Details About Spinal Decompression Shavano Park Back Pain Patients Need To Know

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 manipulates the spine's force and position by gently stretching it. Motorized traction is used to accomplish this in the non-surgical method. It relieves pressure from the disks of the spine, making movement easier and less painful, and allowing for more efficient flow of nutrients and oxygen into these tissues, which helps promote healing.

Both physicians and doctors of chiropractic medicine may recommend this form of treatment for patients experiencing acute or long-term pain in the spine or back. Conditions it has been known to help include bulging or herniated disks, disease or injury of the spinal nerve roots, worn spinal joints, and sciatica. Usually non-surgical decompression is attempted before proceeding to a surgical approach.

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.

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.

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.

Sometimes the only way to know if a patient will benefit from surgical decompression is for him or her to undergo the operation and simply wait and see. Many will note an improvement and reduction in pain, while others may feel no differently than before the surgery. Much like all forms of surgery, this procedure does carry some risks such as nerve or tissue damage, bleeding, infection, clot formation, and allergic reaction to anesthesia, but these are quite uncommon and it is generally safe.




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