Guide | February 16, 2020
PRT - MRI Accurate and without radiation
PRT stands for:
P = peripheral (meaning far from the body's center)
R = radicular (relating to the nerve root -> radix)
T = Therapy
This involves an injection into the nerve root of the spine.
As already mentioned in the blog post“The Trouble with the Back,”it’s no secret that a great many patients suffer from acute or chronic back, leg, neck, or shoulder pain
In rare cases, these may be the result of herniated discs or bulging discs.
If treatments such as pain medication, local heat, acupuncture, injections, physical therapy, rest, and exercise, etc., do not produce the desired improvement, a targeted, image-guided injection at the nerve root may be initiated if the indication is appropriate.
So what happens in the case of a herniated disc, a bulging disc, or a bony narrowing of the spine? Typically, the nerve roots become irritated.
This can not only cause pain—which usually radiates down the leg or arm—but also lead to symptoms of paralysis and numbness.
"Scarring" following intervertebral disc surgery can also irritate the nerve root and cause pain.
PRT is a treatment for affected nerve roots that can be performed on the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. ROC-Aschheim offers this treatment under MRI guidance, completely radiation-free and with appropriate local anesthesia.
How often should this treatment be performed?
Depending on the symptoms, the treatment is usually repeated 4 to 6 times at intervals of approximately 2 weeks, later extending to 4 weeks.
And how exactly is it carried out?
Under MRI guidance, a thin carbon probe is advanced directly to the nerve root at the point where the nerve exits the spine. Unlike with CT guidance, we do NOT need to administer a contrast agent to precisely locate the probe during MRI.
Various medications are used for treatment. Short- and long-acting local anesthetics (e.g., Carbostesin and Scandicain) are used to relieve pain. To reduce inflammation, a naturopathic medication (Traumeel) and/or a locally acting cortisone preparation is injected. If the patient is intolerant to cortisone, the body’s own substances, such as blood plasma in the form of ACP, can be administered. The probe can then be removed, and the treatment is complete.
The treatment takes 15–20 minutes and is largely painless.
Is this therapy right for me?
This varies from patient to patient and ALWAYS requires an individual assessment.
In closing: Never forget the three basic principles of back pain:
- A lot of patience and time
- Warmth and
- Exercise