Alternative Herniated Disc Treatments In Regional West Physicians Clinic – Scottsbluff, NE

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

4021 Avenue B
Scottsbluff, NE 69361

Request an Appointment

Call to Schedule Schedule Online

Doctors

Dr. Sole is a triple board-certified PM&R, Sports Medicine, & Pain Medicine physician. His residency training in PM&R was completed at the prestigious Mayo Clinic and fellowship training in Sports Medicine at JPS Hospital and Texas Christian University. He specializes in treatment and prevention of sports & musculoskeletal related injuries, acute & chronic pain conditions, & Orthobiologics.

During training, he provided medical coverage for TCU, Texas Wesleyan University, Rochester Community Technical College, USA Hockey, PRCA Rodeo, Golden Gloves Boxing, Special Olympics, multiple high school programs, mass participation endurance events, and athletes of all ages.

He previously served as head team physician for South Dakota School of Mines, Black Hills State University, and team physician for multiple high school and amateur sport programs throughout the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming. He was a PRCA professional rodeo physician during his time practicing in South Dakota. He currently serves as team physician for Western Nebraska Community College, Scottsbluff and Gering, NE High Schools, and as a consulting physician for many other sports programs in Western Nebraska.

He teaches ultrasound to fellow physicians and has research with multiple publications and presentations on sports related injuries and musculoskeletal ultrasound. He has served as a member of the Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Sub-committee and Education Committee for the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and Musculoskeletal, Neuromuscular/Pain Council, and Resident Physician Council for the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

He also continues to be involved in educating residents and medical students. He previously served as clinical assistant professor for the University of South Dakota School of Medicine and now serves as instructor for UNMC Family Medicine Residency Program-Rural Track.

Additionally, during residency and fellowship, he received training in comprehensive, non-surgical spine care including image-guided spine injections and interventional orthopedics. He also performs concussion management and EMG/electrodiagnostics for neurological injuries.

He is a proud member of the American Academy/Association of Orthopedic Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, American Society for Interventional Pain Physicians, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Interventional Orthobiologics Foundation. He has completed advanced post-fellowship training in Interventional Orthopedics through the Interventional Orthobiologics Foundation required to be a Regenexx affiliate physician. He also has served as an instructor for the Interventional Orthobiologics Foundation and maintains an active relationship in the organization.

He now serves as a peer-reviewer for the Biologics Orthopedics Journal.

In his free time, Dr. Sole enjoys golfing, weightlifting and spending time with his children, family, and friends.

View Full Profile

Areas treated: Cervical Spine (Not Upper Cervical or CCI)*, Elbow, Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip, Knee, 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).

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
Watch Webinar
TO TOP