New gel could ease pain after herniated disc

– This new method offers hope to people suffering from back pain caused by a herniated disc and could prevent the damage from getting worse after the herniated disc is removed. This in turn could improve patients’ quality of life, says Hongjie Yan, a researcher at Uppsala University.

attacks the immune system

A herniated disc is a common problem that can cause a lot of pain and affect the function of the spine. Many people need surgery to remove the herniated disc to relieve pressure on the nerves.

After surgery, most patients are treated with medications to reduce inflammation. To control pain and swelling, steroid injections may be used.

But there is no treatment yet that prevents the immune system from attacking the remaining disc tissue, which can worsen the damage and cause more pain.

Inspiration from Coslim

In a new study, a new solution has been tested to prevent further damage after herniated disc surgery.

Researchers have developed what is called a mucin gel, inspired by cow mucus and the mucus layer of some parasites.

A gel that suppresses the activity of immune cells can be applied immediately after surgery to create a protective barrier around the discs. This prevents immune cells from attacking the core of the disc. This reduces the risk of further damage.

May reduce complications

Conventional gels, used as barriers, do not provide as good protection as shown in the study.

– This method could be of great importance in surgical procedures. Hongji Yan says that a simple injection of mucin gel into the surgical site could improve patient outcomes, reduce the risk of long-term complications, and increase the rate of successful disc surgery.

Scientific study:

Preserving the immune-privileged nucleus pulposus: Protecting intervertebral discs from degeneration after discectomy using synthetic mucin hydrogel injectionsadvanced sciences.