Dr. Mastaw Brings the Discseel® Procedure to Veterans at American Legion Post 296

Dr. Mastaw — a retired Navy Lt. Commander and military physician, and a lead trainer who trains other physicians in the Discseel® Procedure — spoke as both a clinician and a veteran. That dual perspective shaped the talk: this wasn't a sales pitch, but a straight conversation with fellow veterans about a problem many of them live with every day, and an option worth understanding.

The problem he opened with: the veteran pain crisis

Dr. Mastaw began where it matters most to this audience — the scale of chronic spine pain among those who served. He described chronic low back pain as one of the most disabling conditions veterans face, affecting roughly a third of veterans, and connected it to a larger and more troubling picture: the way unrelenting pain can drive opioid dependence, depression, and elevated suicide risk. He noted that a majority of veterans who died by suicide had reported pain in the year prior, and that suicide risk runs markedly higher among those on the highest opioid doses.

His point to the room was direct: veterans deserve options that address the source of the pain, not just mask it — and traditional spine surgery doesn't always deliver that.

What he presented: how the Discseel® Procedure works

Dr. Mastaw then walked the Post through what the Discseel® Procedure actually is — a minimally invasive, outpatient treatment, developed by Dr. Kevin Pauza, that aims to identify and repair damaged spinal discs without surgery. He described it as a two-step process:

1. Diagnose (the Annulogram™). Using live fluoroscopic imaging, the physician identifies tears in the disc wall — tears he noted are often missed by standard MRI. This step confirms which discs are actually the source of the pain.
2. Treat (fibrin). A fibrin biologic is then used to seal the damaged discs, with the goal of supporting the growth of healthy disc tissue and providing relief over the months that follow.

He emphasized the practical realities veterans in the room cared about: it's outpatient, typically discharged within about an hour, with a return to normal activity in days — and no cutting, hardware, or fusion.

Who he described as a candidate

Dr. Mastaw was candid that the procedure isn't for everyone, and he outlined the conditions that tend to make a veteran a strong candidate: chronic low back or neck pain, degenerative disc disease, bulging or herniated discs, sciatica, and — notably for this audience — failed back surgery, post-fusion or post-laminectomy pain, and combat-related spine injuries. The through-line, he explained, is that Discseel® is often considered by veterans who have already tried injections, physical therapy, and even surgery without lasting relief.

The evidence he pointed to

Dr. Mastaw referenced published clinical research on the procedure rather than anecdote. He described a Discseel® study of roughly 725 patients — reported as the largest of its kind — in which enrolled patients had suffered for an average of about 12 years and had previously failed at least four prior treatments, including fusion, laminectomy, discectomy, and stem-cell injection. The research reported statistically significant improvements in pain, function, and mental health at one, two, and three years following the procedure, and pointed to disc tissue regeneration rather than symptom masking alone.

As always, these are findings from the research Dr. Mastaw presented, not promises of individual results — outcomes vary, and candidacy is determined by evaluation.

How he told veterans to access it

Much of the value for the room was practical: how a veteran actually gets this care. Dr. Mastaw walked through the VA Community Care pathway, including requesting a referral through My HealtheVet Secure Messaging to a community provider, and the patient-rights protections under the MISSION Act and the Elizabeth Dole Act that support a veteran's access to community care when VA wait-time or distance standards apply.

He encouraged veterans to be specific and persistent with their VA care teams, and made clear our office is willing to help them navigate the referral process. For a fuller walkthrough, see our guide on Discseel® for Veterans: VA Community Care Coverage.

Why events like this matter

Presentations like the one at Post 296 are part of how Emerald Coast Integrated Care serves the veteran community — meeting veterans where they are, answering real questions, and making sure those who served know their options. As a veteran himself, Dr. Mastaw is committed to continuing this outreach across the Emerald Coast and Tampa Bay.

If your Post, VFW, or veterans' organization would like to arrange a presentation on the Discseel® Procedure and non-surgical spine care, we'd welcome the conversation.

Where to Find the Discseel® Procedure

The Discseel® Procedure is available at both of our Florida locations, performed by Dr. Gerald Mastaw:

The Coast — Destin (Emerald Coast Integrated Care) 3999 Commons Dr W, Ste B, Destin, FL 32541 Serving Destin, Shalimar, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Crestview, Pensacola, and the greater Emerald Coast — including the Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field military communities.

The Heartland — Land O' Lakes (Veterans Spine and Discseel® Center of America) 16703 Early Riser Ave, Land O' Lakes, FL 34638 Serving Land O' Lakes, Pasco County, and the greater Tampa Bay area. View location details

Both locations: (800) 931-6086 · Mon – Fri, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm · Request an Appointment