FAQs
How long does spinal decompression treatment take?
How do I know if I qualify for Non-surgical Spinal decompression?
Are their any negatives or side effects due to the treatment?
How can a specific disc level be affected by treatment?
Is Non-surgical spinal decompression the same as traction or using an inversion table?
If I have already had spinal surgery will I be disqualified?
Who is a good candidate for non-surgical decompression therapy?
Does Decompression Therapy work for everyone?
What causes low back pain?
There are many factors that can cause or contribute to low back pain. Pain can be referred to the back from other areas; low back pain can be caused by repetitive stress or strain and trauma. There are many different types of tissues that can be injured or irritated that cause pain. The bones of the spine called vertebrae can cause pain. The joints of the spine, the discs and the nerves can also be he source for pain. In the event when a disc is damaged, degenerative/ arthritic or herniated, the disc may push on or irritate the nerves and blood vessels causing symptoms of mild to severe pain, burning, numbness and tingling. The spinal cord in severe cases may also be involved
If I am qualified and accepted to undergo non-surgical spinal decompression, how long will it be before I notice feeling better?
We commonly have patients report improvement within the first few treatments. Significant changes are report within the first three weeks of treatment.
How long does spinal decompression treatment take?
Treatments take about an hour. 30 minutes on the non surgical spinal decompression equipment and the additional time is spent being treated with adjunctive therapies. Each case is different for the total number of sessions required however the average number is 20-25 treatments per disc level.
How do I know if I qualify for Non-surgical Spinal decompression?
Qualification is determined by many factors. Severity of your condition, being at risk of getting worse, not being able to do basic activities of daily living are determining factors. Making sure there are no other health risks that you have that would make this treatment unsuccessful. Ultimately consulting with our spine specialists, Dr’s Don and Porterfield will answer the question of weather you are qualified for our program. Listed below are a few of the exclusion criteria. If you have any of these chances are you will not qualify for our program.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Appliances such as pedicle screws and rods
- Pregnancy
- Prior lumbar fusion less than six months old
- Metastatic cancer to the spine
- Severe osteoporosis (determined by test findings)
- Compression fracture of lumbar spine below L-1 (recent).
- Pars defect
- Pathologic aortic aneurysm.
- Pelvic or abdominal cancer (must be cleared by your oncologist)
- Disc space infections
- Severe peripheral neuropathy
- Hemiplegia, paraplegia, or cognitive dysfunction
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.
Are their any negatives or side effects due to the treatment?
In short no there are no negative side effects to the treatment. With that said the majority of people who undergo non-surgical spinal decompression are in a fair amount to severe amount of pain before they start treatment. It is not uncommon for people to experience discomfort especially in the beginning however the majority of patients are so comfortable during treatment they actually fall asleep.
How can a specific disc level be affected by treatment?
This question is complicated. It can be simplified by saying patient positioning, lumbar support, proper harnessing of the patient, correct angle of pull and intensity of force all play important roles in affecting a specific disc level.
Is Non-surgical spinal decompression the same as traction or using an inversion table?
Traction and non-surgical spinal decompression are similar however provide a very different result or outcome. Traction really works more so on the muscles of and around the spinal column and spinal decompression is specific for treating the disc. Traction does create a decrease in the intradiscal pressure slightly which will help remove some of the pressure on the disc. The intradiscal pressure is lowered from +90 to a +30 mm Hg. Spinal decompression is clinically proven to lower the intradiscal pressure to a -150-200 mm Hg. This has a drastic affect on the discs ability bring nutrients back into the disc allowing the natural fibroblastic response to heal the injured disc and allow a rehydrating affect to take place.
If I have already had spinal surgery will I be disqualified?
Surgery itself is not a disqualifying factor. We have had many patients get accepted into our program after already having surgery. Post-surgical patients can have more complicating factors, and may need additional treatments due to scar tissue formation. Some are disqualified based on the timing of the surgery or the type of surgery. Failed back surgery is unfortunately very common. It has been reported that success in surgery quite low. Many with failed back surgery syndrome have been successfully treated with non-surgical spinal decompression. Your qualification for treatment however will be determined by the doctor after being evaluated thoroughly.
Who is a good candidate for non-surgical decompression therapy?
If you have been told you are a candidate for surgery you may qualify for non surgical therapy. If you have bad pain but are not bad enough for surgery according to your surgeon, epidurals don’t work or wear off, physical therapy, massage, chiropractic acupuncture and pain management have not fixed the problem permanently you may qualify for non-surgical spinal decompression. Consulting with the doctor will determine if you are in the right place, a possible candidate and weather or not you can get your case accepted.
Does Decompression Therapy work for everyone?
Eighty-to-ninety percent of patients who have been properly selected and comply with the Spinal Disc Decompression protocol will have good-to-excellent outcomes. Patient’s conditions that do not respond quickly to the therapy are often unable to be helped by anything quickly. Patients vary in age, sex and body morphology and may require counseling in weight loss, nutrition and other lifestyle changes.