About Lumbar Disc Replacement
Key Highlights
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Preserves natural spine motion and flexibility compared to fusion.May reduce stress and degeneration on adjacent spinal levels.Offers the potential for faster recovery and return to activities.Provides significant relief from chronic lower back and leg pain.Utilizes advanced, FDA-approved artificial disc implants.
Who is this surgery for?
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) at one or two levels (L3-S1) confirmed by imaging.
- Chronic, disabling low back pain unresponsive to 6+ months of conservative care.
- Herniated disc with associated back pain (discogenic pain).
- Patients with no significant facet joint arthritis, instability, or deformity.
- Preserved disc height and absence of severe osteoporosis.
How to prepare
- Complete pre-operative medical evaluation, including blood tests and heart check.
- Detailed imaging studies: MRI, CT scan, and possibly discography.
- Discontinue certain medications (e.g., blood thinners, NSAIDs) as advised.
- Maintain or begin a pre-surgery physical therapy and conditioning program.
- Arrange for post-operative support and transportation for discharge.
- Follow fasting instructions (typically nothing after midnight before surgery).
Risks & possible complications
- General surgical risks: infection, bleeding, blood clots, or anesthesia complications.
- Implant-related issues: wear, dislocation, subsidence (sinking into bone), or failure.
- Nerve injury, dural tear (cerebrospinal fluid leak), or persistent pain.
- Adjacent segment disease (accelerated wear at spinal levels next to the implant).
- Heterotopic ossification (unwanted bone growth around the implant).
- Potential need for revision surgery or conversion to a spinal fusion.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Hospital stay typically involves 1-3 days with early mobilization and pain management.
- Wear a back brace for initial support as recommended by the surgeon.
- Begin gentle walking immediately after surgery; avoid bending, lifting, and twisting for 4-6 weeks.
- Gradually resume light activities; formal physical therapy often starts after 4-6 weeks.
- Follow-up appointments for wound check and to monitor progress and implant position.
- Avoid high-impact sports and heavy labor for 3-6 months or as advised.
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Typical hospital stay: 2-3 days
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Expected recovery time: 6-12 weeks for initial recovery; 3-6 months for full activity
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering lumbar disc replacement in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for lumbar disc replacement in India include Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Miot Hospital Chennai, Manipal Hospital Rangapani, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform lumbar disc replacement. MediFyr helps you compare spine surgeons and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for lumbar disc replacement compare across other countries where we have data.
| Country | Estimated cost range | Typical stay | Recovery time | View details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | INR 450 Thousand – 900 Thousand | 2-3 days | ~ 6-12 weeks for initial recovery; 3-6 months for full activity | Know More |
| Turkey | TRY 1.58 Million – 3.15 Million | 2-3 days | ~ 6-12 weeks for initial recovery; 3-6 months for full activity | Know More |
Top hospitals for Lumbar Disc Replacement in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated spine surgery teams and experience managing patients undergoing lumbar disc replacement.
Reyansh Reddy, a 42-year-old software engineer...
Reyansh Reddy, a 42-year-old software engineer and father of two young children, had always been active, playing weekend cricket and carrying his kids on his shoulders. His back pain began subtly two years ago, dismissed as a 'desk job' ache. It progressed to sharp, electric shocks down his left leg (sciatica), making sitting for long coding sessions unbearable and playing with his children a painful chore. An MRI revealed a severely degenerated disc at L4-L5, compressing the nerve root. After months of failed physical therapy and epidural injections, his spine surgeon, Dr. Sharma, recommended a lumbar disc replacement. Dr. Sharma explained it could restore motion at the level, reduce adjacent segment disease risk compared to fusion, and offer a quicker return to an active lifestyle, crucial for Reyansh. The surgery went smoothly. Reyansh was walking the same day. His recovery involved cautious movement and core-strengthening physiotherapy. Within three months, the leg pain was gone. By six months, he was back to gentle cricket drills and, most importantly, could lift his daughter without flinching. Emotionally, he journeyed from frustration and fear of being a 'broken' provider to immense relief and gratitude, feeling he had reclaimed his role as an active, present father.
Spine surgeons for Lumbar Disc Replacement
Explore experienced spine surgeons who regularly perform lumbar disc replacement and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 20 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 14 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 15 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 14 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 25 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 24 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 12 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Kharadi, Pune
- 12 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Jayanagar, Bangalore
- 24 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Hebbal, Bangalore
- 25 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Artemis Hospital Gurgaon, Gurgaon
- 8 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Jaipur, Jaipur
- 7 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 5 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 11 Years Experience
- Orthopedist
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 12 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 12 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 25 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata
- 15 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata
- 17 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon
Manipal Hospital Dwarka, Delhi
- 19 Years Experience
- Spine surgeon