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Facts About Spinal Decompression Shavano Park Patients Will Find Helpful

By Janine Hughes


Pain in the back or neck can range from being a minor annoyance, to a debilitating condition which greatly restricts the activities a person can participate in. People suffering from pain of this sort may get some relief through a procedure known as spinal decompression, which can be done through both surgery and non-surgical means. When considering spinal decompression Shavano Park, TX patients should have a clear understanding of what it involves.

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.

Patients can wear regular clothes for this procedure. They will be placed on a special table which the practitioner will control using a computer. Lying on either the back or belly, the patient will then be strapped in with harnesses around the pelvis and upper torso. Treatment times vary between 30 and 45 minutes, and they are usually done as a series, consisting of about 20 to 28 sessions spread out over a 5 to 7 week period. Sometimes other forms of therapy are combined with this treatment such as hot and cold applications 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.

There are different types of surgical spinal decompression which may be performed depending on the particular symptoms the patient is experiencing. Sometimes it is necessary to excise a small portion of either a disk or bone, or it may be necessary to increase the size of the space through which the nerve roots run, or totally remove a disk altogether. All of these measures are done to relieve pressure in the spine.

It is not always possible for doctors to tell if a patient will benefit from surgical decompression, so they opt to proceed with the operation with the hope that it will. Some will enjoy a better outcome than others. Risks are relatively small, but as with all types of surgery they exist and include clots, infection, bleeding, nerve or tissue damage, and an adverse reaction to the anesthesia.




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