"I was told I needed a multi-level fusion. I didn't even know disc replacement existed."

Nick's back pain started in his early 20s. After a discectomy in his mid-20s, he returned to an active life — until years later when severe sciatica came back and began affecting everything from his ability to put on a belt or sit in a chair.

Multiple surgical consultations led to the same recommendation: spinal fusion. But Nick, an active CPA, soon-to-be dad, and lifelong athlete, wasn't willing to accept that as his only option.

In this episode, Nick shares what happened when he pushed for clarity instead of settling for a single answer. Through additional opinions and independent research, he discovered a motion-preserving alternative to fusion, called artificial disc replacement.

That realization ultimately led him to VSI and Spine Surgeon Dr. Ehsan Jazini, where Nick learned he was a candidate for a three-level disc replacement.

Today, he reports zero back pain since surgery and has returned to skiing, running, swimming, weightlifting and living without restrictions.

This conversation explores important questions for anyone facing spine surgery:

• How do you know if you're being told about all your options?
• When should you get a second—or fourth—opinion?
• What is the difference between spinal fusion and artificial disc replacement?
• What does recovery look like after multi-level disc replacement surgery?

If you've been told spinal fusion is your only option, or if you're scheduling your life around your back pain, this episode could change your path forward.

Ready to explore your options? Visit VSIspine.com to schedule a consultation with a spine specialist who can discuss both fusion and disc replacement candidacy.

📺 Watch this full episode on YouTube

💡 Read Nick's story in this blog.

🔔 Subscribe to Get Back to Your Life® podcast for more expert advice for taking control of your health.

How do you stay active when pain keeps getting in the way?
If your fitness goals get off track because of pain, you're not alone — and even better, you're not out of options.

Pushing through pain, ignoring warning signs, or waiting to "get better first" often leads to setbacks, frustration, and giving up altogether. Most of us aren't lacking motivation; we're missing a clear plan for what to do before surgery becomes the only option.

In this episode, VSI physiatrist and Director of Regenerative Medicine Dr. Niteesh Bharara and VSI physical therapist Greg Morris deliver a practical, hopeful reality check. Together, they walk through the non-operative path that's often missing from traditional care — what exists between "just wait" and surgery — showing how physical therapy and natural healing work together to address the root cause of pain, support real tissue healing, and help people return to training without the extensive recovery that often comes with surgery.

This episode is for you if:

• You have fitness goals, but pain keeps interrupting your progress

• You've been told to "just wait" or "push through it"

• You want real, non-surgical options to move forward

If pain has left you feeling stuck or unsure of what to do next, this episode shows there is another path forward: one that helps you keep moving, training, and doing the activities you love.

📺 Watch this full episode on YouTube
🔗 Find expert resources at VSISpine.com

🔔 Subscribe to Get Back to Your Life® podcast for more expert advice for taking control of your health.