While back pain is incredibly common, the origin of a specific back pain – such as spine pain – is often misidentified. But, thanks to modern medicine, practitioners can now not only gain a better insight into the cause of the problem but are now developing new procedures that will allow the true cause of the problem to be effectively addressed.

For spine pain and other back pain stemming from cervical conditions, the most common treatment option is a highly-invasive procedure called a fusion surgery. This procedure is actually more likely to cause complications, with complications occurring in 36 percent of all fusion surgery patients.

Following surgery, 76 percent of patients still require prescription narcotics to manage the pain and as a result of the surgery, they miss three times as much work as those who did not have the fusion surgery in the first place.

Another common option that is used in the treatment of spine and cervical pain is called a steroid epidural procedure. The steroid epidural procedure is an injection which places steroid medication around the inflamed or irritated nerves – located in the spine – which is causing the patient pain. However, while this procedure is minimally invasive, due to the extremely high dose of steroids used, it can cause severe adverse side effects in the patient and actually inhibit the healing process following the procedure.

 

But, researchers and practitioners have now developed a much safer and minimally invasive treatment method for spine and cervical pain management. This advanced form of treatment delivers extremely precise injections of stem cells or platelet lysates to the spine in the affected area.

 

Herniated and Bulging Discs

The platelet procedure can also be used to treat pain from a herniated or bulging disc.

A herniated disc – also known as a slipped disc, disc extrusion, herniated nucleus pulposis, or sequestration – occurs when the disc is torn completely or becomes damaged causing the inner gel to squirt out. This condition can also lead to tingling or numbness.

A bulging disc – also known as a bulge or disc protrusion – occurs when the outer covering of the disc, called the annulus, has a slight tear or is damaged. Due to this damage, the inner gel of the disc causes a bulge in the area. A bulging disc can lead to tingling or numbness due to the pressure placed on the spinal nerve.

The common form of treatment for this pain includes steroid epidurals, which are injected around the inflamed or irritated nerves in the spine.

However, most patients suffering from one of these conditions, who choose to go with this minimally invasive route of treatment, receive a platelet lysate injection directly into the area surrounding the inflamed spinal nerves. The platelet lysate injection can also be used to treat other related herniated cervical, lumbar, or thoracic disc problems. This form of treatment helps patients suffering from related back pain avoid surgery or any of the negative side effects that come with steroid injections.