When damage is caused to one’s spine, it is no secret that the road ahead has the potential to be long and arduous. No matter what the mechanism may be, all options ahead seem to be life altering for the short-term if the best-case scenario played out.
Western medicine is all too well known for trying to find a “magic bullet” cure for any ailment, whether this might be systemic or musculoskeletal. Often times this has resulted in surgery to replace essential components when a more conservative treatment option may have been viable. This is especially prevalent in the realm of spine health where many will look for removal or replacement prior to seeking healing.
If this same approach is not taken at other sites throughout the body, such as in subluxations or fractures, why should the spine be any different?
This brings us to the topic of regenerative medicine. While there is no denying that many individuals may claim a magic remedy to cure any issues that the human body presents with, the research has shown effective treatment options for some certain spine conditions.
About Regenerative Medicine for Back Pain
Regenerative medicine has taken on a bad rap in recent years because of individuals who promote it without fully understanding what it is and how it occurs. When this occurs, negative outcomes are easy to obtain with false pretenses outlining unrealistic expectations.
However, regenerative medicine is a very real option for many individuals who may be suffering from back pain affecting the discs in the spine. When considering regenerative medicine as a treatment option, stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are the two most feasible and consistent interventions.
Are You a Good Candidate?
There are a variety of factors to be considered when determining whether you are an ideal candidate for regenerative medicine, including:
- Severity of damage
When damage to a disc or spinal articulation is too severe, there are limited options that do not include either some sort of replacement or a fusion. When a disc wears down to too great of a degree, the anatomical structure of that segment, as well as the joints it articulates with, starts to change. This causes irreparable damage to that bony segment that can only be addressed by invasive surgical techniques.
- Age
While age is but a number in most capacities, it does play a role in determining the course of treatment for many spine injuries. Those at a younger age will display a higher capacity for healing due to a combination of physiological and biological factors. As the body ages, it has less of an ability to heal itself and thus may require more intense methods for healing.
- Overall Health
While being “healthy” may often be associated with not needing intervention in the first place, this is not necessarily the case. Injuries to the spine can occur due to a number of factors, including many that are specific to an athletic population. For those with better circulation, healing will be more feasible with options like PRP due to the consistent flow of healing cells in the bloodstream/plasma.
Even for younger people, a high percentage of body fat may limit the body’s ability to have adequate flow of nutrients in the bloodstream. When this occurs, the ability for chemical mediators associated with healing is greatly limited and therefore must be considered when considering more aggressive treatments.
- Lifestyle Demands
Candidates for regenerative spine treatment must be willing to take the time to heal. Whether PRP or stem cells are used, either will take many months to effectively heal. Because of this, anyone seeking this form of treatment must be realistic about whether the demands of his or her lifestyle can be adjusted to allow sufficient healing time when considering treatment plans.
Key Takeaways
Spine injuries and conditions are infamous for never occurring at an ideal time, just like any other limiting injury. However, the options for less invasive treatment options are dependent on a number of factors, some of which are controllable.
Ideally, any candidate for regenerative medicine for treatment of the spine should have minimally invasive damage, a relatively young age, and be in good health with physical demands that will allow the optimal healing time to occur. When these criteria are not met, it is reasonable to expect less than optimal results.
For more information about regenerative medicine and whether this type of spine treatment may be right for you, call (919) 297-0000 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Nael Shanti of Cary Orthopaedics