The International Pain Institute has found one of the most advanced units of Ozone therapy in the United States, where Dr. Castellanos utilizes the therapy using Oxygen-Ozone (Ozone therapy), a novel technique to treat pains in the column, ruptured discs, arthritic articulations, muscles and painful illnesses as the Fibromyalgia without collateral effects.

The doctor’s International Pain Institute is the pioneer of this novel technique in the United States, which is extended in the center of Europe, but is practiced in habitual form in Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Dr. Castellanos has worked with the Ozone since 1988, which he applied in the Orthopaedic in Cuba, his native land. Later, he extended and developed new applications and techniques in the United States, in cooperation with other pioneers in Europe and Latin America, being a true expert in this technical innovation. Subsequently the doctor responds to the most common questions than you can have on the ozone:

What is the Medical Ozone?  The Medical Ozone is in reality a mixture of a 5% of ozone at most and a 95% of oxygen. The ozone (O3) is the combination of three atoms of oxygen (O2) + (OR) and is obtained by means of a powerful electric discharge. Then it combines with 95% of oxygen originating this medicinal gas. The process is carried out of ambulatory form since is not possible to store the medical ozone (O2O3) since is unstable and is transformed into oxygen and intercellular water (H2O2). As we can see, the medical Ozone (O2O3) differs diametrically of the common or atmospheric ozone of which we have heard being spoken of.

How is the medical Ozone (O2O3) applied? There are three forms to administer the medical Ozone (O2O3) for the control of pain:

1- Percutaneous or indirect: Microdosis of O2O3 is injected into the painful zones under the skin, in the muscle or inside the damaged tendons and ligaments; known as "chemical acupuncture" and has an important effect antialgic and anti-inflammatory. A variant of the interarticular injection by means of the fluoroscopic guide or ultrasonic, that is to say, inside the affected joints.

2- Intersomatic or Neuroaxial: By means of a guided technical fluoroscope (camera that permits to see the body inside) a dose is injected around the nerve or nervous roots that have been damaged, as well as inside the space known as peridural, of where many of the somatic pains originate (lumbago and iatalgia).

3- Intradiscal or Nucleolisis Chemical: Through a procedure called discolisis (disk) the O2O3 is injected inside the ruptured or broken disk; a procedure that simulates an column operation "without opening" that causes that the rupture itself to "dissolve" slowly without causing damage to the remainder of the disk or the disks and adjacent weavings. In this type, good results are obtained in the treatment of slipped disc and “punctured” nerves thanks to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic action. The decrease of the pain is established from the first sessions of treatment

Who benefits from this? In patients that show lumbar or sciatic pain by a slipped disc or a break of disk (that is different) will be extremely effective in "dissolving" the hernia without need of surgery (see testimonies) or its secondary effects. This application is revolutionary because for the first time it has scientifically obtained better results (80% of improvement. Bocci et to the 2000) than in traditional operations known as Laminectomy or Cistectomy (69% of improvement. Dutch study 2009) through a procedure in which is not open or applies any instrument to eliminate the sick weaving. Personally I call the O2O3 "the invisible surgeon". It also helps cases of people with punctured nerves, Stenosis or "narrowness of the channel", and suffering of pain radiating to the legs as a result of damage in the neuro-axial structures that doesn’t necessarily mean they have an active hernia. Those that have arthritic pain would benefit by means of the ozone therapy treatment in which the traditional treatment of medicine for arthritis in which injections of cortisone or Hyaluronic (crest of rooster) do not have an effect of relief for the pain. Finally those with chronic pain throughout the body such as Fibromyalgia or the Dystrophy Sympathetic Reflects.

How does the O2O3 (oxygen/ozone)? It causes the oxidation of Mucopolysaccharide in the ruptured part and disperses the water inside the rupture, which causes the reduction of the rupture volume. An important aspect to consider is that it only reduces the ruptured or degenerate weaving, the rest causes an improvement of the weaving cell healing the ring and the broken or damaged ligament. Selectively improves the nervous conduction of fibers –c (pain) having analgesic effect and finally improves the state of engorgement vein of the plexus peridural and periforaminal making the irritation and the inflammation disappear. Really in my opinion, this method is one of the most important modern advances taking into consideration that there are no incisions being utilized, nor a device that can cause complications and the oxygen/ozone is immensely sure as substance nucleolitica (to dissolve the rupture). It is almost impossible to refute this concept on the scientific bases it holds.

How does it act in terms of chronic pain? The Ozono therapy subcutaneously has shown good results in the treatment of the Fibromyalgia and other local painful illnesses that do not respond to conventional treatments. The application of subcutaneous forms of micro-dosis or "chemical acupuncture" in the painful zones has an important antilog effect (anti-painful) and anti-inflammatory.

How does it act in the joints or articulations? The Ozono therapy interarticular or prolozoneterapia that is carried out by ambulatory form, obtains good results in the treatment of arthritis of the knee and other articulations thanks to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic action. The decrease of the pain is established from the first sessions of treatment. The interarticular puncture is not painful neither is it necessary for any type of anesthesia. An aspect to consider is that as opposed to steroids or cortisone, it does not block the production of collagen that is the base of the eroded cartilage, neither does it cause undesirable effects from the short-term to the long-term.

How many treatments are necessary? All is in dependence of the pathology, for recent ruptures one or two treatments of discolisis are necessary. For long-term and chronic pains as the Spinal Stenosis, the Fibromyalgia, or the combination of illnesses like the arthritis, and articular pain, muscular, etc., expect a treatment with more sessions. The difference with the current treatment for pain with steroids or cortisone, is that these are limited to three treatments in a period of 6 months, also they affect diabetic patients and those with high blood pressure; the oxygen/ozone can be applied while the patient feels relief with the security of knowing there will be no undesirable effects or complications.

You can find tons of information on the ozone on the internet, but there will be little with a scientific base. Our Institute and the doctor only support and work in the application related to the pain. We do not support any other works or applications, neither do we recommend nor do we have the position as a qualified doctor.