Disc Tear Management Without Surgery In Albuquerque, NM

505 Elm Street Northeast Albuquerque, NM 87102

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.

505 Elm Street Northeast
Albuquerque, NM 87102

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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.

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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

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.

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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).

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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