When one suffers from prolapsed disc problem either in lumbar region or in neck, one experiences severe back pain, loss of sensation, loss of power. All these symptoms create trauma in one’s mind. The obvious treatment offered by doctor is surgery that again adds to one’s fear. But many people are not aware of Ozone Therapy also known as Ozonucleolysis. This therapy is proving to be a boon for the patients suffering from slipped lumber disc or slipped cervical disc. Dr Lokendra Singh, an internationally acclaimed neurosurgeon has performed this therapy on over 1,000 patients. The results are fantastic as nobody came back to him with the same or related complaint. While sharing his experiences with ‘The Hitavada’ of application of Ozone therapy on patients, Dr Lokendra Singh, who is also the Director of Central India Institute of Medical Sciences (CIIMS), said, “There are several myths about this therapy. Even in medical fraternity, people are not very sure which is obvious. When I first heard about this therapy, it was difficult to believe. But when I started in-depth study, it fascinated me. I went to Italy to learn the technic. I learned the skill from Prof Marco Leonardi, Neuroanaesthesiologist of University of Bologna, Italy.”

 

Dr Lokendra Singh learned the technic in 1997, followed up the results at Italy itself. After he felt satisfied, he came to India and started its application. “The habit of overeating is rising because of which people are putting on weight. The rising weight leads to spine problem. In majority cases pain and discomfort rises but condition is not very serious. Their lumbar disc gets prolapsed or bulged. A lot of people said Ozone is highly toxic gas so how can it be used for treatment. But there is a way of using it. It should be taken in proper quantity and then injected. Detailed clinical examination with MRI of lumbar spine is done before the procedure. Ozone is generated at the place and administered into the nucleus of the relevant disc. Patient has to take two hours of rest at home. Some nominal medicines are given. The time period of the treatment depends upon the intensity of the problem,” explained Dr Lokendra Singh. There is a fear among people about spine surgery. Prolapsed disc issue can be resolved through Ozone therapy. All the other procedures like laser, radiofrequency ablation, have some serious side effects as against ozonucleolysis.

 

But not a single serious life threatening complication was found even after approximately 1,000 cases done by Dr Lokendra Singh. It shows the safety of the procedure and its efficacy. Ozone therapy too can’t be used in case patients have malignancy, Tuberculosis in Spine or in cases where bone is increased. Even all the cases of prolapsed disc too can’t be treated through Ozone therapy. Patients with acute severe paralysis with bladder –bowel involments, bone degenerative disease can’t be treated by this therapy. “Unlike surgery, it does not cause infection as it is anti-bacterial. The beauty of this therapy is--it involves less cost, patient doesn’t have to stay in the hospital, patient can come alone and leave after the procedure, patients’ relatives have no stress of hospital stay. Like surgery, in very rare cases, this therapy too is repeated. But there is a difference between repetition of surgery and repetition of therapy. In surgery, additional part of disc is cut while in therapy disc gets shrunk,” elaborated Dr Lokendra Singh.