FAQ

This is one of the biggest decisions patients face when exploring surgical options for neck or back pain—and it’s important to understand the difference.

Spinal fusion is a procedure where two vertebrae are permanently joined together. It can be effective for relieving pain, but it also eliminates motion at that level of your spine. That means less flexibility—and over time, it can place more strain on the discs above and below the fusion site.

Disk replacement, on the other hand, is all about preserving motion. Instead of locking the bones together, we replace the damaged disk with a carefully engineered artificial one. This allows the spine to move more naturally—and for the right patient, it can reduce recovery time and help protect nearby spinal levels from early wear and tear.

The right choice depends on your anatomy, your activity level, and your long-term goals. My role is to help you weigh those options carefully and choose what’s best for your body—not just today, but years down the road.

That’s an honest question—and one I deeply respect. When you’ve been living with chronic pain, it’s natural to hope for complete relief. And while I wish I could promise that, the truth is: no spine surgery can guarantee 100% pain elimination.

What I can tell you is this—most of my patients experience a significant improvement after disk replacement. They move better. They sleep better. They return to activities they had to give up—whether that’s exercise, work, or simply being more present with their families.

The key is making sure it’s the right procedure for the right patient. That’s why I don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. I evaluate not just your MRI, but your goals, lifestyle, and history of treatment.

My job isn’t just to perform a procedure—it’s to guide you toward the solution that offers the greatest benefit, with the least disruption to your life. And when disk replacement is the right fit, it can be a powerful step forward.

This is one of the most common—and important—questions I get in my practice. Disk replacement isn’t right for everyone, but when it is, it can be a truly life-changing option.

You might be a good candidate if:

• Your MRI shows isolated damage to one or two disks
• You’ve already tried non-surgical treatments like physical therapy, medication, or injections—with little or no relief
• You’re generally active, under 60, and don’t have major spinal deformities or instability

But here’s what I want all my patients to know: this decision isn’t based on a checklist alone. Every spine is unique. Every lifestyle, pain pattern, and recovery goal is different. That’s why I take time during our consultation to really listen—not just to your symptoms, but to your story.

Together, we’ll review your imaging, talk through your daily function, and weigh your options carefully. My goal is never to rush you into surgery—but to make sure that if it is the right path, it’s done with precision, intention, and your long-term wellbeing in mind.

Chronic spinal pain refers to ongoing pain in the neck or back that lasts longer than 12 weeks. It may stem from disk degeneration, herniation, arthritis, or nerve compression. This type of pain is often described as burning, sharp, dull, or radiating—and can be both physically and emotionally exhausting.

Yes—individuals with Tourette Syndrome, especially those who experience severe motor tics involving the head and neck, can be at increased risk for developing cervical spine disorders over time.

These repetitive, forceful movements may contribute to conditions such as:

• Cervical disc herniation
• Cervical radiculopathy (nerve compression)
• Cervical myelopathy (spinal cord compression)

In some cases, patients may even require surgical intervention to relieve pressure on nerves or the spinal cord. Procedures such as anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or artificial disk replacement (ADR) can be considered, depending on the nature and extent of the injury.

That said, not everyone with Tourette’s will experience these complications. The impact on the cervical spine depends heavily on the frequency, intensity, and pattern of motor tics. Some individuals may never develop significant spinal issues, while others may benefit from early monitoring and intervention.

In my practice, I take a comprehensive and highly individualized approach when evaluating patients with underlying neurologic conditions. If you or a loved one with Tourette Syndrome is experiencing persistent neck pain, weakness, or numbness, it’s important to seek care early. We’ll assess not just the spine, but the whole person—because your care should match your story.

When someone tells me, “I can’t turn my head without pain,” or “My neck and arm feel like they’re on fire,” I understand how much that disrupts your daily life—from sleeping comfortably to working, driving, or even enjoying a simple walk. These symptoms often point to a damaged cervical disk—and in the right situation, neck disk replacement can be a game-changer.

Neck disk replacement is a surgical procedure where I remove a worn-out or herniated disk in the cervical spine (the neck), and replace it with an artificial one designed to preserve motion. Instead of fusing the bones in your neck, we restore the natural spacing and allow the spine to move the way it was meant to—without nerve pain.

That’s a key distinction. Traditional spinal fusion limits movement by locking two vertebrae together. In contrast, a replacement maintains flexibility and can help protect the other levels in your spine from wearing down too quickly. It’s about healing your neck, not freezing it.

This option is often ideal for patients who have a single-level cervical disk issue and haven’t found lasting relief with non-surgical treatments like therapy or injections. And because of my background in both physical therapy and spine surgery, I approach this not just as a technical solution, but as a path to restore function and quality of life.

If you’ve been living with persistent neck or arm pain, you don’t have to keep pushing through. Let’s have a conversation. Whether neck disk replacement is right for you or not, my goal is to help you understand your options and make the most informed choice for your health and your future.

When I meet patients who’ve been dealing with constant back or neck pain—often for years—many of them have tried everything from physical therapy and injections to pain medications. They’re exhausted, frustrated, and wondering, “What else can I do that actually helps me move and live again?”
That’s where total disc replacement can become a turning point.

Total disc replacement, also known as artificial disc replacement, is a surgical procedure where I remove a damaged or degenerated spinal disc and replace it with a synthetic one designed to restore both height and movement between your vertebrae. This can be done in the neck (cervical spine) or lower back (lumbar spine), depending on where the pain is coming from.

What makes this procedure so unique—and why I often recommend it for the right candidates—is that it preserves the natural motion of your spine. Unlike fusion surgery, which permanently locks two bones together, total disc replacement is about movement, not restriction.

It’s ideal for patients who are active, relatively healthy, and suffering from disc pain that hasn’t improved with conservative care. And because my background includes physical therapy, I’m particularly mindful of how your body moves after surgery—my goal is not just pain relief, but long-term function.

I always tell my patients: this is about more than replacing a disc. It’s about helping you return to the life you want—whether that’s playing tennis again, working without discomfort, or simply waking up without pain.

If you’re wondering whether total disc replacement could be your answer, let’s start a conversation. Your spine deserves both strength and flexibility—and you deserve to feel like yourself again.

When patients come to see me for chronic neck pain that radiates down the arm—often with tingling, weakness, or numbness—they’re usually at the point where their daily life is being disrupted. And one of the most powerful solutions we discuss is cervical disc replacement.

Cervical disc replacement is a surgical procedure that replaces a damaged disc in your neck with an artificial one—designed to restore normal motion, relieve nerve pressure, and help you get your life back.

What sets this procedure apart is that it preserves motion. Unlike spinal fusion, which permanently locks two vertebrae together, cervical disc replacement allows you to move your neck more naturally. This matters not just for comfort, but for reducing strain on the surrounding levels of your spine. Think of it as keeping the rest of your spine from aging faster than it needs to.

As both a spine surgeon and a former physical therapist, my approach blends surgical precision with a deep understanding of how the body moves and heals. Not everyone is a candidate for cervical disc replacement—but if you’re active, have a single-level disc issue, and want to maintain mobility, this may be a life-changing option.

It’s not just about fixing the disc—it’s about helping you drive your kids to school, sleep through the night, return to yoga, or just look over your shoulder without pain. That’s what this surgery can offer when chosen carefully and performed thoughtfully.

If you’re navigating neck pain that isn’t improving, let’s talk. You deserve answers—and options that protect your future mobility.

As a spine surgeon and former physical therapist, I get asked this often—especially by patients who are tired of living with neck or back pain that just won’t go away.

Synthetic disc replacement—also known as artificial disc replacement (ADR)—is a motion-preserving alternative to spinal fusion. Instead of fusing bones together, we replace the damaged disc with a medical-grade artificial one designed to mimic the movement and cushioning of your natural disc. It’s like giving your spine a second chance at mobility—without the pain.

This procedure is most often used in the cervical (neck) or lumbar (lower back) spine when a disc has worn out or become injured, causing nerve pressure, stiffness, or radiating pain. The beauty of ADR is that it doesn’t lock your spine in place—it restores motion. That’s especially important if you’re still active and want to stay that way.

If you’ve tried physical therapy, injections, or medications and still feel like pain is limiting your quality of life, ADR might be the next step. And here’s the key: it’s not just about the disc—it’s about your life, your function, and your future. I work closely with each of my patients to determine if ADR is the right fit for their body and goals.

Because I’ve personally faced spinal injury and rehab myself, I understand how frustrating it is to feel like you’re doing everything right but not getting better. My approach always blends compassion with evidence-based care—and that includes offering options like ADR when it’s the right solution.

If you’re wondering whether synthetic disc replacement could help you move freely again, I’d love to talk through it with you.

Torrance, California

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