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Disc injections are performed to treat degenerative disc disease, bulging discs, and herniated discs.

A diagnostic disc injection I used to determine which disc is causing the back pain. The doctor injects a local anesthetic into the disc to see if it relieves the pain. If so, then the disc is diagnosed as the source of pain. A therapeutic disc injection is done for long-term pain relief, and involves injecting the disc to reduce inflammation or other reasons.

A new, promising option for treating disc-related back pain is disc regenerative therapy (DRT). This procedure is used to trigger the body’s natural healing abilities to improve degenerative disc conditions and relieve pain.

The disc is injected with a solution composed of glucosamine and dextrose, which stimulates new collagen fiber growth to increase the strength of the disc.

If you have discogenic back pain, the doctor will determine if you are a candidate for disc injection by taking a medical history and performing a physical examination. If you and your doctor decide the disc injection procedure is right for you, be sure to discuss all of your current medications with the doctor.

You cannot eat or drink after midnight before the procedure, but are permitted to take necessary medications with small sips of water. When you arrive at the medical facility, a nurse will place an intravenous (IV) catheter into your arm, and you may be given preventive antibiotics and a mild sedative. Be sure to bring someone with you to drive you home afterwards.

In the procedure room, a nurse will position you on your abdomen and cleanse your back with an antiseptic solution. The doctor will numb the skin and tissues of the back with a local anesthetic, and insert a small needle into the disc using x-ray guidance (fluoroscopy).

The solution or medication will then be injected into the disc. Once this is done, the needle is removed, and a small bandage is applied.

After the disc injection, you will go to a recover room, and a nurse will monitor your condition for approximately 30 minutes. You will experience some minor pain at the injection site after the local anesthetic wears off. To relieve the discomfort, you should use an ice pack 3-4 times a day for 20 minutes at a time.

A pilot study found that DRT significantly improved patients’ discogenic pain. In addition, a recent randomized, controlled study showed that intradiscal corticosteroid disc injections were a safe, effective measure for treating low back pain of chronic nature.