PAIN MANAGEMENT
Photo of a person doing crunches

For many people, having a pain in the neck is more than a cliché; it’s a bone-crunching daily misery. Neck and arm pain are among the most common reasons to visit a doctor.

Many types of neck and arm pain will resolve without specific treatment, but when it lasts more than a week, it could signal something more serious. Degenerative disc disease occurs when the discs in your neck, which act like “shock absorbers” and keep the spine flexible, become damaged as a result of the normal aging process, everyday wear and tear and certain injuries and conditions. Patients with degnerative disc disease often have to limit their activities because of the uncomfortable symptoms.

EXCITING NEW TREATMENT

The established treatment for degenerative disc disease—removing the damaged disc and fusing two cervical vertebrae together—remains an effective treatment for many patients. However, some patients who are age 65 or younger may be candidates for an exciting new procedure at Montefiore Medical Center. Neurosurgeons at Montefiore are among the first in the area offering newly approved artificial disc replacement surgery.

“The new procedure doesn’t replace traditional discectomy and fusion procedures, but it’s an effective tool that gives a new way of treating some patients with this very common and painful condition,” says Michael L. Smith, MD, a neurosurgeon at Montefiore and assistant professor of Neurological Surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

During standard discectomy/fusion procedures, surgeons remove the diseased disc through an incision in the neck and lock the two vertebrae together with a titanium plate. Doctors performing artificial disc replacement procedures also remove the diseased disc, but instead of fusing the adjacent bones, they insert an artificial disc. This maintains the normal flexibility of the spine.

EASES PAIN

“The new procedure helps relieve pain and discomfort and preserves natural movement in the neck,” says John Houten, MD, a neurosurgeon at Montefiore and associate professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery at Albert Einstein. Dr. Houten performed the first artificial cervical disc replacement procedure at Montefiore in 2007. “It also helps keep the spine healthy because it doesn’t put added stress on the surrounding vertebrae. This may reduce the chance of having more problems in the future.”

Photo of Doctors For more information or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Smith or Dr. Houten, please call 718-920-7498.

Nonsurgical Treatment Options Considered First

Many people develop degenerative cervical disc disease as they get older and the gel-filled discs between the vertebrae in the neck become thin and lose their elasticity. People with this condition may experience pain, weakness or numbness or tingling in the neck, arms or hands. The symptoms can make it difficult to walk or move naturally and may affect people’s balance.

Surgery isn’t the only treatment option. Depending on the type and severity of symptoms, neurosurgeons may recommend that patients first try conservative therapies, such as physical therapy or injections to control pain.

“Patients with cervical disc disease may get better without surgery,” says Michael L. Smith, MD, a neurosurgeon at Montefiore Medical Center and assistant professor of Neurological Surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “Your neurosurgeon can help you understand your options and recommend the treatment best suited for your condition.”