Stem Cell MD — West Palm Beach, FL
Stem Cell Therapy for Degenerative Disc Disease
Relieve Chronic Back and Neck Pain Without Surgery
If you have been living with chronic low back or neck pain and conservative treatments have not delivered lasting relief, you may be a candidate for autologous stem cell therapy. At Stem Cell MD in West Palm Beach, board-certified neurosurgeon Dr. Stefan Pribil offers a minimally invasive regenerative treatment that uses your body’s own bone marrow-derived stem cells to address the root cause of disc degeneration — not just the symptoms. Stem cell therapy can also serve as a powerful complement to surgical care — supporting the healing environment before or after a procedure to enhance recovery outcomes.
What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is one of the most common causes of chronic spinal pain in adults. Despite its name, it is not actually a disease — it is a condition in which the intervertebral discs that cushion the vertebrae of the spine gradually lose hydration, height, and structural integrity over time. As the discs break down, the space between vertebrae narrows, nerves can become compressed, and inflammation sets in. The result for many patients is persistent, often debilitating pain in the low back, neck, or both.
Degenerative disc disease can affect any level of the spine, including:
Lumbar
(lower back)
The most common location. Pain may radiate into the buttocks, hips, or legs — a pattern known as sciatica.
Cervical
(neck)
Degeneration in the neck can cause pain that travels into the shoulders, arms, and hands, along with weakness or numbness.
Thoracic
(mid-back)
Less common, but can cause mid-back pain, chest discomfort, or symptoms that wrap around the torso.
For many patients, the journey to find relief has included physical therapy, pain medications, steroid injections, and chiropractic care — with mixed results. When conservative management fails, traditional medicine’s next step has typically been surgery. Stem cell therapy offers a meaningful option in between.
How Stem Cell Therapy Can Help Degenerative Discs
The Science Behind the Treatment
The intervertebral disc has a very limited natural ability to heal itself. Its inner core — the nucleus pulposus — receives almost no direct blood supply, which means repair cells and nutrients have difficulty reaching damaged disc tissue. This is why disc degeneration, once it begins, tends to be progressive.
Stem cells derived from bone marrow — known as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) — are multipotent cells capable of differentiating into the types of tissue found in and around the spine, including cartilaginous and nucleus pulposus-like cells. When concentrated and introduced directly into a degenerating disc, these cells and their associated growth factors work through multiple mechanisms:
Tissue regeneration
MSCs can differentiate into cell types that help restore disc matrix, supporting the structural integrity of the nucleus pulposus and surrounding annulus.
Anti-inflammatory signaling
Bone marrow-derived stem cells release paracrine signals that reduce the chronic inflammation driving disc pain.
Neuroprotection
Growth factors released by MSCs help protect and support the health of surrounding nerve tissue — directly relevant to radiating leg and arm pain.
Disc matrix restoration
Clinical research published through 2025 shows that stem cell therapy for disc degeneration consistently results in meaningful reductions in pain scores and functional disability, with some studies demonstrating sustained improvement over follow-up periods of up to six years.
A 2022 clinical study published in the National Institutes of Health library found that patients who received intradiscal autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate reported significant reductions in low back pain and disability scores at one year, with no adverse events related to the bone marrow harvest or injection.
Why Choose Stem Cell MD in West Palm Beach — and Why Your Own Cells Matter
“The stem cells I use come from you. They are harvested from your own posterior iliac crest — your hip bone — processed, and returned to the areas of your spine that need them most. Because we are using your own biology, there is no risk of rejection, no risk of allergic reaction, and no concern about donor compatibility. This is regenerative medicine done the right way.”
Many clinics offering “stem cell therapy” use donor cells — sourced from umbilical cord tissue, amniotic fluid, or other third-party biological material. While these products are widely marketed, they carry inherent risks including immune response, rejection, and variable cell viability.
Dr. Pribil exclusively uses autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells — meaning the cells come from your own body. This approach offers several important advantages:
- Zero rejection risk. Your immune system recognizes your own cells.
- No donor concerns. You are never exposed to another person’s biological material.
- Superior cell viability. Cells harvested fresh from your own bone marrow and used the same day are active and ready to work.
- Performed by a neurosurgeon. With over 40 years of experience and more than 10,000 spinal procedures, Dr. Pribil brings an anatomical precision to stem cell delivery that a general wellness clinic cannot match.
Stem Cell MD is located at 1645 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, Suite 1200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 — serving patients throughout Palm Beach County and South Florida.
Zero rejection risk
Your immune system recognizes your own cells.
No donor concerns
You are never exposed to another person’s biological material.
Superior cell viability
Cells harvested fresh from your own bone marrow and used the same day are active and ready to work.
Performed by a neurosurgeon
With over 40 years of experience and more than 10,000 spinal procedures, Dr. Pribil brings an anatomical precision to stem cell delivery that a general wellness clinic cannot match. He knows the spine — its structures, its nerve pathways, its vulnerabilities — better than virtually any other provider offering regenerative treatment.
What to Expect at Stem Cell MD
A Simple, Outpatient Process
The entire stem cell therapy experience at Stem Cell MD is designed to be straightforward, comfortable, and efficient. Every patient begins with a personal telephone consultation with Dr. Pribil — no office visit required before you know whether this is right for you. Most patients are surprised by how manageable the process is.
Step 1
Telephone Consultation with Dr. Pribil
Before any in-office visit, Dr. Pribil personally conducts a telephone consultation with every prospective patient. This is your opportunity to discuss your history, your imaging, your symptoms, and your goals. Dr. Pribil will determine whether you are a candidate and answer your questions directly — no gatekeepers.
Step 2
In-Office Examination
Bone marrow-derived stem cells release paracrine signals that reduce the chronic inflammation driving disc pain.
Step 3
Outpatient Procedure
The stem cell procedure is performed at an accredited outpatient surgery center under light sedation and local anesthesia. You will be comfortable throughout. The bone marrow is aspirated from the posterior iliac crest — a gentle, minimally invasive harvest from your hip — then processed and delivered to the agreed-upon spinal levels. The entire procedure, including recovery from light sedation, typically takes 20 to 30 minutes. Once you are fully recovered, you are free to go home. We recommend having an adult friend or family member present to accompany you.
Step 4
Recovery and Follow-Up
Most patients experience minimal downtime. Dr. Pribil and his team will guide you through the recovery process and schedule appropriate follow-up to monitor your progress.
Are You a Candidate for Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cell therapy for degenerative disc disease may be appropriate for patients who:
• Have been diagnosed with disc degeneration in the lumbar, cervical, or thoracic spine
• Have experienced chronic back or neck pain lasting six months or more
• Have not achieved satisfactory relief from physical therapy, medications, or steroid injections
• Are not yet at the stage requiring surgical intervention — or wish to explore regenerative alternatives before considering surgery
• Are in generally good health and do not have active infection or blood disorders that would affect bone marrow quality
Cash-pay and personal injury cases are welcome at Stem Cell MD in West Palm Beach.
Have been diagnosed with disc degeneration in the lumbar, cervical, or thoracic spine
Have experienced chronic back or neck pain lasting six months or more
Have not achieved satisfactory relief from physical therapy, medications, or steroid injections
Are not yet at the stage requiring surgical intervention — or wish to explore regenerative alternatives before considering surgery
Are in generally good health and do not have active infection or blood disorders that would affect bone marrow quality
Patients who may not be candidates include those with:
- Advanced spinal instability requiring structural surgical correction
- Active systemic infection or cancer
- Certain blood or bone marrow disorders
The only way to know for certain whether stem cell therapy is right for your situation is to speak directly with Dr. Pribil. His consultation process is thorough, honest, and individualized — he will never recommend a treatment he does not believe is in your best interest.
Conditions Related to Disc Degeneration That May Be Treated
In addition to primary degenerative disc disease, Dr. Pribil may evaluate the following related conditions for stem cell therapy:
Chronic discogenic low back pain
Pain that originates specifically from a damaged or degenerated intervertebral disc itself, rather than from a muscle strain or nerve compression. It typically presents as a deep, aching pain in the lower back that worsens with prolonged sitting, bending, or lifting.
Cervical disc degeneration with arm pain or weakness
Breakdown of one or more discs in the neck that causes the disc to lose height and bulge, placing pressure on nearby nerve roots. Patients often experience a combination of neck stiffness and pain that radiates into the shoulder, arm, or hand — sometimes accompanied by numbness, tingling, or grip weakness.
Facet joint degeneration and arthritis
Facet Joint Degeneration and Arthritis
The facet joints are the small paired joints at the back of each vertebra that guide spinal movement and prevent excessive twisting. When the cartilage within these joints wears down — as commonly occurs alongside disc degeneration — the result is localized spinal pain that is often worse with standing, walking, or arching backward.
Spinal stenosis associated with disc collapse
When a disc loses significant height, the space available for the spinal cord and nerve roots narrows — a condition called stenosis. This can produce pain, heaviness, or cramping in the legs with walking or standing (known as neurogenic claudication), which is typically relieved by sitting or bending forward.
Degenerative spondylolisthesis (mild to moderate)
A condition in which one vertebra slowly slips forward over the one below it as the discs and joints that normally stabilize that segment wear down. This misalignment can cause low back pain, stiffness, and nerve-related symptoms in the legs, particularly in older adults.
Radiculopathy (nerve root pain) from disc degeneration
When a degenerated disc bulges or collapses enough to press on a spinal nerve root, it can generate pain, numbness, or weakness that travels along the path of that nerve — into the leg (lumbar radiculopathy, commonly called sciatica) or into the arm (cervical radiculopathy). The pain is often described as sharp, burning, or electric in character.
Post-surgical disc level pain at adjacent levels
Following spinal fusion surgery, the vertebral segments directly above and below the fusion are forced to absorb more motion and load than they were designed to handle. Over time this accelerated stress can cause those adjacent discs to degenerate faster, producing a return of pain — a well-recognized phenomenon sometimes called adjacent segment disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the bone marrow harvest painful?
The procedure is performed under light sedation and local anesthesia, so patients are comfortable throughout. Post-procedure soreness at the harvest site is typically mild and resolves within a few days.
How long before I feel results?
Stem cell therapy is a regenerative process, not an immediate pain block. Most patients begin to notice improvement over weeks to months as the biological process of tissue repair progresses. Individual results vary based on the degree of degeneration and the patient’s overall health.
How many treatments will I need?
Dr. Pribil will discuss this with you during your consultation. Many patients benefit from a single treatment session targeting multiple disc levels. Follow-up evaluation determines whether additional sessions are warranted.
Is stem cell therapy for DDD covered by insurance?
Autologous bone marrow stem cell therapy is currently considered an elective/regenerative procedure and is generally not covered by insurance. Our team can discuss transparent pricing during your consultation.
What makes this different from a “stem cell injection” at a wellness clinic?
Dr. Pribil is a board-certified neurosurgeon with over four decades of spine expertise. He performs the harvest and the delivery — not a technician. The cells are from your own body, harvested and administered the same day, and targeted with neurosurgical precision. That level of expertise and specificity is not available at most regenerative medicine clinics.
Take the First Step Toward Relief
If chronic back or neck pain from degenerative disc disease has limited your quality of life, you deserve an honest conversation with a physician who can tell you what your options really are. Dr. Pribil offers that conversation — personally, by phone, before you ever step foot in the office.
Stem Cell MD is located at 1645 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, Suite 1200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 — easily accessible to patients throughout Palm Beach County and South Florida. Cash-pay and personal injury cases are welcome.