What leads to low back pain?
Low back pain may be triggered by a number of 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 disks with a ligamentous outer layer. These disks function as shock absorbers to protect the vertebra and the spinal cord. A number of the problems that cause back pain are the result of herniation and degeneration of the intervertebral disk. Degeneration is a process in which wear and tear causes degeneration of the disk. Herniations, or bulging of the disk are protrusions from the disk that compress the surrounding nerves, triggering pain or numbness.
If I have Spinal Decompression treatment, how long does it take to see effects?
The majority of patients report a reduction in pain after the first couple of 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, on a daily basis for the first 2 weeks, 3 times a week for the next 2 weeks, and followed up by 2 times a week for the last 2 weeks.
Do I qualify for Spinal Decompression treatment?
Ever since I began using Spinal Decompression system, I’ have been flooded with questions from both medical professionals and patients regarding which cases it will best help. Undoubtedly proper patient selection is essential to favorable outcomes, so let me explain to you of the Inclusion and Exclusion criteria so you can make the best decision since not everyone is a candidate for Spinal Decompression therapy.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Pain due to herniated and bulging lumbar disks that is more than 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 treatment.
- Patients available for four weeks of treatment protocol.
- Patient at least eighteen years of age.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Appliances including pedicle screws and rods
- Pregnancy
- Prior lumbar fusion less than 6 months old
- Metastatic cancer
- Extreme osteoporosis
- Spondylolisthesis (unstable).
- Compression fracture of lumbar spine below L-1 (recent).
- Pars defect.
- Pathologic aortic aneurysm.
- Abdominal or pelvic cancer.
- Disc space infections.
- Severe peripheral neuropathy.
- Hemiplegia, paraplegia, or cognitive dysfunction.
Are there any negative side effects to the treatment?
The majority patients do not experience any side effects. Though, there have been some minor instances of muscle spasm for a brief period of time.
Specifically How does Spinal Decompression separate each vertebra and enable decompression at a specific level?
Decompression is attained by using a specific mix of spinal positioning and varying the degree and level of force. The key to producing this decompression is the soft pull that is generated by a logarithmic curve. When distractive forces are created on a logarithmic curve the typical proprioceptor response is avoided. Eliminating this response allows decompression to occur at the targeted area.
Are there any risks to the patient during treatment on Spinal Decompression?
Definitely No. Spinal Decompression is comfortable and absolutely safe for all patients. The system has emergency stop switches for both the patient and the operator. These switches (a requirement of the FDA) end the treatment instantly thereby avoiding any injuries.
How does Spinal Decompression therapy differ from ordinary spinal traction?
Traction is effective at treating a couple of the conditions arising from herniated or degeneration. Traction can not deal with the source of the problem. Spinal Decompression generates a negative pressure inside the disc. This effect causes the disc to pull in the herniation and the increase in negative pressure also causes the flow of blood and nutrients back into the disk allowing the body’s natural fibroblastic response to heal the injury and re-hydrate the disc. Traction and inversion tables, at best, can lower the intradiscal pressure from a +90 to a +30 mmHg. Spinal Decompression is clinically proven to decrease the intradiscal pressure to between a -150 to -200 mmHg. Traction activates the body’s normal response to stretching by creating painful muscle spasms that worsen the pain in affected area.
Can Spinal Decompression be used for people that have had spinal surgery?
Most of the times Spinal Decompression treatment is not contra-indicated for patients that have had spinal surgery. Plenty of patients have found success with Spinal Decompression after a failed back surgery.
Who is not a potential candidate for Spinal Decompression treatment?
Anybody who has recent spinal fractures, surgical fusion or metallic hardware, surgically repaired aneurysms, infection of the spine, and/or moderate to extreme osteoporosis.
Who is a potential candidate for Spinal Decompression?
Anybody who has been told they need surgery but wants to avoid it, anyone who has been advised there is nothing more provided to help, anybody who failed to substantially respond to conservative options (medications, physical therapy, injections, chiropractic, acupuncture), or anyone who still has pain but wishes to obtain the kind of care they want.
