Is a lumbar disc replacement successful for sciatica?
On One Hand: Yes, It Often Is SuccessfulAccording to Dr. Yogesh K. Pithwa, sedentary individuals with sciatica are good candidates for disc replacement surgery. It is generally safe and more beneficial than using hardware. If you have more than one disc degenerating or have had previous back surgeries that did not work, this type of surgery can be successful, according to the University of Pittsburgh’s Medical Center. The whole disc or just the nucleus can be replaced, increasing success rates.On the Other: No, Back Pain May Not Be RelievedAccording to the North American Spine Society, surgery in general is less successful for the back pain associated with sciatica. While surgery usually relieves leg pain, low back issues may remain. Additionally, artificial disc replacement surgery is still a new procedure without research to confirm its success, especially for sciatica. The risks associated with this type of surgery are dislocation, infection and breakdown, according to Spine Univers
