Alternative Herniated Disc Treatments In Albuquerque, NM

505 Elm Street Northeast Albuquerque, NM 87102

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

505 Elm Street Northeast
Albuquerque, NM 87102

Request an Appointment

Call to Schedule Schedule Online

Doctors

Dr. Henry Sloan is a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician and has been in practice for close to 30 years. He is the medical director at Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital and CEO and president of Manzano Medical Group.

View Full Profile

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

Dr. Ehsanian’s clinical and research interests are focused on enhancing patient outcomes through innovative approaches to treatment and care. Dr. Ehsanian takes a proactive, patient-centered approach to care, focusing on fostering long-term health through dietary and lifestyle changes, the cultivation of new life-affirming habits, and the development of a positive mindset. He encourages patients to reframe challenges in empowering ways, supporting their journey toward recovery with both practical guidance and emotional resilience. In addition, Dr. Ehsanian recognizes the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, working closely with surgeons, allied health professionals, and other clinicians to improve patient quality of life. He leverages his advanced training, cutting-edge technology, and compassionate care to guide patients in setting and achieving realistic, meaningful goals.

After completing his undergraduate degree at San Jose State University, Dr. Ehsanian worked as a Staff Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center investigating the effects of micro- and hyper-gravity on the vestibular system. Dr. Ehsanian completed his Howard Hughes Medical Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health where he developed his research interest in translational medicine. He completed his MD training at Stanford School of Medicine and his Ph.D. training at Oxford University, Christ Church College. He went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford, as well as a Clinic Research Fellowship at Vanderbilt University, after which he completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and a fellowship in Pain Medicine at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Ehsanian is dual ACGME board-certified in Physiatry and Pain Medicine. Dr. Ehsanian is actively involved in numerous clinical studies and has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in the fields of physiatry and pain medicine, contributing significantly to the advancement of these disciplines.

View Full Profile

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