Is it possible to regenerate spinal discs? (2023)

Can spinal discs regenerate?

“There have been several experiments combining chemical and mechanical factors to regenerate a replacement disc, but with limited success. Some growth happens, but the quality of the tissue, from a mechanical point of view, is far inferior to the mechanical needs of the human body.”

Imbibition is a process of water being drawn into tissue as pressure is decreased. This is why when you lay down or sleep at night, the discs will rehydrate. What's even better is this process of imbibition can be increased even further and have more lasting results when ELDOA exercises are performed.

While disc degeneration can't be reversed, there is evidence that exercise, lifestyle changes and careful management of your back pain can contribute to better quality of life.

Symptoms Of Degenerated Discs

Compression of the spinal nerves can cause symptoms that include tingling/numbness, muscle weakness, loss of balance/ coordination, and pain and stiffness. Back pain is often worse when sitting, lifting, bending or twisting, and walking or lying down typically helps alleviate the pain.

Self care: In most cases, the pain from a herniated disc will get better within a couple days and completely resolve in 4 to 6 weeks. Restricting your activity, ice/heat therapy, and taking over the counter medications will help your recovery.

Regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming, or taking a low-impact aerobics class, has been shown to help relieve pain, promote a healthy body weight, and improve overall strength and mobility—all important factors in managing DDD.

After a rupture, a jelly-like material leaks out of a herniated disc, causing inflammation and pain. The injury is usually treated one of two ways: a surgeon sews up the hole, leaving the disc deflated; or the disc is refilled with a replacement material, which doesn't prevent repeat leakages.

There are a number of things you can do to help heal a herniated disc naturally. Incorporating more collagen into your diet is a great place to start. Collagen is a crucial component to help heal and repair the delicate tissues in the spine.

Physical therapy can help stretch and strengthen the right muscles to help the back heal and reduce the frequency of painful flare-ups. Lifestyle modifications, such as changing your posture, losing weight or giving up smoking, can sometimes help reduce stress on the damaged disc and slow down further degeneration.

Most people's spinal discs degenerate over time. By the age of 35, approximately 30% of people will show evidence of disc degeneration at one or more levels. By the age of 60, more than 90% of people will show evidence of some disc degeneration. Degeneration itself is normal, and does not necessarily cause pain.

Are there any new treatments for degenerative disc disease?

The VIA Disc procedure uses biologic growth factors and cytokines extracted from intervertebral discs that are enhanced with additional solutions to promote this therapy's effectiveness. It supplements tissue and cell loss that is associated with degenerative disc disease in the lower back.

L4-L5 disc bulge, slipped disc, spondylosis, bone-spur, and joint pain is treatable without injections or surgery. Avoid the L4-L5 surgery by opting for our corrective non-surgical treatment to fix and repair spinal discs and joints.

The authors reported a clinical success rate as defined by the FDA (≥ 15-point improvement in ODI, freedom from device failure or serious device-related adverse events, maintenance/improvement in neurological status) of 87.5% and a return to work rate of 75.9%. No device failure or major complications were noted.

Artificial disc replacement is not recommended for patients with facet joint syndrome or a bony compression on spinal nerves. Patients with spinal deformities such as scoliosis or bone weakness from osteoporosis would not benefit from this procedure.

In the majority of cases, both a bulging and herniated disc will heal with only conservative (nonsurgical) treatment, especially if you take things a little easier. For instance, that doesn't mean a patient should turn into a couch potato – that can actually make things worse and prolong recovery time.

Most importantly, an L4-L5 disc bulge can lead to prolonged pain and other, more serious conditions like spondylolisthesis if you delay treatment. Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a vertebra shifts or slips, and can cause significant pain that may require surgery to fix.

L5-S1 Disc Bulge Symptoms

This process is absolutely normal and is a part of aging and happens with everyone. L5-S1 bulging discs are most common as they take the stress and weight of the body. The symptoms experienced in the lower back can be terribly painful.

Skip movements that involve significant axial loading on the lower back, such as squats and leg presses. Avoid toe-touches, sit-ups, and yoga poses that worsen the pain and lead to significant bending of the back.

Degenerative disc disease

Sleeping on the stomach is typically preferred, as this position can relieve pressure on the disc space. People with degenerative disc disease may feel most comfortable using a relatively firm mattress while placing a flat pillow under the stomach and hips.

The discs are made of a flexible fibrous outer layer (known as the annulous fibrosis), which keeps the protein-based fluid (known as the nucleus pulpous) inside of the disc.

Will the hole in a herniated disc heal?

A disc herniation leaves an annular defect (a tear or hole in the outer part of the disc) that does not typically fully heal, leaving some patients with large defects at higher risk of reherniation.

Top 7 Signs You Can Heal Your Own Sciatica/Herniated Disc - YouTube

These make them an ideal therapy for treating orthopedic injuries such as tendon tears, worn cartilage, and degenerated disc disease. Bone marrow-derived cells have been shown to stimulate disc cell proliferation, increase disc support tissue, increase disc hydration, decrease inflammation, and support tissue healing.

Stem cells can be either directly isolated and expanded, or combined with biocompatible carriers (e.g., hydrogels) or transfected with target genes, then injected into the nucleus pulposus of the injured intervertebral disc, potentially leading to disc regeneration.

DRT treatment promotes the healing of injured discs through the injection of glucosamine and dextrose solution into the center of the disc. These natural substances stimulate the growth of new collagen fibers and increase the strength of the painful disc.

Drinking water helps to keep your lower back healthy by removing waste and carrying nutrients to the area.

Eventually, it can lead to pain and swelling and even a bulging disc or herniated disc. Drinking water to adequately replenish the discs with the amount water needed to work properly can reduce the likelihood of developing back pain.

Does collagen help spinal discs?

There are a number of things you can do to help heal a herniated disc naturally. Incorporating more collagen into your diet is a great place to start. Collagen is a crucial component to help heal and repair the delicate tissues in the spine.

Regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming, or taking a low-impact aerobics class, has been shown to help relieve pain, promote a healthy body weight, and improve overall strength and mobility—all important factors in managing DDD.

Various cell types have been used for IVD regeneration including disc cells, notochordal cells or stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory functions and ability to differentiate into cartilage, therefore, are considered as a potentially ideal cell source for IVD regeneration.

Physical therapy can help stretch and strengthen the right muscles to help the back heal and reduce the frequency of painful flare-ups. Lifestyle modifications, such as changing your posture, losing weight or giving up smoking, can sometimes help reduce stress on the damaged disc and slow down further degeneration.

PRP-combined ADSCs had the most effect in restoring the intervertebral disc (Figures 4 and 5 and Table 1). The injection of stem cells combined with platelet-rich plasma can significantly reverse the disc degeneration.

The price of our Stem Cell Therapy for Degenerative Disc Disease can vary from $7,500 USD and 10,500 USD depending on the personal and medical needs of our patients.

Stem cell injections are most commonly used for treatment of the following conditions: Spinal conditions including degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, spinal facet pain, pinched nerves, and sacroiliac (SI) joint pain. Osteoarthritis of the joints including knee, hip, shoulder, and ankle joints.

Stem cells can regenerate into any type of cell. When used in the treatment of spinal stenosis, stem cells can help repair the damage to the injured or degenerated tissue. In this way, the damaged spinal tissue is repaired, providing powerful pain relief for the patient.

Applying heat and/or cold therapy to the lower back can alleviate muscle tension that is commonly present with a lumbar herniated disc. Heat helps loosen the muscle tightness that causes spasms, increases blood flow, and improves elasticity of connective tissue.

Too much time in bed weakens muscles, including those needed to support the back. Some people develop gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation. Inactivity also boosts the chances of developing a blood clot in the veins of your pelvis and legs. This can hurt, and damage the affected vein.

Does sleep help heal a herniated disc?

Sleeping on your side can help reduce herniated disc pain, but it's not regarded as the best option (although placing a pillow between your knees can help relieve the hip pain that can result from this sleeping position). Sleeping on your back is always the best option for maintaining your spine's natural curvature.