Disc replacement surgery changing the game for those with neck pain

When Cheryl Trevithick was dealing with chronic neck pain from a disc herniation, her husband learned about a solution that made perfect sense to his engineering-wired brain: cervical disc replacement surgery.

Instead of fusing the spine together - a common procedure for those suffering from disc herniations or arthritis - disc replacement surgery places a mechanical device between the vertebrae to preserve range of motion.

"With the fusion, the bones become one piece. You lose that movement, and everything becomes stiff," said Tony Trevithick. "It's the exact same idea as when you're constructing a building - range of motion and flexibility is critical."

Just as critical was the worsening pain Cheryl felt with every movement.

"I couldn't live with the pain any longer," she said. "That's when I knew I needed to explore my options to find a solution."

When surgery was suggested to her, Tony urged his wife to research all possibilities. Nine years ago, he had hip replacement surgery using an innovative approach that was associated with quicker recovery and less complications - and he was thankful he did.

"Knowing what a difference it made for Tony when he chose the more cutting-edge option, we decided to talk with Dr. Mark Mikhael who is one of the few who perform cervical disc surgery," Cheryl said.

Dr. Mikhael, an orthopaedic surgeon with the NorthShore Orthopaedic Institute and Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, said cervical disc replacement surgery is a good option for the right patient. NorthShore surgeons can determine the best surgical method based on the patient's anatomy and evaluation.

"It's important that patients are aware of their options, including cervical disc replacement surgery," he said. "If a patient is a viable candidate, this type of procedure can drastically reduce their pain and get them back to activities they enjoy."

Cervical disc replacement surgery offers a quick recovery, and patients are walking hours after surgery. With increased range of motion, patients are able to return to their activities sooner, and finally experience comfort.

This type of surgery has lower reoperation rates than spinal fusion surgery, which can require additional surgeries if the fusions don't fully heal, Dr. Mikhael said.

"We felt very comfortable with Dr. Mikhael and his staff and confident this was the best choice for me, so when he told me I was a good candidate for the surgery, we set the ball in motion," Cheryl said.