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©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of discogenic low back pain
Bao-Gan Peng, Department of Spinal Surgery, Institute of Spinal Surgery of Armed Police Force, General Hospital of Armed Police Force, Beijing 100039, China
Author contributions: Peng BG solely contributed to this manuscript.
Correspondence to: Bao-Gan Peng, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Spinal Surgery, Institute of Spinal Surgery of Armed Police Force, General Hospital of Armed Police Force, 69 Yongding Road, Beijing 100039, China. pengbaogan@163.com
Telephone: +86-10-57976611 Fax: +86-10-57976937
Received: January 4, 2013
Revised: March 19, 2013
Accepted: April 10, 2013
Published online: April 18, 2013
Revised: March 19, 2013
Accepted: April 10, 2013
Published online: April 18, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: Discogenic low back pain is the most common type of chronic low back pain. Why lumbar disc degeneration leads to pain is one of the most important topics in medical field. Studies have revealed that pathologic features of painful discs were the formation of the zones of vascularized granulation tissue, with extensive innervation in annular fissures. Provocation discography now still is the only available means by which to identify a painful disc. There are a multitude of treatments used in clinical practice to treat chronic low back pain, with little consensus amongst clinicians as to which is the best approach.