Our 2- Month Regenerative Medicine Program
Initial Evaluation
- Clinical exam and send for imaging if needed
Consultation
- Discuss imaging findings to Diagnose and start treatment plan
Physical Therapy
- Setting up for appropriate therapy
Oral Medication
- Start appropriate medication if needed
Oral Supplementation
- Discuss Type 2 Collagen peptides if needed
Joint Therapy
- Advanced ice machine and Moist heat application
Laser Treatment
- High Intensity IV laser therapy
Injection Treatment
- PRP, Stem Cell, and Viscosupplementation based on individual needs
The lumbar spine is a complex structure composed of bones, discs, joints, and ligaments, which collectively support the upper body and facilitate movement. However, this area is also prone to injury and chronic pain, which can stem from several key areas:
- Facet Joints: These are the small joints located between each vertebra that provide stability and flexibility. Arthritis or other degenerative changes in these joints can lead to localized pain that intensifies with movements such as bending or twisting.
- Intervertebral Discs: These discs act as cushions between the vertebrae. Over time, they can degenerate or herniate, leading to discogenic pain that may radiate through the buttocks and down the legs, especially when moving or lifting heavy objects.
- Ligaments: These tough bands of fibrous tissue connect the bones of the spine and help stabilize the lumbar region. Strains or sprains in these ligaments can cause sharp, localized pain and significant stiffness.
Understanding these structures is essential for diagnosing the specific causes of lumbar back pain and effectively tailoring treatment approaches.
At Comprehensive Spine Center, our approach to treating back pain goes beyond just providing standard solutions. We understand that each patient is unique, and their pain may originate from different sources. That’s why after a thorough evaluation and diagnosis process, we tailor our treatment plans to address the specific needs of each individual.
Once we’ve identified the pain generator and understood the underlying cause of the discomfort, we engage in detailed discussions with our patients. This involves explaining the treatment options available and recommending the most suitable approach based on their condition.
For some patients, the source of pain may be disc-related, such as Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) or herniated discs. In these cases, we may recommend injections directly into the affected disc. This procedure, known as intradiscal injection, aims to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and promote healing within the disc itself.
On the other hand, if the pain originates from the facet joints, which are small joints located between each vertebra, we may suggest injections into these joints. Facet joint injections can help relieve pain and improve mobility by delivering medication directly to the affected area.
The decision to proceed with either intradiscal or facet joint injections is made collaboratively between our medical team and the patient, taking into account factors such as the severity of the condition, the patient’s overall health, and their treatment preferences.
Following the injection procedure, we continue to monitor our patients closely, tracking their progress and making any necessary adjustments to their treatment plan. Our goal is to provide comprehensive care that not only addresses the immediate pain but also promotes long-term healing and improved quality of life.
At Comprehensive Spine Center, we believe in empowering our patients to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. By offering personalized treatment plans tailored to each individual, we strive to achieve the best possible outcomes and help our patients regain control over their lives.
- Blood Draw: The PRP procedure starts with a simple blood draw, typically from the arm, where a small amount of the patient’s blood is collected into a sterile tube.
- Centrifugation: This blood sample is then placed in a centrifuge, where it is spun at high speeds to separate the platelets from other blood components. The process concentrates the platelets, which are crucial for tissue healing and regeneration.
- Extraction of PRP: After centrifugation, the concentrated platelet-rich plasma is carefully extracted from the sample, ensuring that the most potent growth factors are retained for injection.
- Preparation for Injection: The lumbar area is cleaned and prepped to ensure sterility. Local anesthesia may be administered to minimize discomfort during the injection process.
- PRP Injection: Guided by fluoroscopy, which provides real-time imaging, the PRP is precisely injected into the targeted area of the lumbar spine. This ensures that the PRP is delivered directly to the tissues that require healing.
- Post-Injection Care: Following the injection, patients may experience mild soreness or swelling, which typically resolves quickly. Patients are advised to avoid strenuous activities for a short period to allow the healing process to commence effectively.
Our clinic uses a sophisticated technique for stem cell therapy, detailed in our treatment protocol:
- Evaluation and Consultation: Every treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation where we assess your medical history, current health, and pain levels. We discuss the potential benefits and any risks associated with stem cell therapy.
- Procedure Preparation: After obtaining informed consent, we prepare you for the procedure. This includes administering conscious sedation and local anesthesia to ensure comfort throughout the process.
- Stem Cell Extraction and Injection: Using fluoroscopy for precise guidance, we extract bone marrow (containing the stem cells) and then process it in a sterile system. The concentrated stem cells are then re-injected into the affected lumbar regions to promote healing and pain relief.
- Post-Procedure Care: Following the procedure, most patients experience minimal pain and can typically return home the same day. The recovery process is enhanced by a personalized regenerative joint program, which begins in the weeks after the procedure and is tailored to each patient’s specific needs to foster optimal healing and rehabilitation.
We are committed to providing personalized, state-of-the-art care. Our advanced regenerative therapies are designed to offer not just symptomatic relief but to address the underlying causes of your lumbar back pain, potentially leading to longer-lasting results.
For Patients Considering PRP and Stem cell Therapy: If you are suffering from persistent lower back pain and looking for alternatives to surgery, PRP and stem therapy might be an option worth discussing with your doctor. Given the nature of the treatment and the timing of its benefits, it’s important to have a detailed conversation with your healthcare provider about what to expect and whether this therapy aligns with your treatment goals.
- Overview: Dealing with lower back pain can be debilitating, and finding effective treatments can often be challenging. This review delves into the potential benefits of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections, a minimally invasive procedure that might hold the key to alleviating pain caused by lumbar disc degeneration.
- Research Findings: The review included five studies involving 90 participants. The results were promising, showing a significant decrease in pain levels as measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). On average, patients reported reduced pain intensity from 69.7 mm to 43.3 mm post-treatment, with minimal complications or need for re-injection.
- Conclusion: Intradiscal PRP injections have shown promising results in reducing pain associated with degenerative disc disease. While current findings support the effectiveness of this treatment, patients are encouraged to discuss with their healthcare providers to understand if PRP therapy is suitable for their specific condition and to weigh its benefits against potential risks.
Article Reference: “The Effect of Intradiscal Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection for Management of Discogenic Lower Back Pain: A Meta-Analysis” by Min Cheol Chang and Donghwi Park. J Pain Res. 2021; 14: 505–512. Published online 2021 Feb 19. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S292335
Introduction to PRP Therapy: If you’re struggling with lower back pain due to disc issues—a common yet challenging condition—there’s a promising treatment that might be worth considering. Known as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, this innovative approach uses components of your own blood to help heal and alleviate pain in the affected areas.
Study Overview: Researchers Min Cheol Chang and Donghwi Park conducted a comprehensive review of studies from the last 40 years to evaluate the effectiveness of PRP injections specifically for discogenic lower back pain (DLBP). Their goal was to provide a clearer understanding of how well this treatment works by pooling data from several studies.
What the Meta-Analysis Found: The review included a mix of one randomized control trial and two observational studies. It focused on measuring changes in pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and changes in function using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Key findings include:
- Significant Pain Reduction: Patients experienced notable pain relief at two and six months after receiving PRP injections, though no significant improvement was noted at the one-month mark.
- Improved Functionality: Improvements in daily functioning were significantly better six months post-treatment.
Why These Results Matter: These insights are critical as they highlight PRP therapy’s potential to provide lasting relief from back pain and improve mobility. The treatment appears to work gradually, with improvements becoming more apparent two months after the injections and continuing to develop over time.
Discussion on PRP’s Benefits: PRP injections deliver high concentrations of growth factors that promote healing and reduce inflammation within the spine. This process doesn’t just mask pain—it potentially aids in healing the underlying disc damage that contributes to your discomfort.
Final Thoughts: This meta-analysis reaffirms the growing evidence that PRP therapy could be a powerful tool in managing chronic back pain caused by disc degeneration. By using a natural approach that harnesses your own blood’s healing properties, PRP offers a compelling alternative to more invasive procedures or long-term reliance on medications.
This study provides hope and valuable information for patients and doctors alike, suggesting that PRP therapy is not just a temporary solution but a viable long-term treatment for reducing pain and enhancing the quality of life for those suffering from discogenic lower back pain.
Reference: El-Kadiry, A. E.-H., Lumbao, C., Rafei, M., & Shammaa, R. (2021). Autologous BMAC Therapy Improves Spinal Degenerative Joint Disease in Lower Back Pain Patients. Frontiers in Medicine (Lausanne), 8:622573. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.622573. PMCID: PMC8012529. PMID: 33816523.
Synopsis: This study investigates the efficacy of autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) therapy in treating lower back pain (LBP) due to spinal degenerative joint disease (DJD), particularly focusing on intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and facet joint pain. Eighteen chronic LBP patients were segregated based on the origin of their pain—IDD or facet joint—and treated with BMAC injections in the respective areas. Significant findings over a 12-month period included notable pain reduction and functional improvements, particularly in the IDD group, which also reported decreased opioid consumption and MRI-confirmed increases in disc height and spinal canal space. Although the facet joint group experienced benefits, these were more distinct in patients with IDD. This study, the first of its kind in Canada to examine BMAC’s effectiveness in addressing facetogenic pain with cellular therapy, underscores BMAC’s potential as a treatment for spinal DJD, highlighting the need for further research to validate these promising results and fully understand BMAC’s therapeutic capacity for spinal conditions.
Reference: Atluri, S., Murphy, M. B., Dregalla, R., Herrera, J., Boachie-Adjei, K., Bhati, S., Manocha, V., Boddu, N., Yerramsetty, P., Syed, Z., Ganjam, M., Jain, D., Syed, Z., Grandhi, N., & Manchikanti, L. (2022). Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Autologous Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain Due to Severe Lumbar Spinal Degeneration: A 12-Month, Open-Label, Prospective Controlled Trial. Pain Physician, 25, 193-207. ISSN 1533-3159.
Synopsis: This 12-month, open-label, prospective controlled trial explores the effectiveness of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in treating chronic low back pain caused by severe lumbar spinal degeneration. The study included 37 patients who received a one-time injection of BM-MSCs into various spinal structures and were compared with a control group receiving conventional treatment. The primary outcome measures were improvements in the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and pain reduction. Significant improvement in ODI scores, pain relief, and other health-related quality of life measures were observed in the BM-MSC group compared to the control group at all follow-up intervals. This study suggests that BM-MSC therapy could offer a promising alternative for managing chronic low back pain associated with severe spinal degeneration, highlighting the potential of regenerative medicine in improving patient outcomes in chronic conditions.
This comprehensive study titled “Mesenchymal stem cells can improve discogenic pain in patients with intervertebral disc degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis” published in Frontiers in Medicine by Wupeng Zhang, Daofeng Wang, Hua Li, Gaoxiang Xu, Hao Zhang, Cheng Xu, and Jiantao Li, delves into the potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a treatment for discogenic pain associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. The research aims to consolidate findings from various clinical studies to assess the efficacy and safety of MSC therapy in this context.
The systematic review and meta-analysis by Zhang et al. offer valuable evidence supporting the use of MSC therapy in treating discogenic pain stemming from IVD degeneration. By demonstrating significant improvements in pain and disability indices, alongside a reassuring safety profile, MSC therapy represents a forward step in the treatment of chronic LBP. Further research, particularly large-scale and randomized controlled trials, is necessary to fully elucidate the therapeutic potential and long-term outcomes of MSC therapy in this patient population.
Reference: Zhang, W., Wang, D., Li, H., Xu, G., Zhang, H., Xu, C., & Li, J. (Year). Mesenchymal stem cells can improve discogenic pain in patients with intervertebral disc degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Medicine.
