Abstract
Motor vehicle accidents and work injuries can place sudden force on the neck or lower back. This force may strain a spinal disc, cause an annular tear, or push disc material outward. Common findings include disc protrusions, disc extrusions, and annular fissures.
Many people improve with conservative treatment. However, care must match the injury, symptoms, physical examination, and MRI findings. Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, platelet-fibrin products, or PFP, and microfragmented adipose tissue, or MFAT, may be considered for selected patients. The evidence for these treatments is still developing, and results can vary.
IV infusions may support hydration or correct a nutrient deficiency, but they do not directly repair a herniated disc. Integrative chiropractic care and rehabilitation may help improve movement, reduce muscle guarding, and rebuild strength as part of a medically supervised recovery plan.
How Accidents Can Affect a Spinal Disc
Spinal discs sit between the bones of the spine. Each disc has a firm outer ring called the annulus fibrosus and a softer center called the nucleus pulposus. The disc absorbs force while allowing the spine to bend and move.
A car accident may rapidly bend, twist, compress, or extend the neck and lower back. A work injury may involve:
Heavy lifting
Falling from a height
Repetitive bending
Pulling or pushing heavy objects
Twisting while carrying a load
Long periods of vibration or poor posture
These forces may irritate a healthy disc. They may also make an older disc problem painful.
An MRI can show a disc change, but the image alone does not prove that the disc is causing the patient’s symptoms. It also does not always prove that the accident created the entire condition. Some people have disc bulges or herniations without pain. A complete evaluation should compare the injury history, symptoms, neurological examination, function, and imaging findings (Stretanski et al., 2025).
Common Types of Disc Injuries
Annular Fissure or Annular Tear
An annular fissure is a split in one or more layers of the disc’s outer ring.
The tear may cause pain in the neck or lower back. It may also release inflammatory chemicals that irritate a nearby spinal nerve. This can produce burning, tingling, numbness, or pain traveling into an arm or leg.
An annular fissure does not always mean that material has moved outside the disc. However, the opening may create a pathway for the softer center of the disc to move outward (Shin & Chang, 2023).
Disc Protrusion
A protrusion is usually a contained disc herniation. The base of the displaced material is wider than the part that extends outward.
A small protrusion may not cause symptoms. When it narrows the spinal canal or touches a nerve root, it may cause local pain, sciatica, numbness, or weakness.
Disc Extrusion
An extrusion is generally a larger or less-contained herniation. The part of the disc that has moved outward is wider than the opening connecting it to the original disc.
Extrusions may be more likely to irritate or compress a spinal nerve. However, the size of an extrusion does not always predict how much pain a person will feel.
Sequestered Disc Fragment
A sequestration happens when a piece of extruded disc material separates from the main disc.
The loose fragment may move upward or downward within the spinal canal. It can place pressure on a nerve root. In the neck, a fragment may also affect the spinal cord.
This type of injury requires a careful neurological examination and medical review.
Broad Disc Bulge
A broad disc bulge is not the same as a focal herniation. A larger portion of the disc extends beyond its normal border.
Bulges are often related to age and wear. However, an accident may make a previously painless bulge symptomatic. Modern spine terminology separates broad bulges from focal protrusions and extrusions (Fardon et al., 2014).
Common Symptoms of a Disc Injury
Disc injuries may cause:
Neck or lower back pain
Pain traveling into an arm or leg
Numbness, tingling, or burning
Muscle weakness
Muscle spasms
Pain with sitting or bending
Pain when coughing or sneezing
Reduced range of motion
Trouble walking, gripping, working, or sleeping
Lumbar herniations commonly affect the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. Cervical disc injuries may cause arm pain and weakness. More serious cervical injuries may affect balance, walking, or hand control.
Many disc herniations improve over time with nonsurgical treatment. However, worsening neurological symptoms require prompt medical evaluation (Stretanski et al., 2025).
Diagnosis Must Come Before Treatment
A treatment plan should not be based on the MRI report alone.
The healthcare team may review:
How and when the injury happened
Where the pain begins and travels
Which movements make symptoms worse
Muscle strength
Reflexes and sensation
Balance and walking
Prior neck or back problems
Current medicines
Medical conditions
MRI, X-ray, or other test results
This evaluation helps separate disc pain from muscle strain, ligament injury, fracture, joint problems, hip conditions, shoulder injuries, or non-spinal causes of pain.
Can PRP Help a Herniated Disc?
Platelet-rich plasma is made from the patient’s own blood. The blood is processed to concentrate platelets and healing signals.
Depending on the diagnosis, a trained physician may place PRP near an injured spinal structure. In selected cases, PRP may be placed inside a painful disc using image guidance.
Small studies and research reviews suggest that intradiscal PRP may reduce disc-related pain and improve function in some patients. However, the evidence is mixed.
Some studies have reported improvements lasting several months. Another controlled study found no clear improvement over the control treatment after one year. PRP should therefore be presented as a possible treatment option, not as a proven way to rebuild every torn or herniated disc (Machado et al., 2023; Schepers et al., 2022).
PRP may be considered when:
Pain appears to come from a contained disc injury
Symptoms match the MRI and examination
Conservative treatment has not helped enough
There is no urgent surgical problem
The patient understands that results are not guaranteed
A large extrusion, free disc fragment, severe spinal narrowing, or worsening weakness may require a surgical or spine specialist evaluation.
What Are PFP Treatments?
PFP commonly refers to platelet-fibrin products. These preparations form a thicker fibrin network than standard liquid PRP.
The fibrin may hold platelets and growth factors in one area for a longer time. Platelet-fibrin products are used in some orthopedic and soft-tissue procedures.
However, direct research on PFP injections inside injured spinal discs is limited. PFP should not be described as a guaranteed seal for an annular tear.
Important factors include:
How the product is prepared
Where it is injected
Whether image guidance is used
The experience of the treating clinician
The patient’s medical risks
The severity of the disc injury
Can MFAT Repair a Disc?
Microfragmented adipose tissue is prepared from a patient’s own fat tissue. It contains structural tissue, signaling molecules, and cells that may influence inflammation and healing.
Early studies of mesenchymal cell treatments for disc-related pain have reported possible improvements in pain and function. However, the studies are generally small. They also use different products, cell sources, doses, and treatment methods (Zhang et al., 2023).
MFAT and other cell-based treatments remain investigational for spinal disc disease.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that regenerative medicine products have not been approved to treat orthopedic conditions such as disc disease, neck pain, or back pain. Patients should ask exactly what is being injected, how it is processed, and what evidence supports its use (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2021).
No regenerative procedure should be promoted as a guaranteed way to restore a severely damaged disc to its original condition.
Where Do IV Infusions Fit?
IV infusions do not pull a disc protrusion back into place. They also do not close an annular tear or remove an extruded disc fragment.
An IV infusion may be used under medical supervision to:
Treat dehydration
Correct a confirmed nutrient deficiency
Support patients who cannot absorb certain nutrients normally
Address a specific medical need found during testing
IV therapy should be viewed as supportive care rather than direct disc regeneration.
Medical screening is important for patients with kidney disease, heart disease, abnormal electrolyte levels, medication interactions, or other chronic health conditions.
How Integrative Chiropractic Care Fits In
Chiropractic care does not remove a sequestered or extruded disc fragment. Its role is to improve movement, reduce mechanical stress, calm muscle guarding, and support a safe return to activity.
A personalized chiropractic plan may include:
Gentle spinal mobilization
Carefully selected adjustments
Flexion-distraction methods
Spinal decompression methods
Soft-tissue treatment
Posture training
Corrective exercise
Core and hip strengthening
Work-specific movement training
The technique must match the injury. Forceful treatment may not be appropriate when a patient has severe nerve compression, spinal cord involvement, a fracture, spinal instability, or rapidly worsening weakness.
Clinical guidelines recognize spinal manipulation as one possible non-drug treatment for certain forms of low back pain. It is generally most useful as part of a broader plan that includes activity, exercise, and rehabilitation (Qaseem et al., 2017).
Multidisciplinary Injury Care in El Paso
At Injury Medical Clinic PA in El Paso, Texas, Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CCST, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, combines chiropractic evaluation with functional medicine, personal injury care, and rehabilitation.
In his published clinical observations, Dr. Jimenez emphasizes matching MRI findings with the physical examination. He also focuses on measuring function and coordinating different forms of care instead of depending on one treatment alone (Jimenez, 2026).
Dr. Maria Guadalupe Cardenas, MD, is identified by the practice as a board-certified internal medicine physician, medical director, and collaborative physician. She has more than 40 years of experience and holds Texas medical license J2933. Public NPPES-derived information lists her NPI as 1164426748.
Her internal medicine experience may help the team review:
Chronic health conditions
Current medications
Laboratory results
Bleeding risks
Cardiovascular concerns
Kidney function
Diabetes
Infection risks
Medical factors that may affect healing
This multidisciplinary setup allows chiropractic care from Dr. Jimenez to work alongside medical oversight from Dr. Cardenas.
The team may coordinate:
Chiropractic and manual care
Medical evaluation and safety screening
Functional medicine
Nutrition support
Personal injury care and documentation
Progressive rehabilitation
Imaging and specialist referrals
Care before and after a medically indicated procedure
Each clinician works within their professional training, license, and scope of practice.
Who May Be a Candidate for Regenerative Care?
A person may be considered for PRP, PFP, or another regenerative procedure when:
The diagnosis is clear
Symptoms match the injured structure
Conservative care has not helped enough
There is no urgent surgical condition
Medical risks have been reviewed
The patient understands the limits of the treatment
Image guidance and sterile technique are used
The severity of the injury matters. A small contained protrusion is different from a large extrusion causing progressive weakness.
The safest plan may include continued conservative care, a targeted injection, a surgical opinion, or a combination of treatments.
Warning Signs That Need Urgent Care
Seek immediate or prompt medical attention for:
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Numbness in the groin or saddle area
Rapidly worsening arm or leg weakness
Severe trouble walking
Loss of balance or coordination
Fever with severe spinal pain
Major trauma with a possible fracture
Neck pain with signs of spinal cord pressure
These symptoms should not be delayed while trying supportive, chiropractic, or regenerative care.
A Clear and Realistic Path Forward
Disc protrusions, extrusions, annular tears, and related injuries may become painful after car crashes and workplace accidents. Many cases improve without surgery when treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis and structured conservative care.
PRP may help selected patients, but the evidence is mixed. PFP has less direct research for spinal discs. MFAT and other cell-based approaches remain investigational for disc disease.
IV infusions may support hydration or correct nutrient deficiencies, but they do not directly repair a herniated disc.
Integrative chiropractic care and rehabilitation may improve movement, strength, work ability, and daily function when they are used safely and matched to the patient’s condition.
The best treatment plan is not based on one word in an MRI report. It is built from the accident history, symptoms, examination, imaging, medical risks, work needs, and recovery goals.
References
Absolute Injury and Pain Physicians. (n.d.). Types of disc injuries.
Desert Spine and Sports Physicians. (n.d.). PRP therapy for discogenic low back pain and herniated discs.
Fardon, D. F., Williams, A. L., Dohring, E. J., Murtagh, F. R., Rothman, S. L. G., & Sze, G. K. (2014). Lumbar disc nomenclature: Version 2.0. The Spine Journal, 14(11), 2525–2545.
Jimenez, A. (2026). El Paso, TX chiropractor Dr. Alex Jimenez: Personal injury specialist.
Jimenez, A. (2026). Regenerative therapies for personal injury healing.
Machado, E. S., et al. (2023). Systematic review of platelet-rich plasma for low back pain. Biomedicines, 11(9).
Mahoney Chiropractic Group. (n.d.). Advanced spinal decompression for disc relief.
Naples Regenerative Institute. (n.d.). Can regenerative medicine repair my herniated disc?.
Open Wellness PDX. (n.d.). What is regenerative injection therapy? A complete guide to PRP, prolotherapy, and perineural injection.
Orthobiologics Associates. (n.d.). PRP for a herniated disc: Everything you need to know.
Qaseem, A., Wilt, T. J., McLean, R. M., & Forciea, M. A. (2017). Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain. Annals of Internal Medicine, 166(7), 514–530.
Schepers, M. O., et al. (2022). Effectiveness of intradiscal platelet-rich plasma for discogenic low back pain.
Stretanski, M. F., Hu, Y., & Mesfin, F. B. (2025). Disk herniation. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). Important patient and consumer information about regenerative medicine therapies.
Zhang, W., et al. (2023). Mesenchymal stem cells can improve discogenic pain in patients with intervertebral disc degeneration: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11, 1155357.
The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and physical medicine, as well as wellness, sensitive health issues, and functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and facilitate clinical collaboration with specialists across disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and the jurisdiction in which they are licensed. We utilize functional health and wellness protocols to treat and support care for musculoskeletal injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters and issues that directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice. Our office has made a reasonable effort to provide supportive citations and identify relevant research studies for our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies upon request to regulatory boards and the public.
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Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, MSACP, APRN, FNP-BC*, CCST, IFMCP, CFMP, ATN
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Multidisciplinary Licensing & Board Certifications:
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License #: TX5807, Verified: TX5807
New Mexico DC License #: NM-DC2182, Verified: NM-DC2182
Multi-State Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN*) in Texas & Multi-States
Multi-State Compact APRN License by Endorsement (42 States)
Texas APRN License #: 1191402, Verified: 1191402 *
Florida APRN License #: 11043890, Verified: APRN11043890 *
New York APRN License #: N25929, Verified: APRN-N25929*
License Verification Link: Nursys License Verifier
* Prescriptive Authority Authorized
ANCC FNP-BC: Board Certified Nurse Practitioner*
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Degree Granted. Master's in Family Practice MSN Diploma (Cum Laude)
Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC*, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST
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Dr. Maria Cardenas, MD
(Board Certified in Internal Medicine)
Medical Director & Collaborative Physician
NPI # 1164426749
MD License #: J2933
