The Regenexx Approach For Disc Tears
Are You a Regenexx Candidate?Spinal discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae (spinal bones) in your neck and back. They have a tough outer covering called the annulus fibrosus and a softer, gel-like center called the nucleus pulposus. The annulus can tear from wear and tear or trauma and can cause mild to severe pain, depending on the location. And although many are asymptomatic, they are more likely to be painful if you’re under age 50.
Annular tears can be overlooked as a cause of pain and are often lumped in with degenerative disc disease (DDD). The only reliable way to find out if a tear is causing your back pain is via discogram. During a discogram, pressure is injected into the disc. The doctor uses this pressure to see if the disc is painful.
How Are Disc Tears Commonly Treated?
In many cases, given enough time and rest, torn discs will heal on their own. However, the area will be more prone to repeat injury and degenerative disc disease (DDD).
If the pain and other symptoms don’t lessen over time, physicians often recommend a high-dose epidural steroid injection that can temporarily help the pain. But this can also lead to severe side effects and reduce your body’s natural ability to heal itself.
If the steroid injection doesn’t work, the next common orthopedic option is spinal fusion, a procedure in which two vertebrae are screwed together, or fused. Spinal fusions have been shown to be no more effective than placebo surgeries (also known as sham surgeries), while complications occur in 25% of fusion patients and often lead to further issues, including adjacent segment disease (ASD).
That’s why we’ve developed a different approach.
Treating Disc Tears Without Surgery
During outpatient procedures using Regenexx injectates, custom concentrations of your body’s natural healing agents are injected into the exact areas of damage in the spine. Treatments use only your own blood to make super-concentrated platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or your own bone marrow concentrate (BMC), which contains stem cells.
Best of all, your downtime will be a fraction of what it is with surgery and generally requires little to no opioid pain medications or time off of work.
Am I a candidate?Watch how a physician in the licensed Regenexx network performs a spinal procedure using Regenexx injectates.
The goal is to use the least invasive, least expensive procedure to get the desired results. The physician will work with you to determine the most appropriate orthobiologic
Is the Regenexx Approach Right for Your Disc Tear?
Physicians in the licensed Regenexx network are dedicated to giving you the information you need to make an informed decision about your best treatment option.
During your initial appointment, a physician will perform an exhaustive evaluation to identify the root cause of their pain by utilizing a full range of motion test, SANS evaluation, and advanced ultrasound imaging when needed. Once the evaluation is completed, your doctor will determine if the Regenexx approach is right for you and will discuss your customized treatment plan based on your specific needs.
Am I a candidate?Webinar: Treating Back Pain Without Surgery
Join Chris Centeno, MD, founder of Regenexx, to learn how the Regenexx approach may help treat your back pain without surgery and lead to a faster recovery.
During this free webinar you’ll learn:
- How procedures using bone marrow concentrate (BMC) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) compare to surgery and other spine pain treatment options
- Procedure expectations
- Answers to the most common questions about regenerative medicine treatments
See If Regenexx Is Right For You
To speak with one of our team members about how the Regenexx approach may be able to help your back pain or injury, please complete the form below and we will be in touch with you by the next business day.
