Care services · Long Beach, CA
Motion Preservation Surgery in Long Beach, CA
Fusion stops motion at a painful level. Motion preservation surgery takes a different approach: it removes the source of pain and replaces or supports the disc so the segment keeps moving the way it was designed to.
Motion Preservation Surgery in Long Beach, with patients welcome from across South Bay, Orange County and the greater Los Angeles area.
Overview
What is motion preservation surgery?
Motion preservation is a family of procedures, led by artificial disc replacement in the neck and lower back, that relieve nerve compression and disc pain while keeping the vertebrae mobile. The damaged disc is removed and an implant with a moving core takes its place.
Because the level still bends and rotates, the discs above and below are not asked to work harder. That lowers the risk of adjacent segment disease, the wear that can follow a fusion years later.
Is it right for you
Who is a candidate?
Motion preservation works best when the pain comes from one or two discs and the joints and bone around them are healthy. Dr. Bhalla confirms this with imaging and a careful exam.
Conditions treated
- Cervical or lumbar disc herniation
- Degenerative disc disease at one or two levels
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Early cervical myelopathy from a disc
Common symptoms
- Arm or leg pain from a pinched nerve
- Neck or low back pain that has not improved
- Numbness or tingling
- Mild weakness
Near you
Motion Preservation Surgery in Long Beach, CA
Dr. Bhalla provides motion preservation surgery for people in Long Beach and the surrounding cities. Dr. Bhalla leads the Spine Center at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center.
If you live in Signal Hill, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Orange County or anywhere nearby, a consultation is a short drive away.
Patients come to us from
- Long Beach
- Signal Hill
- Lakewood
- Seal Beach
- Los Alamitos
- Cypress
- Bellflower
- Torrance
- Huntington Beach
- Carson
Not on the list? We see patients from across Southern California.
Benefits
What are the benefits?
Keeping motion changes how the whole spine ages, not just the treated level.
Natural movement kept
The treated level continues to flex, extend and rotate.
Protects neighbors
Less stress on adjacent discs lowers the chance of future surgery.
No bone graft to heal
Without a fusion, there is no waiting months for bone to knit.
Quicker recovery
Most patients return to normal activity faster than after fusion.
Recovery
How long is the recovery?
Because there is no fusion to protect, you are encouraged to move early. Most disc replacements are outpatient or a single overnight stay.
01/First days
Home and moving
Walking begins the same day. A soft collar may be used briefly for neck procedures.
02/Two to four weeks
Daily life
Driving, desk work and light activity resume as comfort allows.
03/Six to twelve weeks
Full activity
Physical therapy restores range of motion and strength. Most restrictions are lifted.
Safety
Is it safe?
Artificial discs have been used for more than two decades with long term studies showing durable pain relief and implant survival. Risks are similar to fusion, including infection, nerve irritation and, rarely, implant movement. Dr. Bhalla selects the implant and technique to match your anatomy.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an artificial disc last?
Modern implants are designed to last decades. Long term studies past ten years show low rates of revision.
Can I have motion preservation if I was told I need a fusion?
Sometimes. It depends on why fusion was recommended. If the facet joints are healthy and the problem is the disc itself, replacement may be an option. A second opinion with your imaging is the way to find out.
Will I feel the implant?
No. Once healed, patients do not feel the device. Many report the neck or back feels more natural than before surgery.
Is it covered by insurance?
Cervical disc replacement is widely covered. Lumbar coverage varies by plan. Our office verifies benefits before scheduling.
In the news
Dr. Bhalla on this topic.
Long Beach Business Journal
A "surreal experience": Father and son surgical team repair spines in Long Beach
The Long Beach Business Journal spent a day in the operating room with Dr. Amandeep Bhalla and his father, Dr. Sarbpaul Bhalla.
May 18, 2022
Becker's Spine Review
Named one of the 150 best spine surgeons in America by Newsweek
Becker's Spine Review reported Newsweek's 2024 list of America's best spine surgeons. Dr. Bhalla is among the surgeons recognized.
June 12, 2024
Los Angeles Business Journal
Los Angeles' Top Doctors: Amandeep Bhalla
The Los Angeles Business Journal profiled Dr. Bhalla as one of Los Angeles' Top Doctors, a recognition he received in both 2021 and 2022.
2021
Long Beach Post
Working to avoid spine injury
Writing for the Long Beach Post, Dr. Bhalla explains why back pain costs American workers 264 million days a year and what to do about it.
April 26, 2019
Other services
More ways we treat the neck and back.
Non-Surgical Care
Evaluation, physical therapy, medication and targeted treatment first. Surgery only when it is truly the answer.
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Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Small incisions, muscle-sparing tools and faster recovery for the neck and back.
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Cervical Disc Replacement
Replace a worn neck disc with a moving implant instead of a fusion.
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Cervical Fusion
A proven operation for nerve and spinal cord pressure when the neck needs stability.
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Lumbar Disc Replacement
A motion preserving alternative to fusion for painful low back discs.
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Outpatient Spinal Surgery
Spine procedures done in a day, with recovery at home the same evening.
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Revision Spinal Surgery
Expert care when a previous spine surgery has not delivered the result you hoped for.
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Sacroiliac Joint Minimally Invasive Fusion
A small incision procedure for stubborn low back and buttock pain from the SI joint.
Learn more