Proudly Serving: Orange County
Dr. Verma evaluates every disc replacement candidate with advanced imaging and a detailed physical exam — and recommends motion-preserving surgery only when it’s the right fit for your anatomy and goals.
Years of Orthopedic Experience
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Star Patient Rating Across 300+ Reviews
FDA-approved artificial disc implants for cervical and lumbar levels
Motion preservation instead of permanent spinal fusion
Candidacy evaluation grounded in imaging, symptom mapping, and long-term outcomes
Artificial disc replacement is a motion-preserving spine surgery in which a damaged disc is removed and replaced with an FDA-approved implant designed to move the way a healthy disc does. The implant sits between two vertebrae and supports bending, rotation, and daily activity without locking the segment in place.
Disc replacement is performed in the cervical spine (neck) and the lumbar spine (lower back). It is most often considered as an alternative to spinal fusion — the traditional operation that permanently joins two vertebrae together and limits motion at that level.
For the right candidate, artificial disc replacement can mean less stress on adjacent disc levels over time, faster return to daily activity, and preserved natural motion in the treated area.
Dr. Verma confirms that the disc is the true source of symptoms, and that the surrounding anatomy can support an implant, before recommending replacement.
Conditions treated with artificial disc replacement include:
Not every patient with disc pain qualifies for artificial disc replacement. Candidacy depends on the specific disc level, the condition of the surrounding vertebrae and facet joints, your bone quality, and whether symptoms are actually coming from the disc itself.
Dr. Verma reviews your symptoms, physical exam findings, and imaging to determine whether disc replacement, fusion, or continued conservative care is the right path forward.
Imaging studies may include X-rays, MRI, and CT scans. Additional testing may include flexion-extension views to assess motion, and nerve conduction studies when symptoms suggest nerve involvement.
He reviews each finding with you on-screen during your visit and explains honestly why disc replacement is (or isn’t) the right answer for your case. Patients who aren’t candidates are given a clear alternative plan, not sent away.
Every patient’s disc presents differently. Dr. Verma begins with the least invasive appropriate option and advances toward disc replacement only when conservative care has been exhausted or when symptoms warrant surgical treatment.
Conservative treatment may include targeted physical therapy, activity modification, and image-guided injections when appropriate.
When surgery is the right answer and your anatomy supports it, Dr. Verma performs cervical and lumbar disc replacement using real-time imaging and computer-assisted navigation.
Disc replacement may be a consideration when you experience:
Ongoing lumbar pain that does not settle with physical therapy or injections.
Persistent cervical pain that limits rotation, working at a screen, or daily comfort.
Pain that radiates from the neck into the shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers.
Pain that radiates from the low back into the buttock, thigh, or calf.
Reduced strength in an arm, hand, leg, or foot from ongoing nerve compression.
Loss of sensation in the hand, foot, or a specific patch of skin.
Pins-and-needles in the extremities that interfere with sleep or daily function.
Stiffness that limits turning, bending, or everyday movement.
Symptoms that persist despite physical therapy, injections, medication, and time.
Schedule an evaluation with a Marina del Rey disc replacement surgeon when disc-related pain persists despite conservative care, or when you’ve been told fusion is your only surgical option.
If your symptoms have lasted longer than six weeks, radiate into a limb, disrupt sleep, or interfere with your ability to work and stay active, a specialist consultation can clarify whether disc replacement is appropriate for your anatomy and goals.
Progressive weakness, numbness that’s spreading, or loss of bowel or bladder control is a medical emergency and should be evaluated immediately.
Board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon with advanced fellowship training and an extensive peer-reviewed publication record in spine surgery.
Focused surgical training in motion-preserving procedures, including both cervical and lumbar artificial disc replacement.
Real-time CT guidance and computer-assisted navigation support the precision that disc replacement requires — smaller incisions, accurate implant placement, and faster recovery.
Dr. Verma reviews your imaging with you on-screen, explains every finding, and gives you an honest recommendation — not a pre-packaged surgical plan.
Many disc replacement patients come to Dr. Verma after being told fusion is their only option. He’ll give you a straight answer on whether a motion-preserving alternative fits your case.
Candidacy depends on the disc level involved, the condition of surrounding vertebrae and facet joints, your overall bone health, and whether symptoms are clearly coming from the disc. Dr. Verma reviews your imaging and exam findings during your visit to determine whether disc replacement is appropriate for you.
Fusion permanently joins two vertebrae together and eliminates motion at that segment. Disc replacement removes the damaged disc and replaces it with an implant designed to preserve natural motion. Disc replacement candidates often experience faster return to activity and less long-term stress on the discs above and below the treated level.
Yes. Dr. Verma evaluates and performs artificial disc replacement in both the neck (cervical spine) and the lower back (lumbar spine).
Most patients return to desk work within 1–3 weeks and resume gradual activity over the following 4–8 weeks. Specific timelines depend on which level was treated, your overall health, and the physical demands of your work and lifestyle. Dr. Verma will give you a recovery plan specific to your case.
Yes. The implants Dr. Verma uses are FDA-approved for the levels at which they’re placed, and he will walk you through the specific device recommended for your case.
If you’re looking for a Marina del Rey disc replacement surgeon, or a second opinion on whether fusion is really your only option, schedule an evaluation with Dr. Kushagra Verma at Advanced Spine Care.
He diagnoses disc conditions with careful testing, pursues conservative care first when it fits your case, and performs motion-preserving artificial disc replacement when it’s the right answer for your anatomy and long-term goals.
