Non Surgical Spinal Decompression FAQ's
If I undergo Spinal Decompression treatment, how long does it take to see results?
How long does it take to complete Spinal Decompression treatment?
Do I qualify for Spinal Decompression Treatment?
Are there any side effects to the treatment?
Is there any risk to the practice member during treatment on Spinal Decompression?
How does Spinal Decompression treatment differ from ordinary spinal traction?
Can Spinal Decompression be used for practice members that have had spinal surgery?
Who is not a candidate for Spinal Decompression therapy?
Who is a candidate for Spinal Decompression ?
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 practice members 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?
Practice members remain on the system for 30-45 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?
Since I began using Spinal Decompression spinal disc decompression unit,
I’have been inundated with questions from both doctors
and practice members as to which cases it will best help. Obviously
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.
- Practice members available for four weeks of treatment protocol.
- Practice member 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 practice members do not experience any side effects. Though, there have been some mild cases of muscle spasm for a short period of time.
The most obvious differences between Spinal Decompression and the VAX-D would be their success rate and the comfort levels while a practice member is being treated. Below are some side by side comparisons.
- Practice member lays on back (supine)
- Harnesses prevent any stress to the shoulders or arms.
- The amount of decompression can be targeted to the specific disc level by varying the angle of pull.
- Practice member lies face down (prone) which can be very uncomfortable
- Required practice members had to hold on with their hands causing severe shoulder/arm problems
- Nonspecific for disc levels with its straight-line traction
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 practice member 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 practice member
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 practice members that have had spinal surgery?
In most cases Spinal Decompression treatment is not contra-indicated
for practice members that have had spinal surgery. In fact many practice members
have found success with Spinal Decompression after a failed back surgery.
Who
is not a candidate for Spinal Decompression therapy?
Anyone who has recent spinal fractures, surgical fusion or metallic
hardware, surgically repaired aneurysms, infection of the spine,
and/or moderate to severe osteoporosis.
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.