Pain originating from the lumbar spine and radiating into the lower limb is often persistent and disrupts daily life. If you experience this and previous treatments have not been sufficient, ozone therapy is one of the options worth discussing with your doctor. On this page you will find out who it is suitable for, how it is performed and what to prepare for the consultation.
Who is the treatment suitable for
The treatment is primarily intended for patients whose pain from the lumbar spine radiates into the lower limb. The cause may be nerve irritation due to a change in the intervertebral disc or to narrowing of the space through which the nerve passes. If the problem affects several levels of the lumbar spine, the individual levels can be treated one after another.
This is an adjunctive treatment option. Your doctor will decide whether it is suitable for you based on your symptoms, the result of the neurological examination and an MRI of the lumbar spine.
How the treatment is performed
A mixture of medical oxygen and ozone is injected into the area next to the irritated nerve. The aim is to reduce local irritation and pain. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, with the patient lying face down, under ultrasound guidance.
In most cases the treatment series comprises four applications. If the treatment helps and you tolerate it well, it can be extended to a maximum of six applications.
What to bring to the consultation
For the consultation we need an MRI of the lumbar spine. Images on a storage medium, an access link or a code to the images are enough, or at least the written report of the examination.
Before the first application, in a short consultation the doctor will check your current state of health, whether your symptoms match the MRI findings and the safety conditions for the procedure.
If you do not have an MRI yet
We arrange MRI of the lumbar spine at partner centres, usually within seven days. If you are not sure whether the treatment is right for you, you can start with a consultation at our neurology outpatient clinic, which deals with spinal pain, musculoskeletal dysfunctions and peripheral nerve disorders. That way you have the examinations and the consultation in one place.
Booking
You can book by phone on +421 2 2102 0702 or online through the form. You will find us at Plynárenská 7C, BBC5 building, 821 09 Bratislava.
Details of the procedure are on the page Targeted Ozone Therapy under Ultrasound Guidance. Opening hours and a map are on the Contact page.