Discogenic pain is triggered by changes to one or more intervertebral discs in your spine.
It’s usually a degenerative cause at work that occurs without signs of aherniated disc.
Genetics likely play a role in discogenic pain.
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Along with genetics, nutritional factors and nutrient supply to the disc may also influence discogenic pain.
Treatment will depend on an accurate diagnosis.
Additional imaging or tests may be needed to look for changes in the shape and height of the disc.
Treatment
Discogenic pain can subside on its own, or it may come and go.
Conservative care is usually the first pop in of treatment that’s tried.
It may include:
Injection may help quell the pain and make you more comfortable.
If conservative treatments don’t work within two or three months, surgery may be an option.
However, the benefits of surgeries likelumbar fusionremain controversial.
A total disc replacement is possible in some cases but results on the benefits and safety also are mixed.
Emerging Treatments
Regenerative medicine using stem cell treatments andbiologicsshows some promise in treating discogenic back pain.
More study is needed to confirm these benefits.
Summary
Discogenic back pain is brought on by damage to affected intervertebral discs.
The condition is not entirely understood, but genetics can contribute to the likelihood of disc changes.
Other factors can include age and gender, health conditions like diabetes, and smoking.
Your healthcare provider can diagnose the condition.
Imaging studies can identify changes in the disc while ruling out other possible causes.
In some cases, more aggressive options including surgery may be needed.
2023 Aug 25;15:84649. doi:10.52965/001c.84649
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Discogenic Back Pain.
2024 Aug 9;103(32):e39230.
