Chronic back pain affects millions of people worldwide, yet traditional treatment options often fail to address the root cause. Pain medications, steroid injections, and surgeries frequently leave patients stuck in a cycle of persistent pain and loss of function. A common and overlooked source of chronic back pain and sciatica are degenerative, bulging, and herniated discs. Historically, effective treatments for damaged spinal discs have been limited. Fortunately, the Discseel Procedure has emerged as a safe and innovative nonsurgical solution. Using a biological glue called fibrin, this groundbreaking treatment not only seals damaged discs but also helps heal them—offering new hope for eliminating chronic back pain and restoring function and quality of life.

Understanding Spinal Discs and Their Role in Chronic Back Pain

Spinal discs are rubbery structures that sit between each vertebra, acting as shock absorbers and allowing flexibility and movement in the spine. Each disc has a tough outer layer called the annulus fibrosus, made of rings of collagen fibers, and a soft, gel-like center known as the nucleus pulposus. A healthy and intact annulus keeps the gel-like center securely within the disc.

Unfortunately, injuries or wear and tear can cause cracks and tears within the annular collagen fibers. When the inner gel leaks out through these annular tears, it irritates nearby tissues and spinal nerves, leading to inflammation, back pain, and sciatica. This often results in recurring episodes of the back “going out,” causing intense pain, muscle spasms, and sometimes numbness or weakness.

Injured discs can become “hypersensitive” as tiny sensory nerves grow into the cracks, making even small movements painful. Research has shown that damaged discs contain high levels of inflammatory proteins, creating a vicious cycle of back pain and disc degeneration. Because spinal discs have a poor blood supply, they have a limited ability to heal, often resulting in progression of degenerative disc disease and years of chronic back pain. Luckily, Discseel Procedure using fibrin sealant can help fix the spinal disc without surgery and eliminate back pain for good.

A New Solution for Damaged and Degenerative Discs: Fibrin Sealant

Numerous nonsurgical treatments have been studied for the repair of degenerative spinal discs. Biologic treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell injections have shown promise in repairing degenerative spinal discs. However, these therapies can fail to deliver results because they leak out of disc defects and annular tears, preventing them from working where they’re needed most.

This is where fibrin sealant shines. Fibrin, a natural protein found in blood plasma, has a unique thick and sticky consistency. It acts as both a biological glue and a regenerative agent. Fibrin has been used in medicine for over 30 years to heal wounds, help with repair of orthopedic injuries, and treat damaged organs like the spleen. When fibrin is injected into a damaged disc, it hardens quickly to a disc-like firmness, sealing the annular tears and stopping any leaky disc. Its sticky nature allows it to stay in place, unlike other treatments that tend to leak out.

But fibrin doesn’t just seal—it heals. It interacts with the surrounding tissue to stimulate regeneration, attracting specialized healing cells known as fibroblasts to lay down collagen and rebuild healthy tissue. It also reduces inflammation and promotes a healing environment within the disc. Animal studies even show that fibrin can stimulate the growth of the disc’s outer layer (annulus) and inner core (nucleus), making it a powerful tool for natural disc regeneration. Even better yet, fibrin can cover sensitive nerve fibers that have grown into injured discs, decreasing pain and allowing for more pain-free movement (1).

Sealing Annular Tears and Leaky Discs with Fibrin Sealant

A 2015 human study demonstrated that annular tears and leaky discs are common in patients with chronic back pain and that fibrin is effective in sealing annular tears and stopping leaky discs. The study involved 108 patients, each undergoing precise X-ray-guided injections of contrast into four lumbar discs. The results showed that, on average, three or more discs in these patients were classified as “leaky discs,” with contrast spilling out through annular tears at much lower pressures compared to healthy discs.
The researcher then injected fibrin glue into the damaged discs. Remarkably, within 30 minutes, the annular tears within the discs were sealed, and the injection pressure returned to normal levels. This study proved fibrin’s ability to effectively seal annular tears and restore disc integrity (2).

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Animal Studies Highlight Fibrin’s Power To Heal Injured and Degenerated Discs

A 2011 study published in the journal Spine demonstrated the powerful benefits of fibrin sealant injections in injured spinal discs. Researchers created injuries in the spinal discs of 31 pigs, injecting fibrin into one disc while leaving the other untreated for comparison. Over 12 weeks, the fibrin-treated discs showed significant improvements: reduced inflammation, stronger healing with less scar tissue, restored stiffness, and increased pressure tolerance to prevent leakage of inflammatory proteins.
Additionally, fibrin injections enhanced the production of proteoglycans, essential components of the disc’s nucleus and promoted more natural healing of the disc’s annular fibers. In contrast, untreated injured discs showed signs of degeneration, scar formation, increased inflammation, and weakened structure. This study highlights fibrin’s ability to promote natural healing and strengthen damaged discs.

A Landmark Study Proves Long-Term Benefits of the Discseel Procedure

A groundbreaking study was published in December 2024 in the medical journal Pain Physician. It highlights the remarkable potential of the Discseel Procedure, which utilizes fibrin glue injections, to treat chronic back pain in patients who previously failed other treatments, including surgery.

The study followed 827 patients with chronic back pain lasting at least six months, with the average duration being 11 years of pain. To qualify for the study, patients had to have tried and failed physical therapy and at least four previous invasive treatments, including:

  • Epidural and facet steroid injections
  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell injections
  • Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
  • Surgeries such as discectomy, laminectomy, and spinal fusion

 

All patients in the study were first assessed with an annulargram, a diagnostic injection of contrast into the discs under X-ray guidance that can identify leaky discs. In this study, four discs per patient were tested, and any disc showing leakage was treated with fibrin glue injections into the annulus. As shown in the previous studies, the bio-adhesive fibrin seals the annular tears, prevents further leakage, and promotes disc regeneration.

Life-Changing Results: Improved Pain, Function, and Quality of Life

Patients were monitored for one, two and three years after their Discseel Procedures. Researchers showed that there was a significant decrease in pain levels (both back and leg pain), disability scores (improved function) and an improvement in quality of life (QOL):

Significant improvements in all these parameters were observed within three months, with continued progress during the first, second, and third years. The graphs below illustrate the reduction in pain, improvement in physical function (decrease in disability), and enhanced quality of life over time:

Key Takeaways from the Discseel Procedure Study

  • Significant improvements in all these parameters were observed within three months, with continued progress during the first, second, and third years.
  • About 70% of patients reported satisfaction with their Discseel treatments.
  • Even patients with prior spinal surgeries, such as discectomy or fusion, experienced significant improvements in back pain relief, function, and quality of life.
  • No complications or adverse events were reported throughout the study.


The study authors concluded that fibrin sealant injections into the annulus can safely and effectively alleviate chronic discogenic back pain and sciatica (radiculopathy) (3).

A Brighter Future: The Discseel Procedure Offers Hope for Chronic Back Pain

Discseel Procedure, utilizing fibrin glue, represents a groundbreaking advancement in treating back pain from degenerative and injured spinal discs. By sealing annular tears, stopping leaky discs, and promoting natural disc regeneration, fibrin injections offer long-term pain relief and restore function—even for patients who have failed traditional treatments like physical therapy, injections, and even surgeries. Backed by compelling human and animal research, the nonsurgical Discseel Procedure offers a brighter future for chronic back pain sufferers, giving them the chance to reclaim their function and quality of life.

References:

  1. Buser, Zorica, et al. “Biological and biomechanical effects of fibrin injection into porcine intervertebral discs.” Spine 36.18 (2011): E1201-E1209.
  2. Pauza, Kevin, Carrie Wright, and Adam Fairbourn. “Treatment of annular disc tears and “leaky disc syndrome” with fibrin sealant.” Techniques in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management 19.1-2 (2015): 45-49.
  3. Pauza, Kevin, et al. “Long-term Investigation of Annulargrams and Intra-annular Fibrin to Treat Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain and Radiculopathy: 1-, 2-, and 3-Year Outcome Comparisons of Patients with and without Prior Surgery.” Pain Physician 27.8 (2024): 537.