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With Less Pain

Spine Pain

Conditions and Information

Below you will find our educational resources for patients suffering spine/back pain or injury.

Your first decision is to decide whether a non-surgical regenerative procedure is a good fit for you. As part of Oklahoma’s only Regenexx clinic, our physicians use non-surgical injection-based procedures for people suffering from spine/back pain due to common injuries. These procedures utilize concentrated repair cells that are obtained from your own bone marrow or blood to promote your body’s own natural ability to heal.

The more you are educated about your condition, the better decision you can make about potential treatment options.

Spine Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, or Facet Joint Arthritis

Osteoarthritis of the spine usually affects the facet joints between the vertebrae. It is also known as facet joint arthritis, facet joint syndrome and facet disease. As we age, The cartilage inside the facet joint can break down and become inflamed, triggering pain signals in nearby nerve endings.

Spondylosis

Associated changes, including bone spurs (“osteophytes”) and thickening of bone, create a crowding effect around the local area and may result in “pinching” of nerves. In the spine, this condition is called “spondylosis” and impacts the neck, mid-back, and low back or “lumbar” spine.

spine graphic
herniated Disc graphic

Spinal Disc Bulges or Disc Herniation

Disc bulging and the more severe disc herniation are common problems experienced by tens of millions of Americans of all ages. Following prolonged pressure or instability of the spine, these bulges may occur without a specific history of a back injury. However, hundreds of thousands of patients each year do suffer sudden spine injuries such as car accidents that lead to disc herniation.

The mechanism behind disc bulges involves the development of weakness or breaks in the tough outer protective layer of the spinal disc. Once the outer coating of the disc is compromised, the inner jelly-like shock absorber portion of the disc may begin to push outward, creating a bulge seen on MRI. Once a disc herniation or significant bulge pushes far enough into the spinal canal or neural foramen, it may exert considerable pressure on either the spinal cord or nerve roots. If the pressure is high enough, the nerve tissues will begin to malfunction and produce a wide variety of symptoms. The most commonly reported early symptoms include increased sensitivity in the extremities, numbness, tingling, or mild muscle weakness of the arms or legs.

Spinal Stenosis or Nerve Pinching and Radiculopathy

Patients are often diagnosed with problems of “stenosis”. In simpler terms, this is nerve pinching occurring as the nerve roots exit the spinal canal. The pinching often occurs due to either disc herniation or facet enlargement into the canal where the nerve is exiting. The nerve pinching and symptoms associated with this form of stenosis is medically referred to as “radiculopathy.” Symptoms of radiculopathy include:
  • Pain radiating down an arm or leg
  • Numbness or tingling down an arm or leg
  • Pain radiating down an arm or leg
  • Numbness or tingling down an arm or leg
  • Arm or leg weakness
Man with arm pain
Lady with back pain

Central Spinal Canal Stenosis

If the spine degenerates, the central canal of the spine can become decreased in size and result in loss of space for the spinal cord or nerve roots. As the spine closes in on the spinal cord, significant symptoms may start to appear as a result:
  • Difficulty standing for periods of time
  • Leg weakness with standing or walking
  • Balance problems
  • Considerable pain, numbness, tingling down arms or legs
  • Increased clumsiness with daily tasks
  • Difficulty using the hands for everyday tasks*
  • Significant and progressive weakness in arms & hands*
  • Bowel or bladder dysfunction (such as loss of control)*

*If you experience these severe symptoms please contact a healthcare provider immediately. These symptoms could indicate the need for urgent medical attention.

Scoliosis, Sacroiliac (or SI) Joint Pain, Spondylosisthesis or Other Back Pain

Some other common spine pain conditions include:

  • Scoliosis: Abnormal side bending and rotation of the vertebral column
  • Sacroiliac Joint Pain: Irritation or inflammation of joints at the base of the spine
  • Spondylolisthesis: when one vertebra slips forwards or backward over another
  • Other Back Pain*

*This is not a complete list of spine conditions we may be able to treat, so please contact us or complete the Orthobiogen Candidate Form if you have questions about whether Regenexx surgery-free procedures can help you.

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Where is Your Spine Pain?

What the Location of Spine Pain May Indicate

The location of your spine pain and the type of symptoms you experience can give you a good clue as to what may be causing your spine problem.

The following is not a complete list of all potential diagnoses but instead a grouping of possible conditions that will be considered in the evaluation of your pain and symptoms.

neck pain points image

Neck with associated rear headaches

- - - Potential Diagnoses - - -
Cervical facet arthritis
Cervical degenerative disc disease
Cervical spondylosis
Cervical instability
Occipital neuralgia
Whiplash associated disease

neck pain points image

Neck (without arm pain)

- - - Potential Diagnoses - - -
Cervical facet arthritis
Cervical degenerative disc disease
Cervical spondylosis
Cervical spinal stenosis
Cervical spondylolisthesis
Rheumatoid arthritis

Neck with pain radiating into arms/hands pain points image

Neck with pain radiating into arms/hands

- - - Potential Diagnoses - - -
Cervical radiculopathy
Cervical spinal stenosis
Cervical spondylosis
Cervical degenerative disc disease
Cervical spondylolisthesis
Shoulder disease (i.e., rotator cuff)

Mid-back without ribcage pain points image

Mid-back (without ribcage pain)

- - - Potential Diagnoses - - -
Thoracic facet arthritis
Thoracic degenerative disc disease
Thoracic spondylosis
Thoracic spinal stenosis
Thoracic scoliosis

Mid-back with pain radiating into ribcage pain points image

Mid-back with pain radiating into ribcage

- - - Potential Diagnoses - - -
Thoracic radiculopathy
Thoracic spinal stenosis
Thoracic spondylosis
Thoracic degenerative disc disease
Thoracic spondylolisthesis
Post-thoracotomy syndrome

Low-back pain points image

Low-back (without lower body pain)

- - - Potential Diagnoses - - -
Lumbosacral facet arthritis
Lumbar degenerative disc disease
Lumbar spondylosis
Lumbar spinal stenosis
Lumbar spondylolisthesis
Sacroiliac joint disease/inflammation
Disc annulus tear
Failed back surgery syndrome
Adjacent segment disease
Ankylosing spondylitis
Muscle strain

Low-back with pain extending into legs/feet pain points image

Low-back with pain extending into legs/feet

- - - Potential Diagnoses - - -
Lumbosacral radiculopathy
Lumbar degenerative disc disease
Lumbar spinal stenosis
Lumbar spondylolisthesis
Failed back surgery syndrome
Adjacent segment disease
Back pain with peripheral neuropathy

Sciatic nerve/buttocks & upper leg area pain points image

Sciatic nerve/buttocks & upper leg area

- - - Potential Diagnoses - - -
Spinal nerve root compression
Spinal cord compression
Spinal stenosis
Radiculopathy
Sacroiliac joint pain/inflammation
Piriformis syndrome
Degenerative disc disease

Surgery-Free Treatment Options

At Orthobiogen, Oklahoma’s only Regenerative Medicine center, we offer advanced surgery-free treatment options for those suffering from spine and joint pain.

We may use your own platelets/PRP and/or bone marrow concentrate (containing your own live stem cells) via regenerative medicine techniques to promote healing and relieve pain. Our goal is to help our patients return to their active lifestyles as quickly and safely as possible.

We offer comprehensive consultations to see if you’re a candidate, so you can get started on your journey to pain-free living today.

Explore the Outcomes Database

Regenexx maintains an active patient registry that tracks patients’ progress or side effects, post-procedure. Our outcomes database contains records on tens of thousands of Regenexx procedures performed by physicians in our network.

Below, you can explore the outcomes database and see the number of currently tracked procedures as well as patient-reported results.

Surgery-Free Treatment Options

At Orthobiogen, Oklahoma’s only Regenerative Medicine center, we offer advanced surgery-free treatment options for those suffering from spine and joint pain.

We may use your own platelets/PRP and/or bone marrow concentrate (containing your own live stem cells) via regenerative medicine techniques to promote healing and relieve pain. Our goal is to help our patients return to their active lifestyles as quickly and safely as possible.

We offer comprehensive consultations to see if you’re a candidate, so you can get started on your journey to pain-free living today.

Get FREE Report: What is PRP?

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Shoulder

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions.

View Details About Shoulder Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Rotator cuff tears
  • Arthritis of the shoulder joint
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Labral tears or degeneration
  • Rotator cuff tendonitis & tendonosis
  • AC Joint Separation
  • Recurrent shoulder dislocations

Lower Spine

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions.

View Details About Spine Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Lumbar Facet Injury
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Herniated or Bulging Disc
  • Radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
  • SI Joint Syndrome
  • Many More Disc and Low Back Issues

Knee

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions.

View Details About Knee Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Meniscus Tears
  • Patellofemoral
  • Syndrome/Chondomalacia
  • ACL Tears + PCL, LCL & MCL Tears & Sprains
  • Patellar Tendonitis
  • Pes anersine bursitis
  • Baker’s cyst
  • Instability
  • Hamstrings Tendinopathy & Biceps Femoris Insertional Tendinopathy

Hip

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions.

View Details About Hip Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Osteonecrosis
  • Bursitis
  • Tendinopathy
  • Labral / Labrum Tear

Hand & Wrist

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions.

View Details About Hand & Wrist Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Hand Arthritis
  • Basal Joint Arthritis or CMC / Carpometacarpal
  • Arthritis
  • Instability
  • TFCC Tear
  • Carpal Tunnel SyndromeTrigger Finger

Foot & Ankle

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions.

View Details About Foot & Ankle Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Ankle Instability
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Peroneal tendon tear or split
  • Ligament sprain or tear
  • Sub-talar arthritis or instability
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome
  • Bunions

Elbow

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions.

View Details About Elbow Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Instability
  • Tennis Elbow or Golfer’s Elbow
  • Nerve entrapment (ulnar nerve)

Cervical Spine

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions.

View Details About Spine Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Cervical Instability
  • Cervical Facet Injury
  • Neck, Back or Rib Instability
  • Many More Disc and Cervical Issues Causing Pain