I thought I was going to be one of the lucky ones because I was approved for an artificial disc replacement. I’ve had it for six months now but I have back and leg pain worse than before the operation. Is there anything that can be done about this or am I stuck?

All spinal surgeries have risks and possible problems. Damage to the blood vessels or nerves can cause disabling back pain. Back pain with leg pain is a sign of nerve compression. This can happen if the disc space is not prepared properly before the ADR is implanted.

Size and placement of the implant are also important. If the ADR is too small, it may not fill the disc space enough to avoid pressure on the nerve as it leaves the spinal canal. The disc cannot be placed too far forward or backward or it can shift. Migration can lead to implant failure.

What can be done now? There are several options. First, the implant can be removed and the site fused. Second, the implant can be replaced by another. Perhaps a different size implant is needed — or a different placement inside the disc space. Or third, the implant may be kept in place and “locked down.” Locked down means the ADR is held in place with screws.

Before any treatment is decided on, the cause of the pain must be found. If the nerve was damaged, fusing or changing the implant may not be helpful. Your surgeon is the best one to evaluate your care and advise you. Further tests and/or imaging studies may be needed to pinpoint the source of the pain.