Franciscan Health Pain Management Center Dyer adds innovative back pain relief procedure

Region patients battling chronic low back pain now have a new treatment option with the addition of the VIA Disc NP procedure at the Franciscan Health Pain Management Center Dyer.

Prasanth Nuthakki, MD, an independent physical medicine and rehabilitation physician who chooses to practice exclusively at Franciscan Health, is now offering the procedure. VIA Disc NP offers hope to patients whose spinal disc degeneration causes them to struggle with daily activities like sitting, bending or standing for extended periods of time.

“Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care,” Dr. Nuthakki said. “Until now, our options were limited to steroid injections or major surgery. VIA Disc NP changes the game.”

The VIA Disc NP procedure uses regenerative medicine to restore the spine’s natural cushioning. Through tissue donation, healthy spinal disc material is processed into a purified allograft gel, which is then injected into the damaged disc. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia in the Franciscan Health Pain Management Center Dyer clinic.

Ideal candidates for the procedure are patients with chronic low back pain (with or without leg pain), discomfort that worsens with sitting, bending or standing and patients with evidence of disc degeneration. Patients with active infections or recent disc herniations are not eligible for the procedure.

“It’s like giving your spine a second chance,” Dr. Nuthakki said. “We’re not masking the pain. We’re helping the disc recover its function. It’s similar to gel injections for knees, offering a real alternative before considering surgery.”

Recovery is similar to that of a steroid injection, with rest the day of the procedure. Within six weeks, most patients report improvement in their function and pain, Dr. Nuthakki said.

“This is a forward-looking treatment that opens the door to healing without burning bridges for the future use of steroids or surgery, if necessary,” he said.

For more information on the VIA Disc NP procedure and to schedule a consultation, call the Franciscan Health Pain Management Center Dyer located on the campus of Franciscan Health Dyer at 24 Joliet St. at (219) 864-2237.