Discogenic pain, also known as disc-related pain, is typically a condition seen in healthy young individuals, often athletes. It does not necessarily require a herniated disc; it is often associated with an injury to the fibrous ring of the disc, causing pain on its own. While an MRI often shows an annular tear, the report may not always include a description. However, the symptoms of the patient speak for themselves.

These patients usually struggle to sit for extended periods. Standing may be uncomfortable but is generally easier than sitting. Walking, and especially lying down, tends to alleviate their symptoms.
The pain from cervical disc herniation can manifest as neck pain or headache. Spontaneous improvement is common, but complaints may recur. In such cases, their condition can be improved in the long term with stem cell or PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy. In the production of stem cells and PRP, the patient’s own blood or bone marrow is selectively extracted and prepared using a special method (centrifugation), and these cells are then reintroduced into the damaged areas of the spine, including the disc. 1-3 Certain elements (platelets, growth factors, and proteins) in the blood are responsible for the body’s healing capabilities, and we harness this ability for spinal healing.

Before considering such minimally invasive methods, physical therapy is always recommended, although caution must be exercised in the case of disc-related conditions. Surgical intervention is not recommended for this condition unless it is an absolute last resort.

Source:

Atluri S, Murphy MB, Dregalla R, Herrera J, Boachie-Adjei K, Bhati SVivek Manocha V, Navneet Boddu, Pavan Yerramsetty, Zaid Syed, Meghana Ganjam, Divit Jain, Zaynab Syed, Nikhil Grandhi  and LM. 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. Pain Physician. 2022;193–207.

Kirchner F, Anitua E. Intradiscal and intra articular facet infiltrations with plasma rich in growth factors reduce pain in patients with chronic low back pain. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine. 2016;7(4):250.

Centeno C, Markle J, Dodson E, Stemper I, Williams CJ, Hyzy M, et al. Treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease-associated radicular pain with culture-expanded autologous mesenchymal stem cells: A pilot study on safety and efficacy. J Transl Med. 2017;15(1):1–12.