Epidural Hypertonic NaCl Therapy – minor surgery, big effect
Just a few years ago, patients with intervertebral disc problems almost always had to undergo an open intervertebral disc surgery. Often this was only the beginning of repeated damage and pain that resulted in always new surgeries. Today, the epidural hypertonic NaCl therapy as an alternative minimally invasive treatment may help many of these patients in a gentle way. This four-day treatment is performed as an out-patient procedure.
Indications:
- Acute and chronic intervertebral disc dislocations (prolapse)
- Bulging of intervertebral discs (protrusions)
- Stenoses of the vertebral canal (spinal canal stenosis)
- Pain after intervertebral disc surgeries (scar tissue pains)
The Problem
An intervertebral disc consists of a fibrous cartilage ring (fibrous ring) that has a gelatinous substance in its middle (pulp of the intervertebral disc).
A rupture inside the cartilage ring due to wear and tear may force the gelatinous substance outward into the vertebral canal (epidural space) and thus causes irritations of the nearest nerve root.
Local inflammations, tissue swellings (oedema) and insufficient blood supply of the nerve root lead to pain that is often not located inside the vertebral canal but which spreads along the area of the affected nerve root. Perhaps even symptoms of paralysis may appear.
However, the amount of gelatinous substance forced outward into the vertebral canal is not decisive for the intensity of pain.
The Treatment
The epidural hypertonic NaCl therapy aims to dehydrate and shrink the damaged intervertebral disc as gently as possible and thus ease the burden on the affected nerve root.
Via a catheter, analgetic and anti-inflammatory substances are directly injected into the point of nervous irritation. In addition, an administration of concentrated sodium chloride (NaCl) solution helps to dehydrate and shrink the surrounding tissue due to the osmotic pressure differential. This leads to a decompression of the nerve root which forms the basis for a permanent improvement of the symptoms.
In many cases, open surgeries on the vertebral column and undesirable cicatrization can be avoided.
Advantages of the Epidural Hypertonic NaCl Therapy:
- low-risk and minimally invasive treatment
- out-patient treatment
- local anesthesia, e. g. no general anesthesia with its corresponding risks
- no risk of cicatrization as with open intervertebral disc surgeries
- no need to stay in a rehabilitation clinic, only out-patient physiotherapy as follow-up treatment
- quick return to the job
- repetitions of the treatment are possible
Further information can be found:
