Nerve blocks and regenerative disc repair serve different purposes in spine care. This guide explains the mechanisms, appropriate uses, and limitations of each approach — helping patients understand whether symptom management or structural repair better fits their condition and long-term goals.

Determining candidacy for annular tear repair requires a multi-step diagnostic process — from clinical history and MRI to provocative discography. Learn how each step helps identify whether biologic disc repair may be appropriate for your individual condition.

This glossary defines key spinal surgery and anatomy terms — including vertebra, annulus fibrosus, herniated disc, spinal fusion, laminectomy, and failed back surgery syndrome — in plain language. Understanding these terms may help patients evaluate surgical and non-surgical options; candidacy and outcomes vary by individual.

Veterans with service-related disc injuries may be candidates for intra-annular fibrin injection, a minimally invasive biologic disc repair approach that helps seal annular tears and support healing without spinal fusion. Candidacy and outcomes are evaluated individually.

Non-surgical alternatives to spinal fusion — including intra-annular fibrin injection, PRP therapy, and structured conservative care — may offer lasting relief for many patients with chronic discogenic back pain. This article examines the long-term clinical data behind each approach and what patients should consider when evaluating their options.

A plain-language glossary of essential pain management and diagnostic terms — including annular tear, discogenic pain, radiculopathy, and fibrin — to help patients better understand their spine condition and evaluate individualized treatment options.

Veterans with chronic back pain are often evaluated for spinal fusion, yet advanced non-surgical options—including intra-annular fibrin injection and biologic disc repair—may offer meaningful relief for appropriate candidates. This guide explores alternatives to fusion, key questions to ask, and how individualized evaluation can help veterans find a path forward.