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Bone marrow (BMAC) stem cell injections for the spine in Tunbridge Wells
For some people with long-standing back pain who haven’t improved with other treatments, an injection of concentrated cells from their own bone marrow may be an option. Every treatment starts with a free consultation with Dr Gabriel Azzini.
Free consultation first · Your own cells, same day · Local anaesthetic, home the same day
FreeConsultation with Dr Azzini
Same dayCells collected and injected
2–3 hoursFrom start to finish
LocalAnaesthetic, home the same day
What is BMAC?
Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) is made from a small amount of your own bone marrow, usually taken from the back of the hip bone. It’s spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the cells, including a small number of stem cells, platelets and growth factors.
The concentrate is then injected into the problem area of the spine on the same day. The cells aren’t grown or altered in a laboratory. The aim is to support the body’s own repair processes. It’s still a developing treatment, so we’re careful to explain what the evidence does and doesn’t show.
Spinal problems we assess for BMAC
Disc pain
Long-standing pain thought to come from a worn or damaged disc.
Spinal arthritis
Wear in the small facet joints of the spine (spondylosis).
Disc bulges
Selected cases, after a full assessment of your scans and symptoms.
When other treatments haven’t helped
For people who’ve tried exercise, physiotherapy or other injections without lasting relief.
Is this right for you?Book a free consultation with Dr Azzini to find out if BMAC is suitable for you.
The skin over the back of the hip is numbed, and a small amount of bone marrow is drawn out with a needle.
02
Concentrate
The sample is spun in the clinic to produce the concentrate, while you rest.
03
Inject
The concentrate is injected into the target area of your spine, under image guidance and local anaesthetic.
04
Home
You go home the same day with aftercare advice. Someone should drive you.
Lipogems®: using your own fat tissue
Most of our patients choose BMAC, but we also offer Lipogems®, which uses a small amount of your own fat instead of bone marrow. The fat is gently taken from an area such as the tummy or thigh under local anaesthetic, then washed and broken into tiny clusters in a sealed device, without adding anything to it. It’s injected on the same day.
Dr Azzini will explain which option is more suitable for you at your consultation, and why.
Is BMAC right for you?
BMAC isn’t a first-line treatment. It may be worth considering if you’ve had back pain for a long time, your scans and symptoms point to a likely source, and exercise, physiotherapy and other injections haven’t helped enough. It isn’t suitable if you have an infection, certain blood or bone marrow conditions, or some types of nerve compression that need urgent surgery. Dr Azzini will review your history and any scans before recommending it.
What does the evidence say?
A 2022 review of studies on bone marrow injections into painful discs found that many patients reported less pain, but most studies were small and didn’t compare BMAC with another treatment, so the quality of evidence was low [1].
One of the longer studies followed patients for three years after a disc injection, with improvements in pain on average, but it also had no comparison group [2].
These results are encouraging but not conclusive. Larger, controlled trials are still needed, and we’ll give you an honest view of what’s realistic for you.
When to get urgent help
Call 999 if, after a spinal injection, you develop new weakness or numbness in your legs, numbness around your genitals or back passage, or problems controlling your bladder or bowels. Seek urgent medical advice if an injection site becomes hot, red and increasingly painful, or you develop a fever.
“In their own words
A patient on their BMAC treatment
Hear one of our patients describe their bone marrow (BMAC) injection for back pain, and how they’ve been since.
This is a personal experience. Everyone responds differently.
I cannot thank Gary and Gabriel enough for the stem cell treatment they gave me. When I started my treatment my tendonitis was so bad in my elbows that I couldn’t carry my little children, drive the car or do my day job without getting in severe pain.
Robert S. · 2026 · Google review
Cortisone injection★★★★★
I recently had an ultrasound guided cortisone injection with Gary… Gary took the time to explain everything clearly before the procedure which really put me at ease, not easy when you’re not a fan of needles! The process itself was essentially pain free.
James T. · 2026 · Google review
Frozen shoulder★★★★★
Gary helped me with my frozen shoulder. He was very thorough, professional and informative. I was given a cortisone injection, which he talked me through. During the procedure he was calming and efficient.
Annette P. · 2026 · Google review
Hyaluronic acid★★★★★
I first saw Gary for a consultation regarding the arthritis in my knees with a view to having a hyaluronic acid injection. Gary was extremely knowledgeable and went through all the options before suggesting which would be the best option for me.
Paula F. · 2025 · Google review
Knee injection★★★★★
My mum had acute knee pain which has been treated at the clinic, she now has much better mobility and positive outlook due to the treatment received. Gary has been so helpful and supportive throughout the consultation and treatment.
Both the bone marrow collection and the injection are done under local anaesthetic. Most people feel pressure and some discomfort, and the hip and back are usually sore for a few days.
What are the risks?
Common effects are pain, bruising and stiffness at the hip and injection site for a few days. Less common risks include infection, bleeding, a temporary increase in back pain and, rarely, nerve irritation or damage. Dr Azzini goes through the risks for your treatment in detail before you decide.
How soon might I notice a difference?
Any improvement usually develops gradually, over weeks to months. Some people notice little or no change.
Is it an alternative to surgery?
For some people it may delay or avoid the need for surgery, but we can’t promise that. If surgery is likely to be the better option for you, we’ll tell you.
What’s the difference between BMAC and Lipogems®?
BMAC uses cells from your bone marrow, usually taken from the back of the hip. Lipogems® uses a small amount of your own fat. Both are collected and injected on the same day. Most of our patients have BMAC, and Dr Azzini will advise which is more suitable for you.
Why don’t you show a price?
The price depends on what’s involved in your treatment, so it’s given at your free consultation.
Got another question?Ask us at your consultation. You don’t have to go ahead.
ClinicVale Health Clinic, 31–33 Vale Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1BS
References
Her YF, Kubrova E, Martinez Alvarez GA, D’Souza RS. The analgesic efficacy of intradiscal injection of bone marrow aspirate concentrate and culture-expanded bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells in discogenic pain: a systematic review. J Pain Res 2022;15:3299–3318. doi:10.2147/JPR.S373345
Pettine KA, Suzuki RK, Sand TT, Murphy MB. Autologous bone marrow concentrate intradiscal injection for the treatment of degenerative disc disease with three-year follow-up. Int Orthop 2017;41(10):2097–2103. doi:10.1007/s00264-017-3560-9
Written by Dr Gabriel Azzini, Doctor, Sport & Exercise Medicine (GMC 7689922). Last updated 15 October 2026.
