Non-Invasive Treatment of Herniated Discs with Focused Shockwave Therapy
Title: Focused shockwave therapy in the treatment of the spine.
Author: Prof. M. Kravchik, Socrates Almanac “Science and Education. Oxford Review” Oxford, UK 2013
Summary:
Focused Shockwave Therapy (F-SWT) is a non-invasive treatment for herniated discs and other spinal pathologies. Unlike traditional treatments, F-SWT addresses the root cause of the disease, rather than just the symptoms. F-SWT is an outpatient treatment with no scarring, a low likelihood of recurrence, and few postoperative complications.
The F-SWT treatment consists of three stages. In the first stage, adjuvant therapy is used to soften the disc hernia, suppress inflammation, and relieve pain. This stage involves microwave heating of muscles and ligaments, phonophoresis, electrical muscle stimulation, and anti-inflammatory drug therapy. The second stage involves at least one session of F-SWT aimed at the area of the hernia. F-SWT uses focused low-frequency sound waves that improve local blood circulation, loosen calcium deposits and fibrotic lesions, and stimulate the development of a new microvascular subject area. The third stage secures the result and restores the damaged nerve using electrical muscle stimulation, massage, and exercise.
F-SWT has advantages over invasive treatments like disc prosthesis, endoscopic aspiration, or coagulation. These treatments require inpatient hospitalization, have scarring changes of the operated tissues, and have a relatively high rate of relapse and postoperative complications. F-SWT, on the other hand, is an outpatient treatment that has no scarring, a low rate of relapse, and no postoperative complications. The effectiveness of F-SWT is high at 97% compared to surgical treatment (42%) and endoscopic intervention (83%).
F-SWT is a highly efficient and non-invasive treatment for spinal pathologies, including herniated discs. It offers a low likelihood of recurrence, few postoperative complications, and no scarring. The treatment is conducted in three stages and has a high success rate compared to traditional invasive treatments.