Alternative Herniated Disc Treatments In Chevy Chase, MD

5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 450 Chevy Chase, MD 20815

The discs in your spine are the shock absorbers between your vertebrae (spinal bones). They have a tough outer covering called the annulus fibrosus that encases a soft, gel-like substance called the nucleus pulposus. 

A disc herniation happens when the outer covering is ruptured and the gel escapes the disc. This causes the disc to put pressure on and irritate the spinal nerve roots or spinal cord, leading to pain around the area of the disc (localized pain) and causing pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness to radiate to the arms and legs (radicular pain).

Herniated discs are sometimes referred to as slipped or ruptured discs. However, they are not the same as a disc bulge or protrusion, where the gel-like material is still contained within the disc.

Medical illustration showing a normal or healthy spinal disc and a herniated spinal disc side by side.
Anatomy of a normal spinal disc vs. a herniated spinal disc side-by-side.

More conservative treatment options include acupuncture, physical therapy, prescription medications, and high-dose epidural steroid injections. While steroid injections can temporarily help the pain, they can cause severe side effects and reduce your body’s ability to heal.

If none of these work, the next course of treatment is usually back or neck surgery that cuts away a portion of the disc. However, this approach can leave the disc weaker and more likely to be injured again. The final option is often an extremely invasive spine surgery (spinal fusion) in which two vertebrae are permanently joined together with hardware.

Studies have shown that in the majority of cases herniated discs (also known as slipped or ruptured discs) the pain will go away on its own. The key is staying comfortable and being able to remain active while that happens.

However, a smaller percentage of people experience severe and longer-lasting pain. 

Our nonsurgical treatments for herniated disc problems can offer relief from lower back, buttock, and leg pain and numbness and tingling in the feet or legs. Downtime is a fraction of what it is with surgery and generally requires little or no opioid pain medications or time off of work.

Regenexx PL-Disc: Avoiding the harmful side effects of epidural steroids and back surgery

5550 Friendship Blvd.
Suite 450
Chevy Chase, MD 20815

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Doctors

A physiatrist with vast experience in sports medicine and geriatric medicine, Dr. Dade approaches his patients’ pain by evaluating the whole person, not just the source of pain.

Understanding and respecting the symbiotic relationship between all systems within the human body is central to his all-inclusive approach to care and is integral to reducing pain. He is able to diagnose a variety of musculoskeletal conditions with precision and then develops comprehensive treatment plans.

In addition to being adept at conventional interventional techniques, Dr. Dade is highly skilled in regenerative medicine including: prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and bone marrow concentrate.

A respected leader in his field, Dr. Dade had been recognized by his peers as one of Washingtonian magazine’s Top Doctors. He is a past recipient of the Congressional National Leadership Award for achievements in the medical community.

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Board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Friedlis is one of few physicians in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area trained to perform platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments and is one of the first doctors in the area to use bone marrow concentrate for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries.

His innovation and expertise has established Dr. Friedlis as the foremost practitioner of regenerative procedures for musculoskeletal injuries in the Washington, DC, area. Nationally recognized as an expert in pain, he is a frequent speaker at national conferences on regenerative treatments.

As an advocate for global stewardship, Dr. Friedlis has coordinated several medical mission trips to Central Mexico that were sponsored by the American Association of Orthopedic Medicine and provided much-needed pain management services to poor, rural communities. He also served as program director for a new medical outreach program that brought then-nonexistent pain management services to Lima, Peru.

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A native of Northern Virginia, Dr. Wagner returned to the area after completing his medical training throughout the state of Virginia. He believes that finding the definitive source of pain is critical to long-term recovery.

He combines his years of clinical experience and skills in advanced, non-surgical techniques with the latest medical technology with the goal of improved function and reduced pain for each patient and has helped countless patients resolve complex pain issues and return to healthy lives.

Dr. Wagner specializes in diagnosing and treating injuries of the spine, joints, tendons, nerves and ligaments by utilizing injection techniques. He is well-respected within his field and has lectured and mentored clinicians nationally on these innovative techniques and their application for treating chronic pain conditions.

He is frequently asked to share his expertise through speaking and instructional venues, including as a featured WebMD lecturer for low back pain. Dr. Wagner received the Physician’s Recognition Award from the American Medical Association for his commitment to continuing medical education.

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Throughout his regenerative medicine career, Dr. Newton has had the opportunity to treat patients of all activity levels, from all over the world. He looks forward to helping each patient by providing an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.

As a sports medicine fellow in Cincinnati, Dr. Newton was able to evaluate and treat professional and elite level athletes, including athletes at Division I and III colleges and multiple high schools.

Now, double board-certified in sports and family medicine, Dr. Newton’s professional passion includes regenerative medicine and interventional orthopedics. He holds additional training certificates in musculoskeletal ultrasound and fluoroscopy.

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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).

Below are MRI images of the outcome of a patient who had a Regenexx PL-Disc procedure to treat a subligamentous disc herniation. After the procedure, their pain dropped quickly, and they returned to their normal activities within weeks.

Scroll the arrow to the right to see the MRI of the disc before the Regenexx PL-Disc procedure — the white/lighter area indicates damage. Scroll to the left to see the MRI of the disc after. The images are two years apart from the original treatment date.

Herniated disc before and after MRI images 1

Herniated disc before and after MRI images 2

Older man working on laptop, smiling, looking at screen, drinking tea.

Join Chris Centeno, MD, founder of Regenexx, to learn how Regenexx procedures can help treat your herniated disc 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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