What is Spinal Cord Catheterization?
This innovative technique involves treating the spine directly with ozone.
Spinal Cord Catheterization is an innovative complementary regenerative therapy. Dr. Castillo developed SCC to help his patients better treat their pain symptoms. It is a medical procedure using a new technique developed to treat medical disease states in our patients.
These include but are not limited to:
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Neuropathy
Cerebral Vascular Accidents
Primary Dementia
Parkinson’s Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Cancer
Spinal Cord Catheterization delivers a combination of ozone gas and cerebral spinal fluid directly into the spine to be directly absorbed by any effected areas. This direct placement allows for better oxygenation of cells and tissues to help with healing symptoms associated with pain.
“It’s the new way of healing.”
-Dr. Michael A. Castillo
What is Ozone?
Ozone is a form of oxygen, made with three oxygen atoms, it is a natural gas known to help individual cells produce energy through their mitochondria. It can increase tissue oxygenation, improves circulation, and cellular rejuvenation.
Ozone Therapy is the use of O3 molecules in liquid, gel, or gas form to help in the treating of medical conditions. Ozone has been utilized and studied in regards to medical utilization for many decades. Its beneficial effects are proven, consistent, and with minimal side effects. In alternative medicine, practitioners of ozone therapy use gas or liquid forms of ozone to treat medical and dental conditions, and as a topical disinfectant. Medical O3 has been used to disinfect and treat disease, it has been around for over 150 years.
What is Cerebral Spinal Fluid?
Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) is a colorless, odorless fluid that acts as the brain’s protective barrier. This fluid also surrounds your spinal cord. Cerebral spinal fluid moves in and out of the brain with each heartbeat.
“The most remarkable thing Dr. Castillo has done for my pain is Ozone with Spinal Cord Catheterization.”
– Susan
SCC Procedure
Pre-Procedure
Before the procedure, you will check in and have your vital signs taken. Depending on need, an intravenous catheter may be placed for light sedation. This is an in office procedure, and not something we do full sedation with.
Procedure
A needle is placed into the thecal sac in the lower back (lumbar spine). A catheter is then inserted and guided upwards along the back of the spinal cord to the top of the spine (cervical spinal cord). Placement of the catheter is monitored and confirmed with fluoroscopy, a live X-ray. Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) is collected and then mixed with Ozone. Rich, clear ozonated CSF is then injected back into the spine. The catheter will be pulled down to target other regions such as cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. The ozonation step is repeated for each area of the spine, after which the catheter is removed. After catheter removal, the patient’s back is cleaned, and a small band-aid is placed at the insertion site. The duration of the procedure is between 45 minutes to an hour and a half.
Post Procedure
You will then be monitored post procedure for 20 minutes and vital signs will be taken again before you leave the office.
Possible Side Effects
While side effects are minimal, they can still occur, these can include:
Sudden, moderate headache
Pain at the catheter insertion site
Increased generalized pain