|
If you are one of the estimated 1.5 million Americans who will be diagnosed
this year with a contained herniated disc (also known as a "thrown-out back"
or "pinched nerve" of the leg), the answer may be as familiar as your radio.
A promising new procedure called DISC Nucleoplasty™ uses radio waves - the same
energy that sends signals to your car radio - to gently dissolve small amounts
of unwanted disc tissue and relieve the pressure that can cause lower back and
upper leg pain.
Nucleoplasty disc decompression falls in the category of "conservative management"
much like pain drugs, epidural steroid injections and physical therapy. While
this is surgery, I tell my patients that the procedure is more like getting
a vaccination or steroid injection than a traditional spine operation. In some
cases, Nucleoplasty is the answer to quick, lasting relief - but without the
drugs or major surgery associated with other methods.
To understand how a contained herniated disc works, think of a bicycle tire
with a bulge in it. The bulge can certainly make for a rough ride. When a bulge
or "herniation" appears in the shell of a disc due to injury or the normal aging
process, severe pain can result. This is because the disc is surrounded by sensitive
nerve roots in the spine. If the bulge is big enough to rub against these nerve
roots, pain can radiate throughout the lower back and upper legs.
In much the same way that a bulging tire can be corrected by letting out some
of the air, a herniated disc can be treated by relieving pressure inside the
disc. This is the purpose of Nucleoplasty disc decompression. The procedure
begins with a local (or topical) anesthetic and light sedative. While the patient
is awake, small amounts of radio wave energy are released into the damaged disc
through a catheter-like device that is about the thickness of a dime. The energy
creates a molecular reaction that causes some of the spongy tissue inside the
damaged disc to dissolve. As pressure inside the disc is reduced, the herniation
in the shell retracts, the irritation to the nearby nerve roots is reduced,
and pain is relieved. Typically, the entire Nucleoplasty radio wave injection
procedure takes 20 to 30 minutes, and the patient is ready to walk out of the
clinic in about an hour.
How good is Nucleoplasty's success rate? According to the clinical studies,
the results are about equal to those of traditional disc surgeries -- but without
the trauma, extensive recovery period, high cost, or most of the potential complications.
Based on these studies, approximately four out of five Nucleoplasty patients
saw successful results as measured by patient satisfaction scores, reduced pain,
absence of narcotics use, and return to work.
Nucleoplasty radio wave injection has changed the lives of dozens of my patients
for the better. Over all, more than 5,000 people have been treated with Nucleoplasty
to date. The procedure is safe, effective, cleared by the Food and Drug Administration,
and recognized by the American Medical Association as a qualified method for
treating contained herniated discs. To learn if you are a candidate for DISC
Nucleoplasty™, I encourage you to discuss this new treatment option with your
primary care physician or your spine specialist.
|
