Review: Discogenic Back Pain: Update on Treatment
Edgar Remotti, Chinoso Nduaguba, Parker A. Woolley, Ryan Ricciardelli, Anh Phung, Rosa Kim, Ivan Urits, Alan David Kaye, Jamal Hasoon, Thomas Simopoulos, Cyrus Yazdi, Christopher L. Robinson- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Purpose of Review
Lower back pain (LBP) has a lifetime prevalence of 80% in the United States population. Discogenic back pain (DBP), a subcategory of LBP, occurs as a result of the interverbal disc degeneration without disc herniation. Diagnosis relies on history, physical exam, and imaging such as MRI, provocative discography, or CT discography.
Recent Findings
Treatment of DBP involves a multifaceted approach with an emphasis on conservative measures including behavioral modification, pharmacologic management, and other non-pharmacologic interventions with invasive therapy reserved for select patients. Due to the paucity of data on the treatment of DBP, treatment also relies on data derived from treatment of chronic LBP (CLBP).
Summary
Despite the scarcity of data for the treatment of DBP, treatments do exist with varying efficacy for DBP. Novel techniques such as the use of biologics may provide another avenue for treatment though further studies are needed to better evaluate the most efficacious regimen for both novel and existing treatments.