By KELLY WILSON

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Billie Parrish had chronic neck pain, as well as swelling and numbness in her left arm, for years because of degenerative disc disease.

But she "literally woke up better" after an artificial disc replaced the damaged disc.

"It was instant relief for my neck. I woke up with full mobility and a smile on my face," said Parrish, 36, who had surgery in September 2008. "I started to get the feeling back into my arm and my hand immediately. The headaches have stopped. That was a big problem."

Dr. Arden Reynolds, a neurosurgeon at Quincy Medical Group, performed the surgery.

The artificial disc, which replaced the damaged disc in the cervical spine, is designed to maintain motion, as opposed to the more traditional treatment of removing the damaged disc and fusing the spine to protect the spinal cord.

The implantation of an artificial disc also reduces stress on adjacent discs.

Reynolds said the artificial disc is a good option for a patient whose herniated disc has compressed, or pinched, a single nerve root and who has tried other more conservative treatment without success.

Reynolds said another consideration is whether the patient's insurance will cover the procedure.

He's performed four to five artificial disc surgeries in a little more than a year.

"The results have all been pretty good," he said.

Reynolds is the only neurosurgeon in Quincy who performs the artificial disc surgery, but he said his QMG colleague Dr. Emilio Tayag eventually will offer it.

"This tends to be sturdier faster," Reynolds said, comparing the artificial disc to a spinal fusion.

Return to full activity takes about three months with the artificial disc, while it takes up to a year with a spinal fusion.

And Reynolds said the artificial disc surgery costs significantly less than fusing the spine.

"I did get major relief from the surgery," said Parrish, who suffered with neck pain "for a pretty long time" before the surgery, and began limiting her activities because of the pain, swelling and numbness.

"I had bowled from the time I was 19 in a league, and I did that for about five years and I just couldn't do it anymore," she said.

"Well, I could do just about anything, but for the next four or five days I would pay hell for it. I had become pretty inactive. I never knew when I wasn't going to feel good."

In 2002, she had to give up her job at Klingele Veterinary Clinic, opting to work from her home, where she and her husband operate a trucking company.

"Your body just gets so worn down from the chronic pain," Parrish said.

The neck surgery in September 2008 was a success, and a year later, Reynolds operated on her back.

"With the combination of the surgeries, I feel like I'm as good as new," Parrish said.

"It has been refreshing."

-- kwilson@whig.com/221-3391