If I undergo Spinal Decompression therapy, how long does this take to see results?
Many patients see a reduction in pain after the first couple of sessions. Usually, significant improvement is obtained by the second week of treatment.
How much time does it take to complete Spinal Decompression treatment?
Patients remain on the system for 30-45 minutes, on a daily basis for the first 2 weeks, 3 times a week for the following two weeks, and followed up by two times a week for the last 2 weeks.
Do I qualify for Decompression therapy?
Since I began using Spinal Decompression device, I’ have been flooded with questions from both physicians and patients regarding which cases it will best help. Obviously proper patient selection is vital to favorable outcomes, so let me explain to you of the Inclusion and Exclusion criteria so you may make the appropriate decision since not everybody qualifies for Spinal Decompression treatment.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Pain as a result of herniated and bulging lumbar discs that is greater than 4 weeks old
- Reoccurring pain from a failed back surgery that is greater than 6 months old.
- Consistent pain from degenerated disk not reacting to 4 weeks of treatment.
- Patients available for four weeks of treatment protocol.
- Patient at least 18 years old.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Appliances including 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.
- Abdominal or pelvic cancer.
- Disk space infections.
- Severe peripheral neuropathy.
- Hemiplegia, paraplegia, or cognitive dysfunction.
Is there any adverse effects to the treatment?
The majority of patients do not experience any side effects. Although, there have been some mild instances of muscle spasm for a very short amount of time.
Exactly How does Spinal Decompression separate each vertebra and allow for decompression at a certain level?
Decompression is achieved by using a specific mix of spinal positioning and varying the degree and strength of force. The key to producing this decompression is the gentle pull that is created by a logarithmic curve. When distractive forces are produced on a logarithmic curve the typical proprioceptor response is avoided. Preventing this response allows decompression to occur at the targeted spot.
Is there any risk to the patient during therapy on Spinal Decompression?
Definitely No. Spinal Decompression is entirely safe and comfortable for all subjects. The system has emergency stop switches for both the operator and the patient. These switches (a requirement of the FDA) cancel the treatment instantly thereby avoiding any injuries.
How does Spinal Decompression therapy differentiate from regular spinal traction?
Traction is effective at treating some of the conditions arising from herniated or degeneration. Traction can’t address the source of the problem. Spinal Decompression produces a negative pressure inside the disk. This effect causes the disk to pull in the herniation and the rise in negative pressure also induces the flow of blood and nutrients back into the disk allowing the body’s natural fibroblastic response to heal the injury and re-hydrate the disk. Traction and inversion tables, at best, can lower the intradiscal pressure from a +90 to a +30 mmHg. Spinal Decompression is clinically shown to decrease the intradiscal pressure to between a -150 to -200 mmHg. Traction activates the body’s normal response to stretching by generating painful muscle spasms that aggravate the pain in affected area.
Can Spinal Decompression be used for patients that have had spinal surgery?
For the most part Spinal Decompression treatment is not contra-indicated for patients that have had spinal surgery. As a matter of fact many patients have found success with Spinal Decompression after a failed back surgery.
