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 on 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, Ihave 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.