Sometimes back pain comes from the jelly-filled discs between each vertebrae that help make up your spine.

The spine's 33 bony vertebrae are linked together in a way that allows the spine to bend and move. There are 24 vertebra that come in contact with one another. Between each of them is a flat, jelly-filled disc. This acts as a shock absorber for the spine. When the discs bulge (herniate) out of their space and become displaced, it presses on spinal nerves causing back pain or pain radiating to the legs. Bulging discs can occur anywhere in the spine but are more common in the lower back. One treatment option you may have is an intradiscal procedure. This may ease the pain.

Intradiscal procedures are generally considered experimental or investigational. Medical opinion on them varies a lot. Several small studies have said that intradiscal procedures are relatively safe ways to ease back pain. But many experts say they haven't seen much proof that these procedures really work. Some research shows good results for certain procedures. But other research shows less of an effect. For some procedures, more research needs to be done. And the research needs to be done with a larger number of people.

Many intradiscal procedures can be done on an outpatient basis. They are slightly invasive. This generally means you'll have less pain from the treatment itself and a speedier return to daily life. But before having such a procedure, you'll want to talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits in detail. The healing process may limit your movements. So be sure you understand what you can and can't do after a procedure. Also check to see whether your insurance company covers the specific procedure you're thinking about.

During this procedure, your surgeon removes some of the tissue from the center of the bulging disc that is causing you pain. The goal is to remove as little material as possible. In this way, the disc stays stable. The surgeon, with X-ray guidance, uses a needle to reach the disc and remove the extra material from the jelly-like center of the disc. This is known as the nucleus pulposus. It's usually done under local anesthesia in a doctor's office or an outpatient surgery center. Your movement may be limited for a while after the procedure. But healing is faster than with an open surgery.

This includes intradiscal electrotherapy or electrothermal therapy.

For this treatment, the doctor inserts a wire electrode near the disk. Electric current generates heat in the wire. The heat shrinks the disc to ease pain. Often, this procedure isn't covered by insurance.

Another treatment takes some of the fluid out of the disc that is causing pain. Laser treatments have been used to deflate a disc. The doctor inserts an optical fiber into the disc. The heat created causes a small amount of the water content in the center of the disc to turn into vapor. The heat may reduce pain by affecting the chemical structure and decreasing the pressure in the disc.

Like any surgery, these procedures carry some risks:

• Infection
• Damage to the disc
• Damage to nearby tissues and nerves
• Failure to resolve pain or the pain gets worse
• Need for further surgery

The first-line treatment for degenerative disc disease is conservative care. This may mean taking anti-inflammatory medicines or other pain medicines. And trying physical therapy, exercise, and behavior modification. Many cases of lower back pain go away on their own with time. Intradiscal procedures are often used when conservative care has not been effective.