What affect does osteoporosis have on the spine?

What is a vertebral compression fracture?

How common are vertebral compression fractures? Who is at risk?

What are the treatment options for vertebral compression fractures?

What is interventional radiology?

What is vertebroplasty?

How can I find out if I am a candidate for vertebroplasty?

How long does a vertebroplasty procedure take?

What are the risks associated with vertebroplasty?

How long will it take for me to recover from vertebroplasty?

What will my activity restrictions be after vertebroplasty?

Is vertebroplasty covered by Medicare or private insurance?

Is vertebroplasty a commonly performed procedure? In general, how many vertebroplasty procedures are performed each year in the United States? Abroad?

What is a cervical artificial disc?

What does a cervical artificial disc do?

How is a cervical disc different from a lumbar disc?

Are all cervical artificial discs the same?

Who is a candidate for a cervical artificial disc?

What type of surgical procedure is used to implant a cervical artificial disc?

What are the benefits of a cervical artificial disc?

What are the risks associated with cervical artificial disc surgery?

How large is the scar from a cervical artificial disc surgery? Where will the scar be?

How long will the patient be in the hospital?

How will patients be able to tell if the cervical disc surgery was successful?

What effect does a cervical artificial disc have on the mechanics of the spine?

What type of pain will patients have after cervical artificial disc surgery?

Is a plate necessary? Will I set off metal detectors?

What type of symptoms would a patient have to have for you to consider them as a candidate for the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc?

What are the potential benefits for a patient who receives the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc?

What are the potential risks for a patient who receives the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc?

What type of conditions does the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc replacement surgery treat?

How might the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc impact the patient's outcome?

What is the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc made out of? Is it a material that's been used in people in the past?

How is the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc implanted? Is it a familiar technique?

What type of pain will patients have after cervical artificial disc surgery?

How large is the scar from a cervical artificial disc surgery? Where will the scar be?

How long will the patient be in the hospital after cervical artificial disc surgery?

Do I have to do anything special after cervical disc surgery, like wear a soft neck collar?

How soon are patients typically able to return to normal activities after cervical disc surgery?

Why do you choose to use the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc over the standard of care you use now?

What are the differences between cervical disc replacement and lumbar disc replacement?

Will my insurance company pay for the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc?

What should I do if my insurance company does not pay for the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc?