Spinal Decompression

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?

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?

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.

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