Posted by : Moraliss Wednesday, January 28, 2015

By Janine Hughes


It can be very frustrating for people who have to cope with chronic back or neck pain on a daily basis because it can greatly restrict their actions and make movement difficult. One treatment option for this condition that has shown some positive results in patients is spinal decompression. If interested in non-surgical or surgical spinal decompression Shavano Park, TX patients need to discuss this treatment with their doctor to determine if it is suitable.

The objective of this procedure is to alter the position and force of the spine slightly by gently stretching it. When this happens, it has the effect of reducing pressure on the disks between the vertebrae, facilitating easier movement, and increasing flow of oxygen and nutrients which are needed for proper healing.

Chiropractors as well as medical doctors may refer patients to this treatment if they have been suffering with long-term back pain and also in some cases of acute pain such as an injury. Disorders which have shown improvement through the application of this procedure include sciatica, worn spinal joints, pathology of the spinal nerve roots, and bulging or herniated disks. Normal protocol is to attempt non-surgical techniques first.

Most patients will need to attend between 20 to 28 sessions which will be scheduled throughout a period of 5 to 7 weeks in order to get the best results. Wearing regular clothes, patients will be asked to lie down either on their abdomen or back on a special table which they will be secured to with a harness across both the upper torso and pelvis. The practitioner controls the action of the table with a computer and adjusts treatment to the patient's specific needs, the session generally lasts 30 to 45 minutes. It may be used alone or in combination with hot and cold therapy or electrical muscle stimulation.

In some cases, decompression is contraindicated, and the doctor will instead recommend another approach to pain management. Pregnant women as well as those who have been diagnosed with a fracture, aortic aneurysm of the abdomen, tumor, metal implants in the spine, or advanced osteoporosis are generally considered to be unsuitable candidates for this treatment.

Back pain resulting from osteophytes, which are bony growths on the spine, or stubborn disk problems which have not improved through non-surgical intervention, may require a surgical approach to remedy it. In particular, those patients who report persistent weakness, pain, tingling, and numbness may experience a positive outcome from surgery which alleviates pressure on the spine's nerves.

The surgical method implemented depends on the patient's symptoms. Although collectively these operations share a common goal of easing pressure in the spine, they differ from one another. They can involve the excision of a small section of disk or bone, or sometimes the complete removal of a damaged disk.The space which encloses the nerve roots may also need to be enlarged.

Even though there are no guarantees that a patient will enjoy a notable improvement following surgical decompression, many surgeons go ahead with the operation. The relatively small risks of surgery are standard to most similar procedures and the potential benefits for the most part outweigh them.




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