What
Causes low back pain?
If
I undergo Spinal Decompression treatment, how long does
it take to see results?
How long does it take to complete Spinal Decompression treatment?
Do
I qualify for Spinal Decompression Treatment?
Are there any side effects to the treatment?
How
does Spinal Decompression separate each vertebra and
allow for decompression at a specific level?
Is
there any risk to the patient during treatment with
Spinal Decompression ?
How
does Spinal Decompression treatment differ from
ordinary spinal traction?
Can
Spinal Decompression be used for patients that have
had spinal surgery?
Who
is not a candidate for Spinal Decompression therapy?
Who
is a candidate for Spinal Decompression ?
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.
