What
causes low back pain?
Low back pain can be caused by a number of factors from injuries
to the effects of aging.The spinal cord is protected by the
vertebrae, which are made of bone. Between each vertebra are
soft discs with a ligamentous outer layer. These discs function
as shock absorbers to protect the vertebra and the spinal cord.
Many of the problems that cause back pain are the result of
herniation and degeneration of the intervertebral disc. Degeneration
is a process where wear and tear causes deterioration of the
disc. Herniations, or bulging of the disc are protrusions from
the disc that press on surrounding nerves, causing pain or numbness.
If
I undergo Spinal Decompression treatment, how long does it take
to see results?
Most patients report a reduction in pain after the first few
sessions. Typically, significant improvement is obtained by
the second week of treatment.
How
long does it take to complete Spinal Decompression treatment?
Patients remain on the system for 30-45 minutes, daily for the
first 2 weeks, three times a week for the following 2 weeks,
and followed up by two times a week for the last 2 weeks.
Do
I qualify for Spinal Decompression treatment?
Since I began using Spinal Decompression spinal disc decompression
unit, I’have been inundated with questions from both doctors
and patients as to which cases it will best help. Obviously
proper patient selection is essential to favorable outcomes,
so let me explain to you of the Inclusion and Exclusion criteria
so you may make the right decision since not everyone qualifies
for Spinal Decompression treatment.
Inclusion
Criteria:
- Pain
due to herniated and bulging lumbar discs that is more than
four weeks old
-
Recurrent pain from a failed back surgery that is more than
six months old.
- Persistent
pain from degenerated disc not responding to four weeks
of therapy.
- Patients
available for four weeks of treatment protocol.
- Patient
at least 18 years of age.
Exclusion
Criteria:
- Appliances
such as pedicle screws and rods
- Pregnancy
- Prior
lumbar fusion less than six months old
- Metastatic
cancer
- Severe
osteoporosis
- Spondylolisthesis
(unstable)
- Compression
fracture of lumbar spine below L-1 (recent).
- Pars
defect
- Pathologic
aortic aneurysm.
- Pelvic
or abdominal cancer
- Disc
space infections
- Severe
peripheral neuropathy
- Hemiplegia,
paraplegia, or cognitive dysfunction.
Are
there any side effects to the treatment?
Most patients do not experience any side effects. Though, there
have been some mild cases of muscle spasm for a short period
of time.
How does Spinal Decompression
separate each vertebra and allow for decompression at a specific
level?
Decompression is achieved by using a specific combination of
spinal positioning and varying the degree and intensity of force.
The key 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 avoided. Avoiding this response allows decompression to occur
at the targeted area
Is
there any risk to the patient during treatment on Spinal Decompression?
NO. Spinal Decompression is totally safe and comfortable for
all subjects. The system has emergency stop switches for both
the patient and the operator. These switches (a requirement
of the FDA) terminate the treatment immediately thereby avoiding
any injuries.
How
does Spinal Decompression treatment differ from ordinary spinal
traction?
Traction is helpful at treating some of the conditions resulting
from herniated or degeneration. Traction cannot address the
source of the problem. Spinal Decompression creates a negative
pressure or a vacuum 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 disc 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
reduce the intradiscal pressure to between a -150 to -200 mmHg.
Traction triggers 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 patients 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 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 candidate for Spinal Decompression
?
Anyone who has been told they need surgery but wishes to avoid
it, anyone who has been told there is nothing more available
to help, anyone who failed to significantly respond to conservative
options (medications, physical therapy, injections, chiropractic,
acupuncture), or anyone who still has pain but wishes to obtain
the type of care they want.
