Cervical Disc Replacement for Visalia Patients

Getting here from Visalia

We see patients only in Fresno. There is no Visalia office and no clinic days in Tulare County. Central Visalia to central Fresno is about 44 miles. Most people take Highway 198 west to Highway 99 and then head north, and the trip usually takes 45 to 50 minutes.

Visalia has its own large hospital, Kaweah Health Medical Center, with orthopedic and neurosurgery services. Many people get their neck care there. Our Visalia patients often come because they want to ask specifically about disc replacement, or they want a second opinion before a fusion.

How cervical disc replacement works

The discs in the neck are cushions between the bones. When one wears out or bulges, it can press on a nerve root and send pain, tingling, numbness or weakness into the shoulder, arm or hand. If it presses on the spinal cord, it can affect balance and hand use.

The surgery is done through a small cut in the front of the neck. The damaged disc is taken out, which relieves the pressure. An artificial disc then goes into the space. It is made to move, so the neck can keep bending and turning at that level. Learn more on the cervical disc replacement page.

Dr. Higginbotham has performed cervical total disc replacement at Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno.

Disc replacement or fusion?

For many years the standard operation was anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), which joins the two bones after the disc is removed. ACDF is still a good operation and the better fit for many people. Disc replacement may be an option when:

• The problem is at one or two levels
• The spine is stable
• The small joints at the back of the neck do not have severe arthritis
• Bone quality is good enough to hold the implant

Common causes include a herniated disc in the neck and disc degeneration that has narrowed the space for a nerve.

Work and daily life in Visalia

Kaweah Health is the largest employer in Visalia, with thousands of workers. Nurses and aides who help move patients, county and school staff who spend long hours at a screen, drivers and warehouse workers at the distribution centers in the Visalia Industrial Park all put different kinds of demand on the neck.

No single job causes a disc problem, and most neck pain gets better without surgery. When surgery is a real option, people ask how soon they can look over their shoulder to drive, reach overhead or return to a physical job. We give honest answers based on your imaging and your work, and we do not rush the decision.

Planning your care from Visalia

1. Imaging sent

   Ask Kaweah Health or your imaging center to send your neck MRI images and any x-rays.

2. Consult in Fresno

   An exam, a look at the images and a talk about disc replacement, fusion or nonsurgical care.

3. Surgery

   Done at Fresno Surgical Hospital. Same day home or one night there for many people. Bring a driver for the ride back to Visalia.

4. Follow-ups

   Short trips to Fresno to check healing and x-rays. Therapy can often be in Visalia.

Since the drive is under an hour, most Visalia patients go home the same day they are discharged. Our guide to recovery after spine surgery covers the first weeks at home.

Risks and what recovery asks of you

Disc replacement is still surgery on the spine. The risks include infection, bleeding, trouble swallowing, a hoarse voice and injury to a nerve or the spinal cord. Over time the implant can move or wear, and another operation may be needed later. We explain each one and how it applies to you before you decide.

In the first weeks at home, most people walk daily, avoid heavy lifting and limit long periods of looking down, such as at a phone or laptop. Your return to driving, desk work and physical work each has its own timeline. Because Visalia is close, follow-up visits are short trips, and you can call our office between visits if something does not feel right.