Epidural Neuroplasty

Epidural Neuroplasty

Back pain is among the problems that restrict the movement of many people around the world. It can occur at any age, and the cause of back pain can vary as there are many conditions responsible for it. However, in most cases, back pain can be treated without surgery by using conservative methods. But if your back pain has shown no signs of recovery with conservative methods, then surgical intervention might be necessary, which most people fear because spine interventions can be risky.

However, with the growth of medical science and the appearance of new technological innovations, surgical interventions have become minimally invasive. One such minimally invasive surgery is Epidural Neuroplasty. It’s a method used by our doctors at Axis Clinics to treat chronic back pain in certain conditions. So, if you are also dealing with such a problem, consult with our doctor at Axis Clinics and find out if epidural neuroplasty is the solution to your problem.

What is Epidural Neuroplasty?

Epidural Neuroplasty is a percutaneous minimally invasive procedure to access the nerve roots and release the compression or irritation from the nerve roots. It is a minimally invasive procedure where the goal is to help the patient get rid of the chronic pain due to nerve compression and can prevent surgeries in many cases.

The name of the treatment is derived from the space around the spinal cord and spinal nerves, known as epidural space. This space undergoes encroachment or scarring due to various causes like disc bulges, ligament buckling, inflammation, etc. Moreover, the same treatment is also known as percutaneous adhesiolysis, where percutaneous means accessing through the skin, and adhesiolysis means the removal of adhesions or scars, causing the compression of nerves.

What Conditions Can Be Treated with Epidural Neuroplasty?

There are many conditions where the epidural space can be compromised, resulting in the development of compression or irritation of the nerves. Some of the situations needing Epidural Neuroplasty are:

Annular Tears

The Annulus covers the disc, keeping the jelly-like material inside. A tear in the covering of the disc is the genesis of potential disc herniations in the future if not taken care of. It is a harrowing situation due to the inflammatory response.

Herniated Disc

A herniated disc near the epidural region can cause compression on nerve roots. In such cases, the jelly-like material that slips out in the epidural space causes compression.

Spinal Stenosis

The narrowing of the spinal canal is known as spinal stenosis, and it can occur anywhere in the spine, including near the epidural space. With Epidural Neuroplasty, though the canal stenosis cannot be removed, the inflammatory material gets washed out, leading to better pain relief.

Chronic Sciatica

Compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve is known as sciatica, which a herniated disc, DDD, etc can cause. With epidural neuroplasty, the nerve root irritation and swelling decrease, and they get freer, which relieves the pain.

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Sometimes, a failed back surgery can lead to back pain due to scar tissue buildup. This build-up created compression on the nerve roots, which can be released with Epidural Neuroplasty.

How Does Epidural Neuroplasty Work?

Epidural neuroplasty aims to provide relief from chronic pain by accessing the epidural space with the help of a special catheter. Since the pain occurs due to the build-up of scar tissues (adhesions), the catheter is inserted into the space and manipulated to get rid of the scar tissues. This is done under image guidance and helps decompress the nerve-causing pain. Now, anti-inflammatory local anaesthesia and medications are supplied to reduce the pain, inflammation, and swelling.

What are the Benefits of Epidural Neuroplasty?

Here are some of the benefits of Epidural Neuroplasty, which makes it a better option than many of the other Invasive surgeries:

Precise Pain Relief

Targeting the affected nerve root only provides pain relief instantly after the surgery.

No general anaesthetic is required

Unlike other procedures, it involves almost no downtime and allows the patient to go home the same day.

Enhanced Mobility

Along with pain relief, it also helps restore mobility in real-time.

Patient's Journey at Axis Clinics: A Peek into the Epidural Neuroplasty Treatment

Here is what a patient’s journey looks like at Axis Clinics when they undergo Epidural Neuroplasty treatment.

Preparation

Before the treatment begins, the patient undergoes a thorough evaluation to pinpoint the exact cause of the pain and the target area for the neuroplasty. Regional anesthesia is administered to ensure the patient does not experience any discomfort during the procedure. The preparation phase is critical for setting the stage for a successful intervention.

Procedure

Once the local anesthesia takes effect, the procedure begins. A thin catheter is carefully inserted into the epidural space through needle access under real-time imaging guidance. The catheter is directed to the specific area of nerve impingement or inflammation. Through this catheter, medications are delivered to break down scar tissue, reduce inflammation, and improve nerve mobility. The process is precise and minimally invasive, ensuring that only the targeted area is treated.

Recovery

After the procedure, the patient is moved to a recovery area for observation. Since the treatment is minimally invasive, there is no need for extended hospital stays. Most patients are discharged the same day or another day and experience relief from pain within days. Recovery is quick, and patients are guided through a personalised rehabilitation plan to ensure long-term benefits and prevent recurrence.

Conclusion

At Axis Clinics, Epidural Neuroplasty is performed with precision and care, ensuring maximum comfort and safety for our patients. With a focus on minimally invasive techniques, we help our patients return to a pain-free life as swiftly as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a minimally invasive procedure to deal with nerve root compression or irritation of spinal nerves in the epidural space.

Yes, Epidural Neuroplasty is relatively safe, and our experienced doctors make it even safer at Axis Clinics.

If conservative methods don't show any results, doctors use this procedure.

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