Back pain and neck pain are a widespread problem for many people. In Germany, 80% of people complain of back pain at least once in their lives. Statistically, 27 to 40% of Germans permanently experience back pain. The herniated disc is justifiably feared, having very often been treated surgically until now. Also widespread are acute lumbago, popularly known as lumbago, and sciatica, also known as sciatica, a pain that radiates into the leg.

Back pain is widespread in today’s population. Every second patient visiting an orthopedist cites it as the reason for their visit. Back pain usually refers to discomfort in the lower back, in the lumbar spine region. The causes of back pain are diverse. They arise from lack of exercise, insufficiently trained muscles, one-sided strain as in sedentary professions, but also from genetic predisposition and psychological factors such as stress and professional tension.

Furthermore, in acute cases, a disc problem can also be the reason for the symptoms. The manifestations can vary. Chronic pain lasts longer than three months. Back pain can occur acutely and suddenly or gradually intensify in a creeping process.

To prevent back problems, an active and targeted muscle-building program should be developed, and everyday back-straining situations, such as lifting a heavy load, should be managed in a back-friendly way. Other terms include lumbago, acute lumbago, sciatica, or disc problems.

The treatment of back pain must be tailored individually depending on the clinical picture. Surgical intervention should always be a last resort, as most back pain can be treated very effectively conservatively, i.e., without surgery.

The SpineMED® treatment represents a very good option and is situated in the field of regenerative medicine. However, before beginning SpineMED® therapy, the exact cause of the pain should be diagnosed.

The spine must fulfill various mechanical functions. On the one hand, it must possess sufficient stability to ensure an upright posture – but on the other hand, it must also exhibit enough flexibility to allow for adequate movement (such as bending and twisting). These requirements are mechanically very demanding and thus increase the spine’s susceptibility to injury.

The spine consists of 24 vertebrae from the cervical to the lumbar spine, which are held together by joints, ligaments, muscles, and fascia. Between the individual vertebrae is the intervertebral disc, which acts like a buffer and absorbs mechanical pressure along the spine.

The intervertebral disc itself consists of a gelatinous core, the so-called nucleus pulposus, which is surrounded by several layers of fibrous connective tissue, the so-called annulus fibrosus. The intervertebral disc has no blood supply of its own, and the supply of fluid, nutrients, and oxygen is based on the process of diffusion from the adjacent vertebrae. This process largely depends on the pressure difference between the interior of the disc and the adjacent vertebra or its supplying blood vessels.

This is also why disc regeneration (such as supply and nutrition) primarily occurs in a lying and resting posture, i.e., when the disc pressure (intradiscal pressure) is low. Fundamentally, this regeneration process is very limited, and with increasing age, wear and tear phenomena very frequently occur, leading to pain and discomfort.

Our spine is heavily stressed every day by prolonged sitting, one-sided strain, as well as bending and lifting. Repetitive overloads or one-sided stresses can injure the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc (annulus fibrosus). With high or increasing intradiscal pressure, this can lead to a bulging of the disc material (disc protrusion) and, in the case of larger injuries to the fibrous ring, even to a disc perforation and thus to the extrusion of the gelatinous mass (herniated disc or Hernia Nucleus Pulposus). This, in turn, can result in impingement of the spinal nerve, the nerve root, and/or other sensitive structures, which can lead to severe pain, sensory disturbances (e.g., tingling, numbness), and possibly even motor deficits (e.g., loss of strength).