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?
Each spinal decompression treatments last approximately 40 –
60 minutes. The complete course of care is approximately 25 visits,
generally 2-4 times per week as the patient's schedule allows.
Do
I qualify for Spinal Decompression treatment?
Since I began using the 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?
Spinal Decompression uses state of the art technology to apply a distraction
force to specific segments of the spine. This distraction technique
utilizes a patented logarithmic approach that allows for a negative
pressure to be produced within the disc. Experts believe this negative
pressure creates a vacuum affect that draws in nutrients and fluids
to promote the repair of injured discs and surrounding tissues. This
vacuum affect has also been shown to aid in the retraction of escaped
cushioned gel from herniated or protruding discs.
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
herniation 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.
