Disc Tear Management Without Surgery In Regional West Physicians Clinic – Scottsbluff, NE

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.

4021 Avenue B
Scottsbluff, NE 69361

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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.

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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

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
Watch Webinar
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