The Back/Low Back Pain

The back, or spine, is a column of bones called vertebrae. A fluid-filled cushion, or disc, in between each vertebrae prevents them from rubbing together. Running through the center of the spine is the spinal cord, a network of nerve fibers that extend from the base of the brain to the lower back.

Low back pain is a common problem. It affects four out of five adults at some point in their lives. Low back pain is the most common reason for sick days in those under 45 and one of the most common reasons for visits to physicians.

Treating Back Pain: IDET

A common cause of back pain is deterioration of the covering of the spinal disc. Initial treatment is rest, medications, and physical therapy. When pain is severe or chronic and conservative measures don't help, a patient may be referred for surgery. In spinal fusion, surgeons remove the diseased disc. Then, a small section of bone from elsewhere in the body (usually the hip) is placed between the two vertebrae on each side of the disc. As the donor bone segment heals, it fuses the two discs, hopefully supporting the spine and eliminating pain.

Some surgeons are using another, less invasive, therapy for patients with degenerative discs, called Intradiscal ElectroThermal(TM) Therapy, or IDET. Using X-rays for guidance, the physician inserts a needle into the diseased disc. An electrode-tipped wire is passed through the needle to the damaged area. Then, the electrode is slowly heated -- up to about 194 degrees F -- for about four minutes. After the needle is removed, a small bandage is placed over the spot. The entire procedure takes about 20 minutes and uses local anesthesia and mild sedation. The patient goes home about an hour later. Activities are restricted for a few days to allow healing.

IDET destroys the tiny nerve endings just inside the disc. The treated area also contracts, making the fibers shorter, thicker, and stronger. In just a few weeks after surgery, 80 percent of patients are pain-free and have better mobility.