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Discogenic back pain is caused by one or more of the intervertebral discs. It accounts for 39% of chronic low back pain. The intervertebral discs have individual nerve supplies. The discs are made up of two parts; the annulus fibrosus (outer structure) and the nucleus pulposus (inner gel). The outer third of the annulus fibrosus contains nerve fibres, whereas the nucleus pulposus doesn’t.
Discogenic low back pain is caused by internal disc disruption. This occurs when a disc tears or cracks allowing the nucleus pulposus to irritate the nerves within the annulus fibrosus, causing an inflammatory response and creating pain.
The pain is felt in the low back and can be one sided or across the middle. It is often a deep, dull and aching pain. It may be constant and then have episodes of sharp pain spikes. The pain is worsened by prolonged standing, sitting or twisting.
It can be increased by coughing or sneezing and temporarily be eased by changing position.
The pain may occur with or without referral into the leg.
A medical history is taken by a doctor, physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor. This will discuss current and past symptoms of back pain. A physical examination assessing range of movement, and neurological tests will also be conducted.
Degenerative changes to the disc can be seen best on an MRI. Both MRI and x-ray can be useful in diagnosing the condition. If one or more spinal discs are suspected to be causing pain, a provocative discogram or discography can be used.
You can see any of our practitioners for most conditions but check out their profiles for more information and specific interests.
Check out our services pages to find out more about these therapies. Practitioners are trained to treat most conditions but do this in slightly different ways. They work together to find the best treatment most suited to your condition.
Manual therapy, exercise therapy and acupuncture can be used, usually in combination, along with lifestyle changes. Epidural injections are commonly used for chronic discogenic pain that isn’t responding to manual treatment.
Prolotherapy (strong sugar solution) injections can be used to strengthen the instability of the spine segment involving the disc.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Lorena has changed my life. Four months ago, having been diagnosed as having “severe, acute and chronic” disc degeneration I genuinely thought I was facing a life of disability (I am 49).
Lorena has re-taught me how to move my body and how to think about what muscles I engage to a point that I am now running, swimming and doing pilates again and have almost full flexibility in my spine. It almost feels like Lorena can see through your skin to your muscles, so profound is her understanding of how the body moves.
After a course of Prolotherapy my back pain has gone and I live a normal life. I can’t thank Dr Petrides enough for giving me back my quality of life
Just wanted to say please pass my thanks to my osteopath, I came yesterday with terrible back and shoulder pain and today I am pain free, am well delighted as had a day planned with friends was worried I wouldn’t enjoy, please pass my thanks onto her.
Following treatment at Blackberry Clinic, Milton Keynes my back pain improved and I could play for my country again
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