Chronic back pain or degenerative disc disease can affect your life in a number of ways, and discovering the best way to alleviate this pain can be overwhelming. There are a number of different treatment options that you can pursue, and one of these is through the use of Fibrin, an FDA-approved substance that is used off-label in the Discseel® Procedure. This FDA-approved substance can be injected into the discs in your spine to help seal any holes or cracks that are present. This helps prevent discs from leaking and excess swelling, and it also helps to alleviate the symptoms of chronic back pain and increase soft tissue healing.
What is Fibrin?
The Fibrin molecule is crucial for your body after experiencing an injury or trauma and is created in the body when fibrinogen and thrombin combine. Fibrinogen is a glycoprotein that circulates in high concentrations in the blood, and thrombin is an enzyme that works to activate and convert fibrinogen into Fibrin. When an injury occurs, thrombin is released to the specific area that experienced the trauma to initiate the activation of fibrinogen.
This activated material is composed of a number of long rod-shaped molecules that interlace with one another, forming a tight mesh. This mesh is able to surround the damaged tissues, helping to increase blood clotting and encourage wound healing.
This naturally-occurring combination is able to be replicated outside the body and can be used for surgical purposes. This biologic substance can be separated from the blood stream and can be activated to produce a glue-like sealant. This FDA approved sealant is able to block holes that have formed in the spinal discs, helping to prevent additional swelling, reduce back pain, and encourage wound healing.
The Inner Workings of Spinal Discs
The spinal column is an intricate part of the body, as the vertebrae are responsible for twisting, flexing, extending, and bending side to side. Between each of the vertebra lies an intervertebral disc. This disc is responsible for cushioning the spine as it moves in certain directions, and it also ensures that the spine stays mobile.
Each disc is composed of an inner and outer layer. The inner layer, called the nucleus pulposus, is a gel-like substance that contains a number of proteins and water molecules. If these proteins leak out, it can cause swelling, discomfort, and tenderness in the surrounding tissues. The outer layer of the disc, the annulus fibrosis, has a more rigid construction, and this tougher, outer layer contains a number of nerves that run through the spinal column. This outer layer can be cracked, which can allow the inner gel to leak.
The cells within the discs are responsible for holding water, which helps to provide the necessary cushioning to the spine. With age, these cells begin to lose their functionality, the discs begin to dry out, and the bones and discs can begin to break down as well. The spinal discs do not receive a large amount of blood flow, making it hard for them to heal.
Why Sealing the Discs is Necessary
Your intervertebral discs start to break down and can even collapse with age, so it is important to maintain as much of their function as possible. Because these discs do not receive a large amount of blood to encourage tissue healing and rebuilding, utilizing a sealant is an effective way to minimize and slow disc degeneration. The sealant can help to maintain the proper shape of the disc with the insertion of additional fluid, and this fluid also serves as a structural aid, helping to prevent the disc from breaking down again in the future.
The Benefits of Fibrin on Discs
Since Fibrin has binding properties that function similarly to glue, this substance can have many benefits on intervertebral discs. During surgical procedures, this sealant can simply be inserted into both the inner and outer layers of the disc using a needle.
Fibrin can fill any fissures or cracks that have formed in the annulus fibrosus to prevent future leaks, which can help to reduce back pain caused by the leaking fluid. It can also provide extra cushioning inside the inner layer, allowing for increased comfort and decreased chronic pain.
Fibrin also contains healing properties, as seen in other parts of the body, which can carry over into the discs as well. They can help to enhance tissue restoration and can help to stimulate tissue cross-linking and binding. This healing also utilizes non-inflammatory cytokines, which ensures that inflammation is kept to a minimum.
Bringing It All Together
More than one in four adults in the United States suffers from back pain, and this condition can limit your everyday activities and quality of life. Getting your chronic pain under control can be difficult, but Fibrin provides a great option that can benefit a number of different individuals. Sealants utilizing fibrinogen and thrombin can help to keep discs strong and functional, which can help maintain more water in the discs. They can also prevent the internal fluid from leaking out, which decreases inflammation and sensitivity, and this less-invasive procedure can be a great option if you suffer from chronic back pain or degenerative disc disease.