IDET (intradiscal electrothermal therapy) is a minimally invasive form of sciatica treatment. It is specific to cases of sciatica that are caused by a herniated disc in the lumbar spine (lower back). IDET involves an extremely small, thread-like catheter that is guided into the herniated disc with the help of a fluoroscope. The catheter is then heated to 90 degrees Celsius for about 15 minutes. The heat not only desensitizes nerve fibers in the disc’s torn outer wall (annulus fibrosus) but also seals the rupture in the disc wall by forcing the collagen fibers to thicken and contract.

Is Everyone a Candidate for IDET?

IDET has been shown to be successful in about 70 percent of the patients who undergo the procedure, though since the surgery is still relatively new, data about long-term outcomes is not yet available. The procedure is only for patients whose sciatica is caused by a herniated disc, so any of the following underlying causes of sciatica would not be treatable with IDET:

– Spinal stenosis – narrowing of the vertebral and/or intervertebral nerve passageways

– Spondylolisthesis – forward or backward slippage of one vertebra over the one below it

– Bulging disc – circumferential outward expansion of an intervertebral disc; unlike a herniated disc, a bulging disc hasn’t torn or ruptured

– Bone spurs – bony growths that can form in jointed areas of the spine, particularly as a product of spinal arthritis

Another extremely important factor to keep in mind about IDET as a sciatica treatment is that patients with severe disc degeneration are often not candidates for the procedure. Since the intervertebral discs lose water content and height as they degenerate, it is possible that a herniated disc that has collapsed too much has little-to-no room left for the heated catheter to be threaded through the disc.

Other Forms of Sciatica Treatment

Feel free to discuss IDET and its risks and benefits with your doctor, but you should not be discouraged if you are not a candidate for the procedure. Sciatica treatment comes in wide variety of forms, and chances are you will find sufficient relief with noninvasive conservative treatments. Conservative therapies are widely recommended throughout the mainstream medical community and typically include methods such as pain medication, physical therapy, low-impact exercise, thermotherapy, cryotherapty, and behavior modification, among others.

Some patients may choose to complement their doctor-recommended conservative treatments with alternative, or holistic, methods. Though most mainstream medical doctors won’t endorse these forms of treatment due to lack of evidence that they relieve symptoms, you may find that methods like therapeutic massage, manual spinal adjustments, and herbal supplements can provide you with some level of symptomatic relief. However, before you begin any alternative treatment plan, it’s best to consult with your physician and a homeopathic professional.

Keep in mind that there is no exact formula for sciatica treatment, as each case is different. Sometimes a period of trial and error is necessary to determine which treatments work best for you. In fact, it’s important that you try a combination of conservative or alternative treatments for several months before any type of elective surgical procedure, even if it’s minimally invasive, becomes a consideration.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of sciatica and several other spinal conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for sciatica and other conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/sciatica_sciatic_nerve_pain/

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of sciatica and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: sciatica