Are fluroscopes safe?
I have had four back surgeries. The first was in 1982, when the old procedure was used. Endoscopy had not yet been invented. Muscles were cut, in order to reach my blown disc. My back muscles have never been the same, since. Constant pain. Now, I am told I have scar tissue over my spine and back muscles. New surgery, to remove the scar tissue, is of no use. Doctors want to inject numbing medicene into my spine for my pain relief. This will require the use of a fluroscope to aid the doctor and his needle. Question: are fluroscopes safe to use and will this procedure be a benefit for me in reducing my lower back pain?
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“The two major risks associated with fluoroscopy are
* radiation-induced injuries to the skin and underlying tissues (“burns”), and
* the small possibility of developing a radiation-induced cancer some time later in life.
When an individual has a medical need, the benefit of fluoroscopy far exceeds the small cancer risk associated with the procedure. Even when fluoroscopy is medically necessary, it should use the lowest possible exposure for the shortest possible time.”
FDA
Good luck, John. I wish you less back pain.
Marinelife, thank you. The muscles on the right side of my lower spine are like concrete. One doctor attempted this procedure years ago and almost broke a needle.
@john65pennington: Have you gotten another or several other opinions? Lower back pain, particularly after botched old surgeries can be intractable.
I am sorry for your plight. I deal with some lower back pain, but mercifully, it responds to heat, massage, religious exercise, advil and an elastic support during the occasional flair-up.
gailcalled, in all the years, since 1982, I have tried everything. We had thought about surgery, but the doc said it would only last a short while, then it would return with additional scar tissue. Looks like I am stuck with it.
You have my sympathies. I am going through a short rehab program now but I can see results every day.
What about an old-fashioned corset with steel stays?
Fluoroscopy is very common in a lot of different medical procedures and although there are the risks mentioned by @marinelife the doses used are very very small. You’ll get more rads flying from LA to New York.
gailcalled, as we speak, I am wearing one. Some relief, but not much.
I am out of ideas. But I’ll keep my thinking cap on.
The modern “fluoroscope” is actually an x-ray image intensifier, akin to night goggles. It produces an image with far less radiation than the old fluoroscopes that actually used fluorescent phosphors to produce an image.
Still, it’s ionizing radiation and potentially harmful, which is why personnel who stand less than a few feet from it will always wear lead shielding—they have much longer exposure times than any one patient does. In the end the benefits outweigh the risk.
Fluoroscopes are safe. The x-ray part is safe.
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