Disc Tear Management Without Surgery In Idaho Falls, ID

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.

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.

2635 Channing Way
Idaho Falls, ID 83404

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Her goal as a physician is to restore people to as close to optimum health as possible. She is passionate about the evolution of regenerative medicine and believes in the body’s innate capacity for healing. And she is equally passionate about her home in southeastern Idaho.

Though she initially graduated with a BA in English, she was eventually drawn to medicine, feeling called to help people toward health and healing. So she went back and completed the science requirements to earn a BS as well.

As someone who enjoys skiing, ultrarunning, and wandering through the wilderness herself, she has a particular interest in treating athletes of all ages and enjoys helping masters athletes continue to perform at a high level into their later years of athletics. And she served as team physician for the University of Utah men’s ice hockey team.

Additionally, she has traveled to Nepal for a high-altitude research project close to Mt. Everest base camp, as well as Denali to serve as physician at the 14,000-foot base camp during climbing season.

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Areas treated: Elbow, Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip, Knee, Shoulder

As a physician, Dr. Cooper’s mission is to assist in the improvement of function to anyone that feels physical limitations and allow them to enjoy their life to the fullest capacity. Though he began his college education in business administration, during his senior year of college, he discovered that the reward of assisting others with their ailments was his real passion.

He has had extensive training in the treatment of a wide variety of limitations that include spasticity secondary to neurologic issues, sports injuries and concussions, and non-surgical treatment of peripheral nerve and joint injuries. He is passionate about providing top-of-the-line treatment to his patients to improve their functional abilities and give them more freedom to enjoy day-to-day life.

Throughout his life, Dr. Cooper has enjoyed participating in sports of a wide variety from football, baseball, and golf to water skiing and snowboarding. As a “weekend warrior” athlete, he has always had an interest in human anatomy and how small alterations in it can lead to massive functional changes.

He feels lucky to get to return to the Snake River Valley, as he believes it is the perfect place to raise his four children with the same principles that he had in his childhood.

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Areas treated: Cervical Spine (Not Upper Cervical or CCI)*, Lumbar Spine, Thoracic Spine

I became a doctor because of my desire to serve and help those in need. I wanted a career that allowed me to help those within my community and establish personal connections with people. My mission is to assist in the restoration of function of those who have limitations to allow them to enjoy life to their fullest capacity. I believe the best way to care for my patients is to have them fully involved in their care and to have a shared decision making in their treatment plan and to address all concerns or questions to empower my patients to take charge of their own health and journey to a better life.

I recently returned to Idaho Falls in July of 2022 after completing fellowship and have been practicing medicine within the community since arriving. I however was born and raised in Idaho Falls and am excited to return to the community I was raised in and serve the great people of this area.

I have extensive training in treatment of a wide variety of limitations secondary to neurologic issues, sports injuries, non-surgical treatment of peripheral nerve and joint injuries, neck and low back pain and nerve related pain. I’m passionate about providing the highest quality care and top of the line treatment for my patients. I’m proud to be a part of the North American Spine Society, Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic and am board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

I enjoy participating in several sports and outdoor activities including tennis, basketball, baseball, backcountry snowboarding, skiing, snowmobiling, boating, and mountain biking. I’m married with four children and our dog and we thoroughly enjoy being outside and enjoying all that southeast Idaho has to offer.

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Areas treated: Cervical Spine (Not Upper Cervical or CCI)*, Elbow, Lumbar Spine, Shoulder, Thoracic Spine

Areas Treated

Cervical Spine (Not Upper Cervical or CCI)*, Elbow, Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip, Knee, Lumbar Spine, Shoulder, Thoracic Spine

*This provider is NOT authorized by Regenexx to treat the C0-C1 or C1-C2 levels of the neck or CCI (craniocervical instability).

During Regenexx’s outpatient procedures, 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 a real Regenexx spinal procedure performed by a certified Regenexx physician:

Our goal is to use the least invasive, least expensive procedure to get the desired results. Your Regenexx physician will work with you to determine whether that would be a platelet procedure or a BMC procedure.

At Regenexx, we are dedicated to giving you the information you need to make an informed decision about your best treatment option.

During your initial appointment, your Regenexx doctor will use our four-part SANS (stability, articulation, neuromuscular, and symmetry) evaluation to identify the underlying causes of your pain. Your doctor will examine your injury through a full range of motion and may use ultrasound to observe the inner workings in real time. 

Once the evaluation is completed, your doctor will determine if Regenexx is right for you and will discuss your customized treatment plan based on your specific needs.

Am I a candidate?

Join Chris Centeno, MD, founder of Regenexx, to learn how Regenexx procedures can 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
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