What is degenerative disc disease?
The term degenerative disc disease is somewhat of a misnomer. In fact, it’s not really a disease, but a comprehensive term that describes certain changes within the spinal discs. This so-called disease can occur in any area of the spine, although most of the time it is the cervical and lumbar regions that are affected. Besides not being a disease, degenerative disc disease is also not degenerative.

The word degenerative implies that the condition gets worse with time, and this is not always true. Although disc degeneration could progress, the back pain that is brought about by degenerative disc disease actually gets better with time. It’s important to note that discs naturally degenerate.

Causes of degenerative disc disease
Degenerative disc disease could be brought about by various factors, and these include loss of disc fluid. Disc fluid reduces friction and makes the spinal cord more flexible. With the loss of fluid, the discs begin to narrow and thin as well. Tiny cracks and tears on the annulus of the disc or on the capsule could also contribute to the condition.

These cracks could cause the disc to bulge or even rupture into small fragments. There are risk factors that contribute to the condition, and age is one of them. Injury from a fall or accident could also be responsible for degenerative disc disease.

Various symptoms could indicate degenerative disc disease, including lower back pain. Bending, lifting items and twisting could exasperate pain, and the pain may be heightened when seated.

How stem cells help with degenerative disc disease
Stem cell research is providing promising results when it comes to managing degenerative disc disease. This treatment option is already available and can be used to potentially reverse the aging process that occurs in the discs. Stem cells can work in two ways: preventing further degeneration, and potentially regenerating new tissue in the affected disc as well, thus reversing the damage.

*Typical Treatment Protocol
A typical protocol consists of injecting 50 million cord tissue-derived MSCs (Mesenchymal Stem Cells) directly into the disc. For best results, this is accompanied by intravenous transplant of 100+ million MSCs. Each procedure takes approximately 45 minutes. The protocol is minimally invasive to the patient and has very little downtime. Patients normally travel home two days following their scheduled appointment, although for severe cases, you may be asked to remain for a few additional days for observation.

Treatment goals
The primary goal of our protocol is the marked reduction in the levels of chronic low-grade inflammation for an extended period of time.

Stem cells have a unique, intrinsic property that attracts them to inflammation in the body. Studies have shown that stem cells can regenerate damaged or diseased discs, reduce inflammation and modulate the immune system, promoting better health and quality of life.

For back pain sufferers, Stem Cell Treatment can lead to a reduction in pain and harmful symptoms, stabilization of condition and significant quality of life improvement.

Stem cells are uniquely and intrinsically able to migrate to sites of damage and inflammation in the body. Studies have shown that stem cells are able to orchestrate the repair and regeneration of deteriorated tissues, as well as modulate the immune system, to promote better health.

The benefits of stem cell therapy can include a reduction in harmful symptoms, the slowing of the progression of the disease, and an overall increase in quality of life.

*Treatment protocols are individualized for each patient according to a variety of factors, including overall patient health, condition, and severity. A protocol optimized for your particular situation will be developed in consultation with a stem cell physician and a review of your medical records.