Ozone Nucleolysis/Ozone Discectomy
Injection of ozone in to the disc for patients suffering from slip disc with or without radiculopathy is fast developing as in alternative to surgery. Due to high success rate, least invasiveness, negligible side effects, less chances of recurrence and lower cost treatment, Ozone discectomy is becoming very popular worldwide.The inter-vertebral discs are protective cushion-like shock-absorbing pads between the two vertebrae. These discs do not actually "slip," they may split or rupture and following this rupture the gel come out in front of the nerve roots or spinal cord and can produce pressure on the spinal cord or on a single nerve root which cause radiating pain either around the damaged disc or anywhere along the area supplied by that nerve. This condition is also known as a Herniated Disc, Ruptured Disc, Disc Prolapse, or, More Commonly, Slip Disc. The most frequently affected area is the low back as low-back is taking the maximum body weight, but also it can affect the neck. When the discs of low back are ruptured there will be pain in low back that will radiate to the legs. Similarly in case of neck there will be pain in neck that will be radiating to the hands.
The nature of the pain is frequently electric shock-like pain or burning pain. This pain may be associated with some numbness, tingling sensations and sometime some muscle weakness. Sciatica is a most frequently used term. It is a symptom and not a disease. Sciatica is defined as any pain that is starting in the low back and is going towards the legs. Slip-disc / disc prolapse is one of the most common causes of sciatica.
Apart from conservative therapy, main aim of the treatment is decompressing the nerve roots. These can be done by taking the disc out by surgery or by decompressing the intervertebral foramen and disc by different interventions. Injection of Ozone for slipped disc or discogenic radiculopathy (low back pain with radiation to legs) has developed as a non-operative treatment of slipped disc/ slip disc (or called ozone therapy for slip disc) which is an alternative to disc surgery. Owing to its high success rate, less invasiveness, fewer chances of recurrences and remarkably fewer side effects, ozone therapy for slip disc is becoming popular day by day in the whole world. This is called Ozone Nucleolysis Or Ozone Discectomy.
This non-operative treatment of slipped disc have revolutionized the treatment of slip disc or sciatica itis done under radiological guidance on TV monitor with latest non-surgical techniques on day-care basis with high success rate, low cost and almost without complications and no chance of failed back surgery syndrome- the most fearsome complication of open surgery. These techniques are widely used in USA & Europe for last 20 years.
One of the main questions often asked about this method is: "How does this method work?", When we look at the anatomy of an intervertebral disc, we see an outer fibrous covering and an inner soft nucleus, much like a ripe cantaloupe with a hard outer shell and soft fruit inside. A herniation occurs when trauma ruptures a part of this outer fibrous covering, most commonly in the lumbosacral and cervical regions. This then causes the inner soft region to protrude and compress a nerve root, causing the pain associated with a herniated disc. The Discosan method addresses this pathology by three different modes of action:
• The ozone-oxygen mixture has specific action on the protruding pulposus, by reducing the edema on a molecular level it alleviates the bonds holding this herniation together. This is turn causes a reduction in the herniation.
• The method improves micro circulation to this area, therefore bringing more blood supply and oxygen to the region, all essential for healing. It also claims that ozone brings more fibroblasts to the area, which will help heal the pathology around the herniation.
• Reduces the swelling in the area which can also contribute to the compression and inflammation.
The whole concept of treating a herniated disc without surgery is an exciting one. The fact that this method has some sound scientific principles gives real hope to people suffering from this debilitating condition.
