One newer treatment option for lower back pain is Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET). This minimally invasive treatment uses heat energy delivered to the affected disc. During the procedure, a heat coil is inserted into the disc of the spine by the use of a catheter that is guided by X-ray. The coil is heated to a temperature slightly below that of boiling water. This heat energy destroys the nerve endings that have been found to grow inside of painful, torn discs, therefore eliminating the cause of the back pack.
This minimally invasive IDET procedure is used for the treatment of lower back pain that is a result of spinal disc damage (tears or small herniations in the lumbar disc). Prior to the procedure, testing is performed to clearly identify the affected disc and to confirm the diagnosis.
