Mercy Spinal Surgeon, Dr. Charles Edwards II, Discusses Cervical Disc Replacement

Cervical disc replacement surgery replaces a worn-out disc in the neck that can cause pain both in the neck as well as nerve pain going down the arm.

According to Charles C. Edwards, II, M.D., Medical Director of The Maryland Spine Center at Mercy, people who have arm pain that is not getting better with physical therapy and medication are good candidates for disc replacement.

"In the past, a fusion surgery was used to treat people with disc problems in their neck," Dr. Edwards said. "The fusion surgery works well; however, it takes away some of your natural flexibility. The advantage of the disc replacement is that it maintains your neck flexibility so you can continue to enjoy a full range of motion."

In the field of spine surgery, disc replacement represents the greatest advance they've had in the last 10 years, Dr. Edwards added.

To view Dr. Edwards’ interview regarding cervical disc replacement, click here.