What is my doctor looking for with epidural endoscopy?
Often, the body, in its natural attempt to heal from injury or surgery, will develop adhesions which will encase nerve roots. These adhesions may cause irritation and inflammation, potentially resulting in severe and chronic pain, as well as blocking or preventing medications injected into the epidural space from reaching the area your doctor is attempting to treat.
Adhesions can be difficult to visualize with methods such as MRI or CT. With the flexible fiber optic endoscope, physicians have often found adhesions that went undetected by other methods.
How is epidural endoscopy performed?
Epidural endoscopy is a relatively simple procedure that is performed in a hospital or surgical center on an outpatient basis.
After giving you a mild sedative, the physician will inject a local anesthetic into the lower part of your back. The physician then introduces the steerable video guided catheter and flexible fiber optic endoscope into the epidural space. The video guided catheter and endoscope are carefully advanced to the area of suspected pain. You may feel some pain as the instruments move close to the inflamed nerve. In fact, the physician may replicate your pain and ask if this is the type of pain you usually feel.
Using a combined technique of catheter movement and irrigation, the physician can separate many of the adhesions encasing the nerve roots. This allows the physician to directly see the inflamed nerve root, its texture, color and severity of inflammation. The physician can then place medication directly onto the irritated nerve root.
After the procedure, you are sent to the recovery room for a short period of time, then released to go home.
What are the side effects?
As with any invasive procedure, you may experience some side effects. Side effects may include burning or tingling during the procedure, headache during and following the procedure, pain at the site of spinal endoscope insertion for a few days, and small amounts of drainage from the site of spinal endoscope insertion.
How do I know if I would benefit from epidural endoscopy?
Epidural endoscopy is not for everyone and not everyone can benefit from this technique. Your doctor can determine your eligibility after performing a thorough history and physical examination.
What should I do after treatment?
After the procedure, go home and rest. When sitting or resting, changing positions frequently may help reduce stiffness and soreness. Your doctor will give you instructions to follow. Rule of thumb: If it hurts, don’t do it. Be cautious and do not push yourself.
