In the
past, a patient suffering from disc problems usually were given pain
medication, instructed to refrain from physical activity, referred for
physical therapy, and when they weren’t progressing they were sent for spinal
surgery. Conservative Chiropractic care proved very helpful in many cases, yet
there have been some cases when surgery seemed to be the only other
option…until now.
Today,
you don’t have to live with that pain anymore. Thanks to the concerted efforts
of a team of top physicians and medical engineers, Spinal Decompression was
developed to effectively treat lower back pain and sciatica resulting from
herniated or deteriorated discs. Spinal Decompression not only significantly
reduces back pain in many patients, but also enables the majority of patients
to return to more active lifestyles.
Prior to
beginning treatments, we evaluate you to determine if you are a candidate. If
you are a candidate for therapy, an individual treatment plan is created for your
specific needs. A typical plan may be between 10 to 25 treatments. It is
important to complete your treatment plan and thus the full healing process
even if you start to feel improvement early on. It is not uncommon to
experience a significant reduction in pain early in your treatments.
At the
beginning of each session, you are fitted with a comfortable harness designed
to offer optimal decompression. You are fully clothed, and we will make sure
that you are properly positioned for comfort, safety and effectiveness. The
computer is programmed in accordance with your specific treatment plan, and
your session commences. Additionally, you are in complete control and can shut
down the treatment session at any time if discomfort should occur.
During
each session, you experience multiple cycles of treatment. Each cycle takes
between 2 to 3 minutes. The equipment is designed to apply precisely-controlled
tension along the axis of your spinal column, creating decompression of the
intervertebral discs. The process is fully automated and administered by a
computer, which in turn is monitored by a technician.
During
the treatment cycles, you may feel some relief of the pressure in the area
where your pain exists. During this time, your body is responding by flooding
the area with valuable oxygen, blood, and nutrients, which help promote the
natural healing process of your body.
Your
treatment sessions are typically both comfortable and relaxing. Most patients
benefit from and enjoy their treatments.
Spinal
Decompression uses state of the art technology to apply a distraction force to
relieve nerve compression often associated with low back pain and sciatica.
How do I get started?
Contact our office at 864-878-8190 to schedule an initial consultation with our Doctors to determine if you are a candidate for care with Spinal Decompression. After carefully studying your case history and exam findings, the Doctor will sit down and explain his recommended plan of action for you. After answering any questions you may have about the recommended plan, you may begin your care with Spinal Decompression.
Q&A
What is
Spinal Decompression Therapy?
Spinal
Decompression Therapy is a non-surgical, non-chiropractic therapy to relieve
back pain and other problems associated with spinal disc injuries.
Bulging
discs, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, sciatica,
and arm pain or leg pain can often be attributed to your spine asserting
pressure on your discs. Poor posture, bad body mechanics, repetitive stress and
acute injury can cause your vertebrae to compress your discs or to slip out of
alignment which then applies pressure to your discs.
Compressed
discs lead to two major problems: a bulge or herniation pressing on a nerve;
and brittleness of the disc. The problem is often perpetuated because the
compressed disc restricts the flow of nutrients to itself which is needed to
heal.
Traditional
corrective treatments include surgery or chiropractic adjustment. Spinal
Decompression Therapy is an alternative FDA approved treatment option that has
shown very good results.
Spinal
Decompression Treatment is non-invasive and provides gentle decompression of
the disc through the use of a decompression table. You are strapped to the
table so that as it moves it applies a distraction force to the targeted area
of the spine (the compressed disc). A computer controls the distraction force
which is applied in between periods of relaxation. This gently pulls the spine
apart elongating it and creating a small vacuum between the vertebrae which pulls
the disc back into shape.
Much
like a repetitive stress injury the decompression works in very minute
increments. But over time that adds up and lets the disc reshape itself, heal
and get the proper flow of nutrients going to fight off brittleness and future
injuries.
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 10-25
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?
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 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.