“Lower back pain or pain radiating down the leg”.
What is Disc-FX?
Disc-FX is a minimally invasive procedure for discogenic pain. Discogenic Pain is pain that originates from a damaged vertebral disc. The procedure is generally done for patients who have lumbar disc herniations. Typical signs of a contained lumbar disc herniation include lower back pain, or pain radiating down the leg accompanied by some lower back pain. Unfortunately, patients with such contained disc herniation are often treated with conservative care such as rest, physical therapy and medication. In the past, people who did not respond to conservative care were forced to live with symptoms or consider major spine surgery. Our pain specialist, Dr. Shwartzman, is one of the few in the area that is able to perform the Disc-FX procedure.
Disc- FX is an innovative, minimally invasive spine system designed to efficiently access the damaged disc without injury to surrounding disc anatomy. The procedure is performed outpatient whereby the patient will go home the same day of the procedure with only a small bandage on their back. Disc-FX is performed using x-ray guidance to accurately place the Disc-FX system into the disc. The Disc-FX features a navigational device called the Trigger-Flex Bipolar System that was specifically designed to access and treat the diseased portions of the disc. The Trigger-Flex emits a specific form of radio wave energy that produces specific tissue effects to modulate the predetermined ‘pain generating’ aspect(s) of the disc. Our specialist operates with a direct view of the disc that is causing for the pain. The device is inserted into the center of the disc where tissue is precisely treated and/or removed. As a result, disc pressure is reduced and chronic pain symptoms are reduced. Compared to microsurgeries, the Disc-FX procedure can be considered gentle. Prevention of scarring is one of the primary advantages of this procedure. Scarring can result in long-term irritation of nerves and nervous function defects in this area of the body full of nerves and pain sensors.
Advantages of the Disc-FX procedure:
- Minimally invasive without scarring in the soft tissue area
- Easy healing of the wound
- No surgical sutures, no removal of stitches necessary
- Little or no pain following the procedure
- No inpatient rehabilitation required
- Local anesthesia is an option
- Several discs can be treated in one session
- Earlier return to normal activities
- Preserves all additional surgical options, should they be needed.
Disc FX-to treat Disc Herniations
Disc Anatomy and Contained Disc Herniations
The spine is composed of a series of bones called the vertebrae. Each of these bones is connected by a disc, made of a tough outer layer, called the annulus, and a gel-like center called the nucleus. If the annulus of the disc is damaged by injury or weakened by age, a portion of the outer layer can give way to pressure causing the gel-like nucleus to either bulge or leak out. This may also be referred to as a herniated disc. A herniated disc can press on the nerves and cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the back and/or leg.
About Disc-FX®
In the past, patients with contained disc herniations have been treated with conservative care including rest, medications, injections and/or physical therapy. Unfortunately, this does not always provide relief. In the past, people who did not respond to conservative care were forced to live with the symptoms or consider major spine surgery. Today, there is a new solution called The Disc-FX® System.
This is an innovative, minimal access spine system designed to efficiently access the damaged disc without injury to surrounding disc anatomy. It is a minimal access procedure performed on an out-patient basis whereby the patient will go home the same day of the procedure with only a small bandage on their back.
Disc-FX® is performed using x-ray guidance to accurately place the Disc-FX® System into the disc. The patented Disc-FX® device is then inserted into the center of the disc where tissue is precisely treated and/or removed. As a result, disc pressure is reduced, which eases symptoms.
Potential Benefits of the Procedure:
- Out-patient procedure
- Smaller skin incision than traditional surgery
- Short procedure time
- Multiple treatment options
- Local anesthetic
- Targeted access to damaged (diseased) area
- Treat multiple disc levels
- Quick relief of symptoms
- Earlier return to normal activities
- Minimal tissue damage
- Preserves all additional surgical options, should they be needed.
