The Spine Pod

The Spine Pod Conversations about Motion Surgery
New episodes every other Wednesday

Available on:
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04/29/2026

Most people want to know two things after a cervical disc replacement: how long until I feel better, and when can I get back to my life?

Dr. Jason Cuéllar breaks down realistic cervical disc replacement recovery timelines. Six weeks? About 75% better. Three months? Around 90%. That last 10% can take a couple more weeks or months, but most people are already back to work within one to two weeks, depending on what they do.

The recovery isn't just about the procedure itself. It's about matching expectations with reality so you can plan accordingly.

How long did it take you to feel back to normal after a procedure?

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

04/28/2026

If you're a patient and your MRI report says "herniated disc," you're probably panicking. Don't.

Dr. Ahilan Sivaganesan breaks down what's actually happening in your spine with his orange analogy.

The key thing most people miss? A herniation doesn't automatically mean you need surgery.

Lots of people walk around with herniations and zero symptoms. Understanding the difference between "something showed up on imaging" and "something is causing your pain" changes everything about how you approach treatment.

Save this if you're waiting on MRI results or researching back pain.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

04/27/2026

Not every surgeon who offers disc replacement has mastered it. And that matters more than you'd think.

Dr. Alex Sielatycki uses the golf analogy: you can't play once and expect to be good. You have to commit to getting better over years. The same is true for motion preservation. It takes repetition, working with different implants, seeing problems from multiple angles, and recognizing patterns that only come with experience.

When you're choosing a surgeon, volume matters. Someone doing a few disc replacements a year isn't the same as someone doing hundreds. Ask how many they've done and how often they do them.

What questions have you asked surgeons when researching your options?

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

04/24/2026

Back pain doesn't just hurt your body; it takes over everything. Your ability to sit, to drive, to show up for the people you care about.

In this clip from The Spine Pod, Andrew, a police officer from San Diego, describes what it's really like when every movement causes pain and you're searching for answers that actually make sense. The physical struggle is only part of it; the isolation and mental weight are just as real.

If this sounds familiar, know you're not going through it alone.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

04/21/2026

Most people think spinal fusion is permanent. Dr. Todd Lanman proved it doesn't have to be.

Sometimes the best breakthroughs happen when a patient asks for something nobody's tried yet.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

04/20/2026

Ever wonder why we call it residency? Or how women finally got the opportunity to go to medical school?

Dr. Pierce Nunley shares the backstory most people never hear. Turns out, one woman's refusal to back down changed the entire trajectory of medicine.

The origins of things we take for granted are usually way more interesting than you'd think.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

04/16/2026

Some insurance companies still call lumbar disc replacement "experimental" after more than 20 years of use. Dr. David Yam has been doing them since the original trials, and patients still get denied.

The reality? Some people end up considering medical tourism because they can't access the treatment at home. Even when insurance does cover it, the hoops are exhausting. Six months of required PT, endless documentation, constant follow-ups. Some patients understandably just give up.

But surgeons like Dr Yam keep pushing the industry forward, and when patients demand better coverage and ask for motion-preserving options, it moves the needle. Change is slow, but it's happening.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

04/15/2026

Would you prefer an overnight stay in the hospital or getting home to the comfort of your own bed after surgery?

The idea of going home the same day after spine surgery sounds wild, but it's becoming the standard for good reason.

Dr. Jeffrey Larson explains how a lot of spine surgeries don't require hospital stays anymore. Hospitals need their beds for sicker patients with serious comorbidities. Meanwhile, surgery centers are built specifically for procedures like this: best equipment, specialized teams, and everyone focused on getting you in, done safely, and home to recover.

It's not about rushing you out. It's about matching the care environment to what you actually need.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

04/14/2026

Spondylolisthesis can sound terrifying when it shows up on your MRI report. But here's what it actually means: one vertebra has slipped relative to another. Not a slipped disc. A slipped bone.

Dr. Ahilan Sivaganesan explains the part most reports don't tell you: having spondylolisthesis doesn't automatically mean you need surgery. What matters is whether it's rigid (fixed in place) or dynamic (moves when you move), and whether it's actually pinching nerves.
Lots of people have spondylolisthesis and live normal lives without surgery. The diagnosis alone isn't the problem. It's whether it's causing symptoms that determines what you need to do about it.

Save this if you're researching spondylolisthesis or waiting on imaging results!

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

04/03/2026

Dr. David Yam does over 100 disc replacements a year, and he wants to do more.

The challenge? Insurance barriers have held back lumbar disc replacement for years. But he's also looking ahead: Motion preservation is evolving, and the next generation of treatment options could change everything.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

04/02/2026

Here's what most people don't realize: the price tag on spinal fusion doesn't stop at surgery.

Dr. Alex Sielatycki explains the full picture: expensive implants, long recovery keeping you out of work, and the repeat surgeries down the line when adjacent levels break down. Motion preservation costs less long-term because you're not cycling back into the OR and are often getting back to doing the activities you love.

The data is building for motion surgery, but changing an entire industry takes time.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

04/01/2026

Most people wait until their back pain gets unbearable. But what if you could catch the problem before it gets worse?

Dr. Jeffrey Larson (CDA Spine) explains how he now tests for discogenic pain early by injecting lidocaine into the disc to know with near-certainty if that's the source. If the pain disappears, you've found the culprit.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

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