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.

This procedure gently stretches the spine, altering its force and position. The non-surgical approach uses motorized traction to accomplish this. Pressure on the spinal disks is alleviated, allowing easier movement with less discomfort, and improved flow of oxygen and nutrients which encourages healing of the affected areas.

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.

During the treatment, patients can wear their usual clothes, and will be positioned either face up or down on computer-controlled table. The doctor will secure them by fastening a harness around both the pelvis and upper torso. Decompression is controlled to specifications for the patient's case and it will last between 30 and 45 minutes. It is most often necessary to attend 20 to 28 treatments over a 5 to 7 week length of time. Other therapies may be implemented as well such as electrical muscle stimulation and hot and cold therapy.

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.

Instances in which a non-surgical approach did not produce satisfactory improvement may be helped through surgery. Examples of this include the presence of osteophytes, which are painful, bony growths on the spine, as well as some disk problems. Surgery effectively eases pressure on spinal nerves and is a good choice for patients afflicted with ongoing pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling.

The symptoms experienced by the patient will determine which surgical decompression technique is used. It may be necessary to enlarge channels through which spinal nerves travel, or remove a section of bone or disk, or possibly excise an entire spinal disk. Each of these actions is done to reduce pressure and ease pain throughout the spine.

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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1 comments:

adams robinson said...

Your post is really good providing good information.. I liked it and enjoyed reading it. Keep sharing such important posts.
Spinal Decompression Los Angeles

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