
TYPES OF PAIN
	What is Acute Pain? What is Chronic Pain?
CONDITIONS TREATED

	Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Facial Pain Fibromyalgia Headaches Knee Pain Shoulder Pain Shoulder Conditions Spine Conditions Low Back Pain Nerve Pain Pelvic Pain Repetitive Strain Injuries Sympathetic Pain Syndromes TMJ Pain
BACK AND SPINE

	Back Pain Information Upper Back Pain Upper Back Pain Causes Chronic Back Pain Back Pain Myths Depression & Chronic Pain
SURGICAL PROCEDURES

	Surgical Procedures Types of Back Surgery Spine Fusion Surgery Discectomy Procedure Spinal Disc Replacement
TREATMENT OPTIONS

	Back Pain Relief Back Pain Treatment Back Surgery Information Back Pain Medication Low Back Pain Treatment
NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT

	Epidural Steroid Injection Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection Facet Joint Injection Medial Branch Blocks Intradiscal Electrothermal Annuloplasty (IDET) Electrothermal Decompression
PATIENT RESOURCES

	Orthopedic Conditions Before Your Surgery After Spine Surgery Back Surgery Questions Anatomy of The Spine Obesity and Back Pain Orthopedic Surgeons Contact Us Insurance Carriers Contact

Electrothermal Decompression (EDD)

Electrothermal disc decompression (EDD) is the latest breakthrough in nonsurgical technology. This procedure helps to alleviate the daily pain and suffering caused by debilitating conditions such as back pain, sciatica, herniated or bulging disc and degenerative disc disease.

EDD uses a spinal needle to guide a decompression heating wire into your disc. Once the position of the catheter is confirmed using an X-ray, the disc is then heated for a short period of time, as specified by your doctor. You will be discharged once the catheter and needle are removed from your spine.

A heating element is used to modify the protein wall of the disc and reduces the amount of disc material that causes nerve irritation. The procedure involves a special wire (decompression heating element) which is guided into your disc through a spinal needle. An x-ray is used to confirm the catheter placement in the disc.

The disc is heated for a short period of time determined by the physician. The catheter and needle are removed, and you will be discharged home with specific instructions.

Intradiscal electrothermal therapy delivers targeted thermal energy designed to shrink collagen fibrils, cauterize granulation tissue, and coagulate nerve tissue in the posterior annulus fibrosus. Intradiscal electrothermal coagulation requires using a needle to thread a flexible heating electrode into the disc, such that the electrode passes circumferentially around the inner surface of the disc.

Direct application of thermal energy to the intervertebral disc is thought to reduce discogenic pain either by thermal coagulation of the nerves or by increasing the stability of the disc.

The protein wall of the disc is modified using a heating element, causing a reduction in the size of the disc material. This reduction releases the pressure placed on certain irritated nerves that trigger constant pain. According to the American Spinal Decompression Association, patients who undergo this procedure have a 70% chance of resuming a normal lifestyle.