Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET)

Internal Disc Disruption can be treated with a number of different approaches, including physical therapy, fusion surgery and IDET. IDET is a newer treatment aimed at less invasive approaches with shorter recovery time. It is usually limited to 1 or 2 discs and involves threading a catheter around the leaking nucleus pulposis and heating it to a temperature that seals the leak. Over a period of the next several months scar tissue forms within the disc. There are many variations on this theme, but basic treatment is the same. Some practitioners use an epidurascope to actually visualize the tear to be treated and some use operating lasers.

The recovery from IDET takes several months. This may require pain management during this time period. Physical therapy is also highly recommended for good outcome.