Methods for facilitating access to the intervertebral disc to deliver materials for disc repair are disclosed. The methods may be used to replace or augment nucleus pulposus as well as to perform interbody fusion procedures. These methods include providing access to the intervertebral disc space by drilling a channel through a vertebral bone, optionally accessing the intervertebral disc space to at least partially remove the disc tissue through the channel in the vertebrae; delivering a disc repairing material to the intervertebral disc space and back-filling the channel in the vertebrae with a channel sealing material. The methods may further comprise distracting the intervertebral height and inserting a restrictor into the channel in the vertebrae. Kits for practicing these methods are also disclosed.