Alcohol fix for agony

AN alcohol gel injected into the spine could ease the agony of slipped discs.

The alcohol absorbs water leaking from the damaged disc which aggravates nerves in the spinal cord and inflames surrounding tissues.

Thousands of patients have successfully had the treatment, called Discogel, in Europe.

A French study showed the gel could relieve pain by up to 80 per cent in patients who did not get better with the usual physiotherapy and painkillers.

Slipped discs affect about one in 20 people.