Ozone Therapy in the treatment of herniated discs (Part Two)

There are three methods of applying ozone for the treatment of herniated discs.

• Paravertebral injection
• Epidural injection
• Intradiscal injection

Fig. Schematic representation of ozone application routes in herniated disc.
CA - paravertebral
EP - epidural
ID - intradiscal

Paravertebral injection

was developed by an Italian orthopedist (Cesare Verga) in 1983 and is known as "Verga Method". For 15 years he has treated over 8000 patients (35% of these cases had undergone at least one

Most other reports speak of an effectiveness over 70%. The advantages of this method are:

1. there are no contraindications
2. there is no limit on the number of sessions (10-20)
3. benefits also those who have undergone surgery for herniated discs
4. does not alter the biomechanics of the spine
5. does not require hospitalization

Epidural injection

• Ozone injected at the level of the disk-root conflict acts both on the disk and on the damaged root.
• Has an effectiveness of 75-80%
• Does not cause neurological damage and quickly returns the patient to normal life.
• Is very useful in multiple herniated discs (at many levels)
• Can be applied also in patients with major accompanying diseases.
• Requires fewer sessions than the paravertebral injection (about 3-4 sessions which are done every 7-10 days).
• Does not expose neither the doctor nor the patient to radiation (as the intradiscal injection does)
• Requires less material and equipment than the intradiscal injection, therefore it is cheaper

Intradiscal injection (ozone nucleolysis)

• is a safer alternative than surgery, with fewer side effects, but with a high success rate (88%). In over 200,000 cases of Ozonucleolysis done in various parts of Europe, there have been no cases with serious complications.
• It is less invasive than surgery, but more invasive than the two methods above. It requires the conditions of an operating room and the presence of special imaging equipment (fluoroscope or CT)
• The active oxygen atom released by the ozone acts. This atom binds to the proteo-glycan strands of the nucleus pulposus and destroys them. As a result, the nucleus pulposus is unable to retain the intradiscal water. The final result of this process is shrinkage/mummification of the disc and decompression of the nerve roots.

When can we turn to an ozone therapy clinic for herniated disc treatment?

Perhaps not at the beginning of the pain, but when conservative treatment with analgesics and physiotherapy has failed for 4 weeks.

Those who have lived in different parts of Europe and have heard something about ozone therapy should know that this type of treatment is now also offered in Albania.