Medically Reviewed by Dr. José Jiménez
Founder & Medical Director, Renovo Health & Beauty
Board-Elected Member, American Academy of Regenerative Medicine | 32+ Years of Medical Experience
Last Reviewed: September 2026.
Stem cell therapy for degenerative disc disease delivers mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to a painful spinal disc, or to the structures around it, under imaging guidance. Small trials have reported improvements in pain and disability, but the largest placebo-controlled trial to date (RESPINE, 2024) found no significant difference from a sham procedure at 12 months, although the treatment was safe. Renovo discusses both sets of findings openly with every candidate.
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Spinal discs are cushions between the vertebrae. With age, they lose water and height—a process called disc degeneration. Despite the name, degenerative disc disease is not a disease in the usual sense, and many people have disc changes on imaging without any pain. When a degenerated disc does cause symptoms, it can lead to chronic low back or neck pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
Most herniated discs improve with conservative care. Harvard Health Publishing notes that a herniated disc, with or without sciatica, usually responds to conservative treatment, and that back pain gradually improves within four to six weeks of treatment for most people (Harvard Health Publishing).
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Ten patients with chronic back pain received their own bone marrow MSCs injected into the disc. Pain and disability improved rapidly—reaching about 85% of their maximum improvement within three months—and disc water content increased at 12 months, although disc height did not recover (Orozco et al., Transplantation, 2011).
In 24 patients with lumbar disc degeneration, donor bone marrow MSCs produced faster and greater improvement than a sham procedure over one year, and disc degeneration scores improved in the MSC group while they worsened in the control group (Noriega et al., Transplantation, 2017).
The RESPINE trial randomized 114 patients with chronic low back pain to a single disc injection of 20 million donor bone marrow MSCs or a sham procedure. At 12 months, 74% of the MSC group and 69% of the sham group met the response threshold—not a significant difference—and the groups did not differ on secondary outcomes. No serious adverse events related to the procedure occurred (Pers et al., Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2024).
Reviews of the field describe promising animal research but a limited number of human trials, along with real biological challenges, such as keeping cells alive in the disc’s harsh environment, which has almost no blood supply (Munda and Velnar, Biomolecules and Biomedicine, 2024).
Published response rates vary widely, and they need context. In the RESPINE trial, 69% of patients who received a sham procedure also met the response threshold, which shows how much back pain can improve on its own and why controlled trials matter. Be cautious of any clinic that quotes a single success rate. Dr. Jiménez will explain what the evidence suggests for your specific diagnosis.
No. No stem cell product is FDA-approved for back pain or degenerative disc disease. The first FDA-approved mesenchymal stromal cell therapy, approved in December 2024, is indicated for a specific transplant complication in children (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). Renovo provides care in Mexico under COFEPRIS Health License COFEPRIS-02-002-A and reviews the current evidence with every patient.
Disc protocols begin with an accurate diagnosis. An MRI shows which disc levels are involved and whether a nerve is compressed, and Dr. Jiménez correlates those findings with your exam. Depending on your imaging, treatment may target the disc itself, the surrounding facet joints or ligaments, or be delivered systemically.
Temporary soreness and a short-term increase in back pain are the most common effects after a spinal injection. Infection of the disc (discitis), bleeding, and nerve irritation are rare but serious risks of any procedure involving the disc, which is why sterile technique, imaging guidance, and careful patient selection matter. In the RESPINE trial, no serious adverse events related to the procedure occurred.
At Renovo, stem cell–only pricing generally ranges from $2,100 to $9,900 USD. The number of disc levels treated, the delivery method, and whether the procedure requires the Procedure Room all affect your quote. Read our guide to stem cell therapy cost in Tijuana. Renovo operates on a self-pay model and does not bill U.S. health insurance; for coverage questions, see does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover stem cell therapy?
Disc problems often overlap with other spine and nerve conditions. Learn about stem cell therapy for chronic neck pain, sciatica, and spinal cord injury, or read our overview of orthopedic stem cell therapy.
Renovo is located in the Central Toreo building at Av. Santa María 2750, Suite 605, 6th floor, Fracc. Calete, Tijuana, Baja California 22044—roughly 8 to 15 minutes from the U.S. border, depending on traffic. Patients flying in can use San Diego International Airport or Tijuana International Airport, which connects to the U.S. side through the Cross Border Xpress (CBX). Bring a valid passport or passport card for re-entry into the United States. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Pacific Time).
Every protocol at Renovo is overseen by Dr. José A. Jiménez, Renovo’s Medical Director. Dr. Jiménez is a Medical Doctor and Surgeon who graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) (Professional License No. 1568215) and a Specialist in Critical Care Medicine and Intensive Care (Specialty License No. 3444273), with advanced training in stem cell therapy, sports medicine, and musculoskeletal ultrasound. Renovo operates under COFEPRIS Health License COFEPRIS-02-002-A.
Call (619) 407-7878, message us on WhatsApp, or request a free consultation to begin with the Medical History & Imaging Questionnaire.
There is no single reliable success rate. In the largest placebo-controlled trial, 74% of patients who received MSCs and 69% who received a sham procedure met the response threshold at 12 months, which was not a significant difference. Smaller trials reported better results, so the evidence remains mixed.
No stem cell product is FDA-approved for back pain or degenerative disc disease. The first FDA-approved mesenchymal stromal cell therapy, approved in December 2024, treats a transplant complication in children. Renovo provides care in Mexico under COFEPRIS Health License COFEPRIS-02-002-A.
Regrowing a disc has not been demonstrated in people. Studies have reported improved disc hydration or degeneration scores in some patients, but disc height was not restored, and results have been inconsistent across trials.
No. Renovo’s cells are expanded and quality-tested in certified, licensed biotechnology laboratories before they are shipped to the clinic. At Renovo, each batch receives an independent secondary cell count and viability check before it is administered.
At Renovo in Tijuana, stem cell–only pricing generally ranges from $2,100 to $9,900 USD, depending on the number of levels treated, the delivery method, the clinical setting, and any supportive therapies.
In clinical studies, improvement was measured over months; in one pilot study, most of the improvement occurred within three months. Results vary, and some patients notice little change.
People with active, uncontrolled infections, medical instability, rapidly worsening nerve symptoms, or new loss of bladder or bowel control need other care first. Dr. Jiménez screens every patient before recommending treatment.
