An Introduction to Discogenic Chronic Low Back Pain
 Normal Intervertebral Disc Anatomy  Intervertebral Disc With Internal Disc Disruptions |
The intervertebral discs, which act as shock absorbers between the bones of the human spine, are one of the most common sources of chronic low back pain. Each disc consists of an outer ring, called the anulus fibrosis, and an inner gelatinous region, called the nucleus pulposus. The water-filled nucleus provides the weight bearing function of the discs, while the anulus functions as a retaining ring. Trauma, genetic factors or aging can damage and weaken the anulus. Weakening of the anulus can result in collapse and dehydration of the disc, a condition called Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD). DDD can lead to compression of nearby spinal nerves and result in painful instability of the spine.
In the early stages of disc degeneration, damage to the anulus can cause chronic low back pain without disc collapse and spinal nerve compression. Internal Disc Disruption (IDD) is a condition in which cracks, or fissures, form in the anulus. These fissures create pathways for inflammatory substances concentrated in the disc nucleus to leak onto nerves located in the outer edges of the disc, triggering a “chemical pain” response. Because disc tissues heal very slowly, the anular fissures essentially become painful, chronically inflamed wounds within the disc.
Pain from IDD is mostly located in the lower back, but may also travel down into the legs. The pain associated with IDD is referred to as “discogenic pain” since it originates from the disc itself. Researchers have shown that approximately 40% of chronic low back is caused by IDD. In most instances, discogenic pain is treated with conservative therapies such as bed rest, physical therapy and pain medications. When these treatments are no longer effective, patients may undergo a surgical procedure such as fusion or artificial disc replacement. There are no widely accepted, non-surgical therapies for treating discogenic chronic low back pain.
Spinal Restoration has developed the Biostat® System for use as a new, minimally invasive therapy for discogenic chronic low back pain.
For more information on spinal disorders and the causes of low back pain visit the National Institute of Health website or Spine-health.com.