Can Regenerative Medicine Repair My Herniated Disc?

A herniated disc can cause a wide array of symptoms, stemming from the pressure the herniated disc places on nerves in its vicinity or from the inflammatory contents leaking out around the spinal cord and nerve roots. You might experience low back pain or leg pain from a herniated disc in your low back, or arm or neck pain from a herniated disc in your neck.

Not all herniated discs require treatment. However, when they do, regenerative options can help these injuries heal. 

At Naples Regenerative Institute in Naples, Florida, regenerative orthopedic physician Glenn M. Flanagan, MD, specializes in treating these back injuries with gentle regenerative care. 

One of the most effective modern treatments for herniated discs is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) — a nonsurgical regenerative therapy. In this article, we discuss how herniated discs happen and how regenerative medicine helps repair them. 

How herniated discs happen

The discs in your spine are soft structures in between your spinal vertebrae (bones). They have a gel-like inside layer surrounded by a firmer outer layer of collagen similar to tendon tissue. When the outer part becomes damaged, the inner part can herniate (push out) through it. Before herniating, the pressure built up can cause small tears in the outer layer.  

Herniated discs can compress (place pressure on) nerves in and around the spine, or leak inflammatory contents from the nucleus. This is what causes symptoms like pain, numbness, or tingling. 

The symptoms correspond to where the irritated nerve in the spine travels after leaving the spine, like your shoulders, arms, or legs. The irritated nerves can cause muscle weakness and muscle spasms as well. 

Herniated discs can happen in two ways. Some disc injuries happen because the discs have degenerated (become weaker) gradually over time due to compression, while others happen in an instant because of a sudden injury. 

You’re at a higher risk for degenerative disc disease and herniated discs if you smoke, have diabetes, have a connective tissue disorder, or sit for long periods. 

Regenerative PRP for herniated discs

PRP is an injectable regenerative substance that can help decrease pain and other symptoms associated with herniated discs.  The injections into the epidural space and directly into the discs can reduce inflammation, reduce disc bulges and herniations, and stabilize tears in the outer layer. This can be done preventatively or after surgery in some situations to improve recovery after surgery on discs.

To create PRP, Dr. Flanagan takes a blood sample in his office. Your blood contains the platelets and other white blood cells that facilitate healing through growth factor release. The injected PRP is meant to harness the natural healing abilities of your body. 

Dr. Flanagan processes the blood sample in a machine called a centrifuge to remove the parts of your blood that aren’t needed. This leaves the platelets, white blood cells and the liquid base of blood, called plasma. Plasma containing concentrated amounts of platelets is PRP.

PRP is then ready for injection into the area near your herniated disc. The platelets in PRP release growth factors that help reduce inflammation and initiate repair of the damaged disc tissue. 

The PRP reduces inflammation while promoting collagen growth. Collagen is your body’s main structural protein and is used for tissue repair. 

What makes regenerative medicine stand out

Regenerative therapies like PRP have some key advantages compared to other treatments for herniated discs. Regenerative PRP injections for herniated discs:

• Are nonsurgical
• Help with healing
• Reduce disability associated with disc injuries 
• Are low risk, and side effects are very uncommon
• Don’t involve surgery

You might still benefit from physical therapy or other treatments after or alongside regenerative medicine for herniated discs.

Get in touch

If you have symptoms of a herniated disc, don’t hesitate to contact Naples Regenerative Institute. Book an appointment online or over the phone to learn more about regenerative medicine today.