The Spine Pod

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

Available on:
YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts

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.

03/26/2026

Dr. Yam used to do more cervical fusions. Now he tries to find reasons NOT to do a cervical disc replacement.

The reason: patients do better. Less pain, lower re-operation rates, better outcomes.

The data and results speak for themselves.

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

03/25/2026

Even if disc replacement is only "as good" as fusion, conceptually it's still better.

Dr Alex Sielatycki explains why your spine is designed to move. Disc replacement preserves that. Fusion doesn't. Multi-level fusions come with higher complication rates, while multi-level disc replacements often mean faster recovery and outpatient surgery.

The catch? Insurance often covers fusion but denies disc replacement, even when disc replacement is the better option for you.

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

03/24/2026

Recovery isn't a straight line, and that's okay.

Andrew shares what helped him get through multi-level lumbar disc replacement recovery: staying positive, leaning on friends, gaming with his brother and cousins online, reading, and staying distracted. Some days felt like progress, others like setbacks.

Your mental state matters as much as physical healing.

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

03/20/2026

Cervical disc replacement is widely covered, but lumbar? Not so much.

Dr. Kamal Woods explains: lumbar disc replacement is technically harder, requiring surgeons who do them routinely, not occasionally. Then add reimbursement barriers that slow innovation and limit coverage.

Technical challenges + financial obstacles = limited access to motion-preserving options. But when patients ask for alternatives and demand better options, it helps move the needle.

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

03/19/2026

Dr. David Yam tracks how patients are doing even years after surgery to catch early signs of decline before quality of life slips. This is proactive, patient-centered care.

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

03/18/2026

Not all back pain is the same, and understanding the spectrum matters.

Dr. Alex Sielatycki explains: early-stage disc degeneration? Physical therapy. Herniated disc compressing a nerve? Minimally invasive discectomy. Advanced disease with instability? Motion-preserving reconstruction.

Good spine care matches the treatment to your stage of disease and isn't one-size-fits-all.

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

03/17/2026

The real cost of chronic back pain isn't just physical; it's everything else you lose along the way.

In this clip from The Spine Pod, Andrew, a police officer from San Diego, shares what most people don't see: missing weddings, skipping family visits, unable to drive more than 30 minutes without excruciating pain. Simple tasks become impossible, your world gets smaller, and you start wondering, "Is this going to be forever?"

The isolation is real, and the emotional toll is something only people living with chronic pain truly understand. Andrew experienced all of this, and after multi-level lumbar disc replacement, he finally got his life back.

Hear Andrew's full story available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

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

03/13/2026

It's not just preserving motion, it's restoring what's been lost.

Dr. Kamal Woods shares how his care philosophy has evolved over the last 12 years: many patients had lost significant movement, and he realized he could help restore it. Motion restoration expands what's possible for degenerative spine disease.

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

03/12/2026

Social media presence doesn't make a great surgeon, but asking the right question does.

Dr. Jeffrey Larson's advice for finding motion-preserving care: get second opinions from credible sources and always ask, "Are there alternatives to what you're recommending?"

That one question opens the door to better options.

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

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