Summary of New Minimally Invasive Treatment Provides Significant, Long-Term Relief for Chronic Back Pain:
A minimally invasive treatment for degenerative disc disease, which injects allograft disc tissue into the spine, has shown significant improvement in pain and function over a sustained period, according to research presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting. The technique, known as viable disc allograft supplementation, encourages the regeneration of healthy tissue in the damaged disc, reducing chronic low back pain, a condition that can impact a person’s quality of life. The treatment requires no incisions, and recovery time is minimal. The trial followed 50 patients over three years, with no reported adverse events.
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The Mystery of Low Back Pain Solution: Is it Really Possible?
For people with chronic low back pain due to degenerative disc disease, the search for a long-term solution can be complex and frustrating. Conservative care, such as physical therapy and medication, often provides only short-term relief, leaving patients to seek more invasive options like surgery.
But what if there was a minimally invasive treatment that could provide significant improvement in pain and function for a sustained period of time? According to new research, that’s exactly what allograft disc tissue injection can do. The treatment, known as viable disc allograft supplementation, involves injecting specialized cells and fluid into a patient’s damaged disc, encouraging regeneration with healthy tissue.
So why are people still struggling with chronic low back pain? While the results of this research are promising, the question remains as to why this minimally invasive treatment is not yet commonly used. Could it be due to lack of awareness, resources or reluctance to adopt new treatments?
A Possible Solution to Opioid Dependency in Patients
Interestingly, the use of allograft could potentially decrease opioid use among patients with chronic low back pain. Opioids have been the go-to treatment for chronic pain for years, but with the rise of opioid dependency and addiction, it’s become necessary to explore alternative treatments. Injectable allograft treatment could be the answer for many people, especially younger patients who have years of function and quality of life to look forward to.
Improved Pain and Function over Sustained Periods
The research showed that this minimally invasive treatment has significant potential to reduce pain and improve function over a sustained period of time. In the study, fifty patients at nine sites participated in this three-year voluntary extension of the randomized control Viable Allograft Supplemented Disc Regeneration in the Treatment of Patients With Low Back Pain (VAST) Trial, with 46 receiving allograft treatment and four receiving saline. Pain levels were evaluated using the VAS Analog Scale and functionality was measured using the Oswestery Disability Index (ODI).
Results indicated that 60% of patients who received allograft treatment for chronic low back pain reported a greater than 50% improvement in pain, and 70% of patients reported more than a 20-point improvement in their ODI scores. Moreover, there were no persistent adverse events reported.
Translating the Research Findings into Practice
The implications of this research are significant for patients with chronic low back pain. A non-invasive treatment that so far has no adverse effects is compelling news. With the results of the study showing promising benefits, experts hope that the research findings will be translated into clinical practice, making allograft disc tissue injection a readily available solution for patients.
In conclusion, the solution to chronic low back pain due to degenerative disc disease may be closer than we think. With a minimally invasive treatment that shows significant improvement in pain and function over a sustained period of time, the potential to improve the quality of life of patients is huge. The next steps should be to continue the research and translate the findings, delivering new hope to people with chronic low back pain.
