Our Therapies

This outpatient procedure is used for complaints caused by osteoarthritis of the small intervertebral joints in the entire spine and as a diagnostic aid prior to radiofrequency therapy (see below). Typical complaints are morning stiffness or back pain after getting up in the morning or from a sitting position. The pain is often described as “belt-shaped”.

A special needle is used to apply anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medication to the affected joints under image converter or CT guidance. This injection can also be repeated several times as required.

The aim is to achieve the maximum effect with a minimal outpatient procedure. These procedures are also used to treat irritation of the nerve roots in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine caused by bulging or herniated discs, narrowing of the vertebral and/or nerve canal, as well as complaints following disc surgery (“post-nucleotomy syndrome”) or fusion surgery.

Under image converter or CT control and, if necessary, with contrast medium, the irritated root and/or the natural opening at the transition from the coccyx to the sacrum is precisely infiltrated into the spinal canal. Precise alignment of the needle tip using image-guided therapy is an important prerequisite for the effectiveness of the therapy applied. It avoids inaccurate placement of the drug depot in
unrecognized soft tissue and at the same time reduces the required drug dose to the necessary minimum. Successful treatment interrupts the pain spiral through a local drug effect and ensures rapid and lasting success through a decongestant and anti-inflammatory effect. The infiltration should be carried out several times at intervals of several days or weeks.

The advantage of these procedures is the rapid mobilization with the possibility of starting light physical work as well as the repeatability or combination of therapy modules.

This procedure is a low-risk alternative to open disc or spinal surgery and is used for bulging or herniated discs, post-nucleotomy syndrome or narrowing of the spinal or nerve canal in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine, in each case with acute or chronic pain radiating into the arms, buttocks or legs.

It is performed on an outpatient basis or as part of a short inpatient stay of two to three days in a “twilight sleep”. A thin special catheter with a spiral spring at the end is inserted into the spinal canal via a guide needle through the natural opening in the area of the coccyx. This allows the catheter to be advanced without injury. Here too, the catheter tip is placed exactly at the site of the pain under image converter control. The procedure takes 30 to 45 minutes. Saline, enzymes and pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medication are administered via the catheter.

The aim of the treatment is to shrink bulging intervertebral disc tissue, alleviate pain, eliminate inflammation of the tissue and loosen inflammation-related adhesions of the various structures. The catheter remains in place for at least 48 hours and is not perceived by the patient as painful or disruptive to movement. Injection of the drug combination is generally followed by a short period of rest at the patient’s bedside, after which the patient is advised to rest for one to two weeks. In most cases, light work can be resumed immediately after consultation with the attending physician

If the above-mentioned injection of the small vertebral joints does not lead to a permanent reduction in pain in the case of degenerative changes, the nerve transmitting the pain can be interrupted in the long term with a “heat probe”.

Radiofrequency therapy/thermocoagulation is a less invasive procedure that can be performed on an outpatient basis. After precise positioning of the specially developed needle under image converter control, the position is checked again with the help of a short stimulation current pulse. After a local anaesthetic, the tip of the probe is heated for 90 seconds to switch off the nerve and, as each individual vertebral joint is supplied by several nerve fibers, the therapy must be carried out on several levels. The treatment does not cause any impairment of physical functions.

The elimination of pain symptoms is usually permanent. If the nerve tissue recovers after one to two years, the procedure can be repeated without any problems. It is also possible to carry out light physical work without restriction.

This gentle, minimally invasive procedure can be used for protrusions, minor prolapse or wear of the disc in the cervical or lumbar spine, with or without pain. It is another alternative to conventional open disc surgery without the risk of scarring.

A very fine special probe is inserted directly into the painful intervertebral disc under constant position monitoring using an image converter or CT. A test injection using a contrast medium (“discography”) ensures that the pain also originates from this damaged disc. The laser fiber is then inserted into the intervertebral disc via the probe.

The laser energy has several effects: by partially vaporizing the gelatinous disc nucleus and the resulting shrinkage of the disc, the nerve is immediately relieved and the excruciating nerve and/or back pain is eliminated. In addition, pain-conducting fibers in the intervertebral disc tissue are obliterated and pain transmission substances to the brain are eliminated. Tears in the tissue of the intervertebral disc are also closed, so that it solidifies and stabilizes again.

This procedure is also performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia; if necessary, a “twilight sleep” can also be performed. The patient is then given a special corset for six weeks to relieve pressure on the spine. Light work can be resumed immediately, but physically strenuous activities and sport require rest for three to four weeks. Supportive physiotherapy should be initiated after two weeks.