PRP: A Game-Changing Treatment for Degenerative Disc Disease

The spine is a complex body part that allows you to move, stand, and perform everyday functions. Because it’s so intricate, you can easily injure any part of the spine, including the intervertebral discs.

The spongy discs between each spinal vertebrae provide cushioning and support to the body and spine. But over time, wear or injury damages the discs, causing them to degenerate and become flat, leading to many issues.

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is often seen in older adults but can happen to anyone. Conservative treatments can help, but what if you don’t see the results you want?

Dr. Stephanie S. Jones provides various pain management strategies at Consultants in Pain Medicine for back pain and other conditions. If other options haven’t helped and you want to avoid surgery, Dr. Jones may suggest platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for DDD.

Understanding degenerative disc disease

DDD is one of the many problems that affect the spine, typically in the lower back or neck. The intervertebral discs are tough on the outside and spongy on the inside, allowing them to support the spine’s bones.

Over time, though, the discs take on a lot of stress and pressure, causing them to flatten out. DDD typically affects adults over 40 but can happen sooner after an injury.

As the discs wear, you may notice different symptoms in your back, neck, arms, or legs, which include:

• Leg weakness
• Foot drop
• Pain that worsens with bending
• Pain that comes and goes
• Radiating pain to the thighs or butt
• Mild to severe pain that can be disabling
• Discomfort in the neck or lower back

But who’s at risk for degenerative disc disease? Adults who are obese, suffer acute or traumatic injuries, and have physically demanding jobs are at a high risk for disc problems and back pain.

Platelet-rich plasma – changing the game in pain

PRP is a cutting-edge treatment that utilizes blood to heal the body from within. The process is simple: a blood draw is required to extract the plasma and platelets.

But why are platelets and plasma essential for the healing process? Think of a cut. When you sustain a cut on any part of your body, it bleeds a little bit, clots, and then heals over the course of a week or so.

That healing process is because of platelets’ magic and their growth factors. When your body sustains an injury, platelets rush to the scene to begin clotting the area and dispersing growth proteins to heal and regenerate damaged tissues.

The growth proteins are essential to heal acute and chronic injuries and help the body rejuvenate after surgery.

The process is simple: Dr. Jones takes a vial of blood from your arm and puts it in a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins the blood to separate the plasma and platelets from the other components.

The platelets increase tenfold, making the growth proteins more plentiful. Dr. Jones then injects the PRP into the problem area.

How PRP works for degenerative disc disease

When DDD strikes, it’s challenging to deal with alone, even with home care. Anti-inflammatories, rest, and ice or heat help temporarily, but they don’t fix the problem. Surgery is an option, but it comes with significant recovery times and complications.

If you’re at your wit’s end with DDD and don’t know what else to do, Dr. Jones provides epidural PRP and corticosteroid injections directly into the problem area. Although it’s not a quick fix, PRP helps heal the disc tissues over time, which significantly helps with pain.

The growth proteins immediately work after she injects the PRP into the problem discs. The platelets release growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines, all aiding tissue regeneration and healing.

Everything the platelets release helps rebuild damaged tissue at any site of injury or illness. They trigger various cells to aid in the process, which can take weeks to months. However, it’s a long-term fix to a painful back problem.

Call today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jones to learn more about PRP and degenerative disc disease. You may also request a consultation on our website.