IDETC or Intradiscal Electrothermal Coagulation or Cautery is a new procedure to help patients with lowback pain being caused by the disc.  Recent research has shown that many patients with disc pain have nerves that have grown into the outer part of the disc which become painful.  IDETC is like a spinal injection.  In this procedure, a wire is passed into the disc while the patient is sedated.  This wire is coiled around inside the disc and is heated up.  The painful nerves are burned out and the wire is removed.  The patient is placed in a hard brace (TLSO) for several weeks while low back exercises are begun.  The success rate is about 2/3'rds, although no large scale research has been done yet.  This is a good procedure for those patients with painful discs who have tried a good lumbar multifidus/transversus program (not garden variety physical therapy and lifting weights) and are trying to avoid surgery.