Alternative Herniated Disc Treatments In Reno, NV

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

5590 Kietzke Lane
Reno, NV 89511

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Doctors

Dr. Woolley brings a comprehensive approach to pain management and is well-versed in complex spine injections, joint injections, and regenerative medicine techniques. His goal is to help people manage and treat their pain so that they can regain function and enjoy life.

When asked about being part of the physician team at Sierra Neurosurgery Group, Dr. Wooley remarked, “I was initially drawn to Sierra Neurosurgery Group by the physicians themselves. Throughout my training I have spent a lot of time in the operating room, in clinics, and in hospital settings with neurosurgeons and I can say that the physicians and care teams at Sierra Neurosurgery Group are not only technically skilled, but they are also incredibly compassionate and put their patients first. I was also struck by how humble, and incredibly down to earth the team was. This combination is rare, and I consider myself lucky to join Sierra Neurosurgery Group.”

In his free time, Dr. Woolley enjoys golfing and is excited to experience the great courses in Reno.

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Areas treated: Cervical Spine (Not Upper Cervical or CCI)*, Elbow, Hip, Knee, Lumbar Spine, Shoulder, Thoracic Spine

From a young age Dr. Blake knew he wanted to help others. Inspired by the example set by his mother, who provided legal counsel to the poor, he saw early on the positive influence one person could have on the lives of others.

His innate scientific curiosity drew him to the medical field. After a residency in anesthesiology at University of California, San Diego (UCSD) – where he was chief resident – Dr. Blake knew he had found his calling.

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Dr. Blake moved to Carson City, Nevada when he was 15.
At Sierra Neurosurgery Group, he helps patients manage acute and chronic pain. His practice is founded upon the core values of understanding, respect, and trust. He spends a good deal of his clinical time listening to patients in order to understand their experience both medically and emotionally and works with them to develop a custom treatment plan.

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

Areas Treated

Cervical Spine (Not Upper Cervical or CCI)*, Elbow, 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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