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Degenerative Disk Disease

Degenerative Disk Disease
Our spinal vertebrae and spinal cord are protected by fibrocartilaginous discs that act as shock absorbers, helping our spines move, flex and support our weight. Picture a jelly donut with a Kevlar-like outer shell, the annulus, filled with a fibrous marmalade, the pulposus. Due to time, use, and injury, the annulus outer layer can develop tiny tears.
In our youth, our blood supply is good enough to provide the nutrients necessary to repair those tiny tears. As we age, fewer nutrients are delivered to the disc, slowing healing. The tears become scar tissue, which weakens the outer wall of the disc. These weak points, in turn, allow for more and larger tears, leading to further weakness. As this cycle continues, disc degeneration increases, leading to pressure on the vertebrae, nerves and spinal cord. Further weakness and tearing can result in the pulposus leaking out, leading to a herniated disc.
Even if the pulposus does not extrude through the tears, the water in the disc can escape, causing the disc to collapse. When spinal vertebrae are too close together they can twist, rub or scrape, creating bone spurs. As they grow, these bone spurs may pinch the spinal cord and nerves, leading to debilitating pain and a condition known as spinal stenosis .
Vertebral Disc Degeneration at a glance
● Tears appear in the disc wall
● Scarring leads to weakening of the disc wall
● Weakening leads to further tearing
● Poorly healed tears allow the pulposus to leak
● The disc collapses, causing the discs to slide closer together
● Vertebrae may twist and scrape
● Bone spurs develop
Early indicators of Degenerative Disc Disease include pain in the lower back, as well as pain in the hips, buttocks, neck and limbs. This pain may present as a chronic, dull ache or a sharp pain, especially when moving or flexing the spine.
Treating Degenerative Disc Disease
Bending, twisting or sitting can increase the pain associated with Degenerative Disc Disease. Lying down can temporarily relieve the pain, but no amount of rest will heal the injury or restore the disc.
If disc degeneration progresses to a certain point, an orthopedist may recommend spinal fusion surgery. Often described as a “permanent solution” to lower back pain, fusion surgery has significant risks. The first risk is the process itself. Fusion surgery is a highly invasive procedure that begins with the surgeon removing the roof of bone overlying the spinal canal, then inserting screws and bars into the spine to permanently bond at least two vertebrae together.
Spinal fusion surgery risks include:
● Long hospital stays
● Extended recovery time
● Painful physical therapy
● Further degeneration in other discs
● Limited pain relief and, potentially, increased pain
● Stiffness, weakness and reduced quality of life
While fusion surgery is certainly permanent, for many patients, it is not a solution at all.
Non-surgical solutions to Degenerative Disc Disease
The best way to stop the pain and progression of Degenerative Disc Disease is to repair the annulus (outer layer) of the disc. Even major surgery such as spinal fusion fails to repair the root cause of the condition. However, there are two innovative, non-surgical solutions for Degenerative Disc Disease that have proven to not only relieve pain but also repair the damaged cells caused by disc degeneration.
A Better Minimally-Invasive Treatments For Sciatica

Stem Cell Therapy has been used to treat at least 65 different medical issues, including chronic pain in the back, neck and joints. WIth physicians reporting up to 90 percent success rates, stem cell treatment has proven to be very effective in reducing and eliminating pain. Plus, since it comes with none of the potential side-effects of surgery, Stem Cell Therapy is also very safe…
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PRP uses concentrated blood platelets, taken directly from the patient, to activate and enhance the body’s own regenerative capabilities. PRP is injected directly into the area causing the pain, going to work immediately to offer long-term pain relief… (Read more)
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The Effectiveness of Stem Cells in Treating Pain
Regenerative medicine is a new area of medicine that uses stem cells to regenerate tissue and “turn the clock back” to a more active and fulfilling life. We specialize in orthopedic regenerative medicine which has a long history of success scientific studies show the benefit and success of stem cell therapy for joints and back. We practice the safest and most advanced techniques to bring relief to or patients. Our success rate is very high.
Adult stem cells possess several different qualities which allow them to be effective in the treatment of damaged joints. When used to treat pain caused by damaged joints, stem cells:
● Differentiate between and grow into bone, cartilage, tendons, and ligament cells
● Offer anti-inflammatory effects, which reduces further injury
● Recruit other cells necessary to increase cell growth in joints
● Inhibit cell death (apoptosis)
● Enrich blood supply, leading to more healthy tissue regeneration
Specifically, adipose stem cells are effective in treating Osteoarthritis; and bone marrow stem cells have beneficial in Rotator Cuff repair, treating Avascular Necrosis (AVN) in the hip, and assisting with bone union.
The success of these attributes depends on several different factors including disease severity, the type of stem cell used, the procedure chosen, and other factors specific to the patient. But, overall, up to 90 percent of our patients who elect stem cell therapy experience significant, long-term pain relief.