Spinal Decompression - FAQ

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SPINAL DECOMPRESION WITH MOBILISATION AND CORRECTION:
Decompression treatment is used to help relieve the pain and symptoms caused by nerve compression in the spine. For many patients diagnosed with nerve compression, the simple act of lengthening and stretching the spine with a decompression treatment is enough to relieve the pressure on the impacted nerve root in the spinal canal and reduce the pain and discomfort.

Nerve compression occurs when the vertebrae of the spine are compressed due to age and weight gain, as well as other factors. When lasting pressure is placed on the spine, the components of the spine begin to wear down, causing the development of degenerative spin conditions, such as bulging discs, herniated discs or bone spurs. These spine conditions can cause the components of the spine to move out of alignment, possibly impacting a nerve root in the spinal canal and resulting in severe chronic pain.

Spinal decompression therapy works by gently stretching the spine, separating the vertebral bones of the spine to cause a vacuum inside the discs. The vacuum effect, known as negative intradiscal pressure, pulls the disc back into proper shape and position. Spinal decompression therapy also helps discs absorb the water, oxygen and nutrient-rich fluids they need to begin healing.

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Duration of each session?The patient is comfortably positioned on the therapy table and secured in place. Many treatment variables are programmed into the computer, including therapy duration, force and graduation levels (and angles) of distraction and relaxation. Doctor uses this computer to operate the table, which gently decompresses the bones of the spine by applying a gentle pulling motion to each harness.

Many patients report the treatment is relaxing and may nap: others listen to music. Each decompression session is followed with spinal stabilization 3 to 6 times per week. Patients are recommended to complete 15 to 20 sessions, though most patients my fell pain relief with-in-5-8 sessions, Each session last between 20-45minutes(we recommend 30 minutes session, minimum) some patients may need prolonged sessions (like 1 or twice in a week for further 3-4 months) or repetition post 6 months. This depends on the severity, body condition and life style.

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Doctor’s skill combined with the table and computerized components are the keys. Proper assessment, correct positioning and the use of pre-programmed patterns of distraction and relaxation may reduce disc pressure allowing necessary nutrients to enliven and accelerate disc healing.

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Candidates anyone who has back, neck, arm or leg pain caused in whole or in part by a damaged disc/ pinched nerve may be helped by spinal decompression therapy.

The following would be inclusion criteria for the Decompression Therapy

• 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 discs not responding to four weeks of therapy
• Patients available for four weeks of treatment protocol
• Patient at least 18 years of age
The following indications are ideal candidates for enrolment and to have the potential of achieving quality outcomes in the treatment for their back pain
• Herniated, protruding or bulging discs
• Nerve compression
• Lumbar Disorders
• Injury of the Lumbar Nerve Root
• Lumbar Strains
• Lumbar Instability
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disorder
• Spinal Arthritis
• Sciatic Neuralgia
• Facet syndrome
• Disuse Atrophy
• Low Back Pain w/ or w/ o Sciatica
• Acute Low Back Pain
• Post-Surgical Low Back Pain
• Even failed surgery
• Any patient who’s advised for surgery but not willing for it
• Numbness and tingling in the upper or lower extremities
• Radiculopathy who have failed conventional therapy

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Yes, spinal decompression therapy is an effective treatment for whiplash injury pain. Whiplash injuries affect the alignment of the cervical spine, placing pressure on nearby nerves. Spinal decompression therapy helps to restore correct alignment to the cervical spine, alleviation this compression for long-lasting pain relief. Spinal decompression therapy also treats low back pain, sciatica, and other chronic pain conditions.

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Although patients are individually evaluated for treatment, spinal decompression is no for everyone. Contraindications include:

• Severe Nerve damage or nerve tethering from scarring
• Severe obesity
• More than moderate Osteoporosis
• Pregnant women (with spine MT device we have treated pregnant women with adorable success. However, pregnant women are generally contraindicated).
• Spinal surgery with instrumentation (screws, metal plates, rods or “cages”)
• Recent spinal fractures
• Repaired aneurysms
• Infection of the spine
• Metastatic cancer
• Spondylolisthesis (unstable)
• Pars defect
• Pathologic aortic aneurysm.
• Pelvic or abdominal cancer
• Disc space infections
• Severe peripheral neuropathy
• Hemiplegia, paraplegia, or cognitive dysfunction
• Recent Compression fracture of lumbar spine (below L-1) However, spinal decompression therapy after bone fusion or non-fusion surgery can be performed under doctor’s direct supervision. If patient feels discomfort even post 5-8 sessions, it is advised to discontinue the treatment.

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Most patients typically being seeing/feeling results within the first few treatments. Although you must keep in mind that all patients are different, age, weight and severity of your injury do play a large role in how quickly they may feel relief.

Herniated discs generally respond within 20 sessions, while patients with degenerated discs may need ongoing therapy at regulated intervals to remain pain free. Still other patients, due to lifestyle or occupation, may also require maintenance therapy. Patients with posterior facet syndromes may achieve complete remission with 10 or fewer sessions. Research has demonstrated that most patients achieve full remission from pain after the initial treatment regimen.

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Since non-specific low back pain and cervical pain generally encompass a myriad of mechanical failures, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissue that encroach or produce pressure on the nerves, the term intervertebral disc syndrome can be used. This diagnosis does not necessarily require (although recommended) an MRI to confirm the presence of a disc involvement.

Pre and post treatment benefits can be documented using MRI scan. A six months post treatment MRI is recommended to document the progressive benefits of the treatment.

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No side effects have been reported from spinal decompression. We do let our patients know that an occasional muscle spasm has been reported, and general soreness is not uncommon, both spasm and soreness is not uncommon, both spasm and soreness subside soon after your decompression session.

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Many clinicians specializing in lumbar spine pathology have criticized traditional traction. In 1998, the Scientific American rated traction to be of little or no value in the examination of efficacious therapies for lower back pain. This finding is consistent with many studies.

Traction fails in many cases because it causes muscular stretch receptors to fire, which then cause para-spinal muscles to contract. This muscular response actually causes an increase in intradiscal pressure. On the other hand, genuine decompression is achieved by gradual and calculated increases of distraction forces to spinal structures, utilizing various degrees of distraction forces.

A highly specialized computer must modulate the application of distraction in order to achieve the ideal effect. The system uses applies a gentle, curved angle pull which yields far greater treatment results that a less comfortable, sharp angle pull. Distraction must be offset by cycles of partial relaxation.

The system continuously monitors spinal resistance and adjusts distraction forces accordingly. A specific lumbar segment can be targeted for treatment by changing the angle of distraction. This patented technique of decompression may prevent muscle spasm and patient guarding. Constant activity monitoring takes place at a rate of 10.000 times per second, making adjustments not perceived by the eye a many as 20 times per second via its fractional metering and monitoring system.

Genuine decompression also involves the use of a special pelvic harness that supports the lumbar spine during therapy. Negative pressure within the disc is maintained throughout the treatment session. With genuine decompression, the pressure within the disc space can actually be lowered to about -150 mmHg. As a result, the damaged disc will be rehydrated with nutrients and oxygen.

Distraction, a term used to describe a flexion distraction technique, attempts to reposition the spine from the offending lesion. This technique has been shown to be very effective, even though potentially damaging to the person performing the technique and largely dependent on the skill of the technician. Like traction, distraction procedures are limited in the ability t reduce the intradiscal pressure, or produce a negative pressure within the disc imbibing fluid, nutrients and creating an environment for repair.

Decompression is an event-a combination of restraint, angle position and equipment. One can experience traction without decompression, but not decompression without traction. Traction is a machine – Decompression is an event.

In other words, 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 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-hydarate 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 -200mmHg. Traction triggers the body’s normal response to stretching by creating painful muscle spasms that worsen the pain in affected area.

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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.

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Many studies suggest its success rate between 80-90%.

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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.

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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.

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Recent studies comparing spinal decompression to standard physical therapy including traction, exercise, muscle stimulation, ultrasound, massage, and heart and ice found spinal decompression to be twice as effective in perceived pain reduction, debilitating pain reduction, cumulative strength index and overall outcome.

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Generally, No.

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To reduce inflammation and assist the healing process, supporting structures shall be treated with passive therapies (ice/heat/muscle stimulation), chiropractic adjustments (as indicated) and / or active rehabilitation in order to strengthen the spinal musculature.

The Bottom Line:

Spinal Decompression Therapy has saved many people from spinal disorders. According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, surgery is no more effective the non-invasive treatments (or NOT THE ONLY EFFECTIVE SOLITION FOR SPINAL PROBLEMS). Including chiropractic care for patients with lumbar disc herniation causing sciatica, Spinal decompression (neck decompression and low back decompression) is extremely safe, FDA cleared, affordable, and very effective for many conditions such as back, neck, arm and leg pain.