Stem Cells:The Cure?

Chronic back pain could be cured by a revolutionary treatment which allows patients to "grow" a new spine.
Scientists have discovered how to regenerate the damaged discs in the back which cause agony to sufferers.

The condition, common among older people, occurs when the discs between the vertebrae wear away, leaving them to rub against each other.
Until now few treatments have been available other than surgery — which has a high failure rate — or a lifetime on painkillers.

Doctors feared it was impossible to repair the cartilage in the discs and have written off many patients as no-hope cases. 

But now researchers have found that stem cell therapy could help the discs to self-heal. Stem cells are the body's building blocks and possess a unique ability to repair damaged tissue and bone.

Scientists do not fully understand how they function and are busy exploring their potential as a cure for several conditions.

In the latest study at Gothenburg University in Sweden, researchers found there were areas on the edge of the discs which have similar properties to stem cells.
Their experiments on animals showed healing in the discs and they hope to repeat the results in human tests.

Chief researcher Helena Barreto-Henriksson said: "It is generally believed that cartilage has very little or no capacity to heal. "Our study found the transplanted stem cells survived and that there was a certain degree of healing in the disc." She added: "The advantage of such treatment over today's surgical approaches is that it would be a much simpler and less serious procedure for the patient."

Sciatica

Sciatica is the name given to any sort of pain that is caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve.
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It runs from the back of your pelvis, through your buttocks, and all the way down both legs, ending at your feet.
When something compresses or irritates the sciatic nerve, it can cause a pain that radiates out from your lower back and travels down your leg to your calf (see Sciatica – symptoms for more information). Sciatic pain can range from being mild to very painful.
A slipped disc is the most common identified cause of sciatica, but in some cases there is no obvious cause (see Sciatica – causes for more information).

Types of sciatica

There are two types of sciatica:

• Acute sciatica, which lasts up to six weeks
• Persistent (chronic) sciatica, which lasts longer than six weeks

Most cases of acute sciatica will pass without the need for treatment. A combination of self-help measures such as over-the-counter painkillers, exercise and hot or cold packs can usually relieve the symptoms.

For persistent sciatica, you may be advised to try a structured exercise programme under the supervision of a physiotherapist. In very rare cases, surgery may be needed to control the symptoms.

Outlook

Most people find their sciatic pain goes away naturally within a few days or weeks. However, see your GP if:

• you experience any other symptoms together with your back and leg pain, such as weight loss or loss of bladder or bowel control
• You experience increasingly more pain and discomfort
• Your pain is too severe to manage with self-help measures
• In these cases, your GP should check whether there is a more serious problem causing your pain.