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Alternative Herniated Disc Treatments In Hood River, OR

1010 10th Street Hood River, OR 97031

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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

1010 10th Street
Hood River, OR 97031

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Doctors

Dr. Trey Rigert, a distinguished Physiatrist, and Pain Management Physician holds dual board certifications in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as well as Addiction Medicine. He embarked on his professional journey before the widespread acceptance of interventional pain management and chronic opioid therapies. He graduated from medical school in 1989 and completed his Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency at the University of Irvine in 1993. Dr. Rigert has extensive experience in medical directorship, including leading two inpatient physical rehabilitation programs and a comprehensive chronic pain program. As the founder of Columbia Pain Management, he exemplifies expertise in interventional pain care. He served as the Quality Medical Director at Providence Hood River Medical Center and previously held the position of President of the medical staff. Outside of his professional pursuits, he is devoted to his family, enjoys Hood River’s outdoor activities, engages in community service, and coaches a robotics team. Dr. Rigert’s passion for his work is palpable, driven by a continuous desire to improve patient care.

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Dr. David Russo, an accomplished Physiatrist and Pain Medicine Specialist, brings a wealth of expertise in managing and treating pain. He is triple board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pain Medicine, and Addiction Medicine. Following an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Russo pursued his medical and graduate degrees at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. His postgraduate training includes a residency at the Mayo Clinic and a fellowship at the Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Russo is respected for his contributions to pain treatment and regenerative therapies research and development and his advisory roles in medico-legal and clinical risk management. His dedication to improving pain management underscores his commitment to patient care and professional development.

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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

*This provider is NOT authorized by Regenexx to treat the C0-C1 or C1-C2 levels of the neck or CCI (craniocervical instability).

How To Treat a Herniated Disc Without Surgery

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.

Treatment for herniated discs may include a Regenexx PL-Disc Procedure. The PL stands for platelet lysate, which is a highly specialized derivative of PRP.

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.

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

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Please note our procedures are only covered by self-funded health plans at this time.

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What about health insurance or medical benefits? What may be covered or reimbursed depends on the details of your plan. Insurance typically covers evaluations and diagnostic testing (if recommended) but most do not cover Regenexx Procedures. Some Employer specific Regenexx Benefits plans do also cover Regenexx Procedures. Your plan’s representative can help verify your benefits, out-of-pocket costs, and coverage.

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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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Learn More About Herniated Discs

How to Heal a Herniated Disc Naturally

Alternatives to Back Surgery for Herniated and Bulging Discs

Herniated Disc Recovery Time: More Whole Body Inflammation Predicts Poor Recovery From a Herniated Disc

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