What brings about low back pain?
Low back pain can be triggered by a several factors from injuries to the effects of aging. The spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae, which are made from bone. Between each vertebra are soft discs with a ligamentous outer layer. These disks function as shock absorbers to protect the vertebra and the spinal cord. A lot of the problems that cause back pain are the result of herniation and degeneration of the intervertebral disk. Degeneration is a process where by wear and tear causes degeneration of the disc. Herniations, or bulging of the disc are protuberances from the disk that press on surrounding nerves, resulting in pain or numbness.
If I undertake Spinal Decompression therapy, how long does it take to see effects?
Many patients report a decrease in pain after the first few sessions. Generally, notable improvement is obtained by the second week of treatment.
How much time does it take to finish Spinal Decompression treatment?
Patients remain on the system for 30-45 mins, everyday for the first 2 weeks, 3 times a week for the next two weeks, and followed up by 2 times a week for the last two weeks.
Do I qualify for Spinal Decompression therapy?
Ever since I began using Spinal Decompression spinal disc decompression unit, I’ have been inundated with questions from both medical professionals and patients concerning which cases it will best help. Undoubtedly proper patient selection is essential to favorable results, so let me explain to you of the Inclusion and Exclusion criteria so you may make the appropriate decision since not everybody qualifies for Spinal Decompression treatment.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Pain because of herniated and bulging lumbar disks that is in excess of four weeks old
- Reoccurring pain from a failed back surgery that is more than 6 months old.
- Persistent pain from degenerated disk not responding to 4 weeks of therapy.
- Patients available for 4 weeks of treatment protocol.
- Patient at least 18 years of age.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Appliances like pedicle screws and rods
- Pregnancy
- Prior lumbar fusion less than 6 months old
- Metastatic cancer
- Severe osteoporosis
- Spondylolisthesis (unstable).
- Compression fracture of lumbar spine below L-1.
- Pars defect.
- Pathologic aortic aneurysm.
- Pelvic or abdominal cancer.
- Disc space infections.
- Severe peripheral neuropathy.
- Hemiplegia, paraplegia, or cognitive dysfunction.
Is there any side effects to the therapy?
Almost all patients do not experience any side effects. There have been some minor instances of muscle spasm for a brief time period.
Specifically How does Spinal Decompression separate each vertebra and enable decompression at a specific level?
Decompression is attained by utilizing a specific mix of spinal positioning and varying the degree and level of force. The trick to producing this decompression is the gentle pull that is created by a logarithmic curve. When distractive forces are generated on a logarithmic curve the typical proprioceptor response is prevented. Preventing this response allows decompression to occur at the targeted area.
Are there any risks to the patient during therapy on Spinal Decompression?
NO. Spinal Decompression is comfortable and totally safe for all patients. The system has emergency stop switches for both the operator and the patient. These switches (a requirement of the FDA) end the treatment right away thereby avoiding any injuries.
How does Spinal Decompression therapy differentiate from spinal traction?
Traction is helpful at treating some of the conditions resulting from herniated or degeneration. Traction can not take care of the source of the problem. Spinal Decompression produces a negative pressure or a vacuum inside the disk. This effect causes the disk to pull in the herniation and the increase in negative pressure also induces the circulation of blood and nutrients back into the disc enabling the body’s natural fibroblastic response to heal the injury and re-hydrate the disk. Traction and inversion tables, at best, can lower the intradiscal pressure from a +90 to a +30 mmHg. Spinal Decompression is clinically shown to reduce the intradiscal pressure to between a -150 to -200 mmHg. Traction sets off the body’s normal response to stretching by generating painful muscle spasms that worsen the pain in affected area.
Can Spinal Decompression be used for individuals that have had spinal surgery?
In most cases Spinal Decompression treatment is not contra-indicated for patients that have had spinal surgery. In fact many patients have found success with Spinal Decompression after a failed back surgery.
Who is not a potential candidate for Spinal Decompression therapy?
Anyone who has recent spinal fractures, surgical fusion or metallic hardware, surgically repaired aneurysms, infection of the spine, and/or moderate to severe osteoporosis.
Who is a potential candidate for Spinal Decompression?
Anyone who has been informed they need surgery but prefers to avoid it, anybody who has been informed there is nothing more available to help, anyone who failed to noticeably respond to conservative options (medications, physical therapy, injections, chiropractic, acupuncture), or anyone who still has pain but wishes to obtain the sort of care they want.