Who is a candidate for Spinal Decompression?
Anybody who has been informed they need surgery but wishes to avoid it, anybody who has been advised there is nothing more offered to help, anybody who failed to noticeably respond to conservative methods (medications, physical therapy, injections, chiropractic, acupuncture), or anyone who still has pain but wishes to obtain the type of care they want.
If I undergo Spinal Decompression therapy, how long does this take to see effects?
Most patients report a reduction in pain after the first few sessions. Generally, considerable improvement is obtained by the second week of treatment.
How long does it take to complete Spinal Decompression therapy?
Patients are on the system for 30-45 minutes, daily for the first two 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 Decompression treatment?
Ever since I started using Spinal Decompression machine, I’ have been flooded with questions from both medical professionals and patients as to which situations it will best help. Undoubtedly proper patient selection is vital to favorable results, so allow me to explain to you of the Inclusion and Exclusion criteria so you may make the appropriate decision since not everyone qualifies for Spinal Decompression treatment.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Pain due to herniated and bulging lumbar disks that is in excess of four weeks old
- Recurrent pain from a failed back surgery that is at least 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 including pedicle screws and rods
- Pregnancy
- Prior lumbar fusion less than 6 months old
- Metastatic cancer
- Severe osteoporosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Compression fracture of lumbar spine below L-1 (recent).
- Pars defect.
- Pathologic aortic aneurysm.
- Abdominal or pelvic cancer.
- Disk space infections.
- Severe peripheral neuropathy.
- Hemiplegia, paraplegia, or cognitive dysfunction.
Is there any side effects to the therapy?
Almost all patients do not experience any side effects. There have been some mild instances of muscle spasm for a quick period of time.
How does Spinal Decompression separate each vertebra and allow for decompression at a specific level?
Decompression is accomplished by using a specific combination of spinal positioning and varying the degree and level of force. The key to producing this decompression is the gentle pull that is generated by a logarithmic curve. When distractive forces are generated on a logarithmic curve the typical proprioceptor response is prevented. Eliminating this response allows decompression to occur at the targeted spot.
Is there any risk to the patient during therapy on Spinal Decompression?
Definitely No. Spinal Decompression is absolutely safe and comfortable for all subjects. The system has emergency stop switches for both the operator and the patient. These switches (a requirement of the FDA) terminate the therapy instantly thereby avoiding any injuries.
How does Spinal Decompression treatment differ from regular spinal traction?
Traction is effective at treating a few of the conditions arising from herniated or degeneration. Traction can not take care of the source of the problem. Spinal Decompression generates a negative pressure inside the disk. This effect causes the disc to pull in the herniation and the rise in negative pressure also triggers 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 leads to the body’s normal response to stretching by generating painful muscle spasms that aggravate the pain in affected area.
Can Spinal Decompression be used for patients that have had spinal surgery?
For the most part Spinal Decompression therapy is not contra-indicated for patients that have had spinal surgery. Many patients have found success with Spinal Decompression after a failed back surgery.
Who is not a candidate for Spinal Decompression treatment?
Anyone who has recent spinal fractures, surgical fusion or metallic hardware, surgically repaired aneurysms, infection of the spine, and/or moderate to severe osteoporosis.
