Nucleoplasty for Sciatica

Nucleoplasty for sciatica is a minor surgical procedure used specifically for radicular pain syndromes caused by a contained herniated disc. In this minimally invasive operation, the person is treated as an outpatient and is free to go home and recuperate in about 45 minute’s time.

Nucleoplasty for Sciatica Procedure

Nucleoplasty closely resembles the far more common IDET technique and is used for identical clinical pain profiles. The procedure is the same in that the surgeon will make a small incision near the affected bulging disc and insert a thin catheter directly into the back. A small transmitter is then placed into the catheter and radio waves are used to gently break up some of the pressurized material in the nucleus pulposus. This is the soft inner core of the disc which is responsible for creating the bulge in the outer disc wall. Once enough nucleus material has been treated, the disc should shrink back to its original shape and size, eliminating the sciatica symptoms associated with the herniation.

Nucleoplasty for Sciatica Results

As far as surgical solutions to sciatic nerve pain, this one is generally quite good. The operation is well tolerated and has very few risks, although there is the potential for some complications, which should be discussed with your doctor prior to surgery. For indicated disc conditions, nucleoplasty offers acceptable results for resolving disc pain. Remember, most disc conditions are not responsible for causing painful sciatic nerve symptoms and are commonly used as a scapegoat to explain otherwise idiopathic back and leg pain. In these cases, the nucleoplasty will only function as a surgical placebo treatment…

Nucleoplasty Advice

I recommend a minimally invasive procedure, such as nucleoplasty, for those patients who have decided that surgery is the right route for them. Nucleoplasty is only used for herniated discs in which the outer disc wall (annulus fibrosus) remains completely intact and free from annular tears. If you do decide on nucleoplasty, make sure your surgeon is experienced with the technique, since this will always give you an edge on attaining a positive surgical outcome. Before undergoing nucleoplasty, I would always recommend trying knowledge therapy first, since there is no expense and no risk. Additionally, I would also recommend considering spinal decompression, which is a non-surgical sciatica treatment which demonstrates excellent curative statistics for herniated disc patients.

Nucleoplasty for Sciatica to Sciatica Home
12/9/08 Revised 12/16/09