My wife is going to have a disc replacement in just a few weeks. She’s wondering how soon she’ll see results of this surgery.

According to a recent study at Yale University, most patients report significant improvement by three months. They had less pain and more function. Some also reported decrease use of pain relievers as a positive result in the first three months.

Problems can occur after any surgery and disc replacement is no exception. Bone fracture, infection, or subsidence can occur. Subsidence is the sinking down of the implant into the bone.

If all goes well patients are completely satisfied with the results. Disc replacement instead of spinal fusion gives the patient motion and function. It also preserves the motion and function at the levels above and below the level of the implant.