Herniated disc sufferers have traditionally had the
treatment options of medication, physical therapy, spinal
injections, and/or surgery, and because of the limited
effectiveness of these approaches, many simply have had to
learn to live with the pain. But a new option is now
available and while not appropriate or effective for every
person with a herniated disc, it does represent a huge leap
in effectiveness and safety in treating herniated discs.
Spinal decompression is a new form of spinal traction.
Traction has been used for many years in the treatment of
herniated discs, but with minimal effects in many cases,
and it even aggravated symptoms in some patients. The
problem with regular traction is that it activates the
body's muscle guarding response and can trigger muscle
spasm, which produces pain and may even result in increased
pressure on herniated discs.
Spinal decompression has solved these problems though.
Although still technically traction machines, true spinal
decompression systems pull very slowly and gradually in
order to keep the muscles relaxed and avoid triggering
spasm. In addition, the more advanced of the spinal
decompression systems also have computer-controlled motors
and have sensors to measure the body's resistance to
treatment. Any hint of muscle contraction sensed by the
system causes it to reduce its pull and allow the body to
relax again. The most advanced of these systems can
respond to what the body is doing in an amazing 1/17th of a
second. Since the body's reactions take place in
approximately 1/5th of a second, these advanced spinal
decompression systems can modify treatment before the
muscles can spasm, allowing for comfortable herniated disc
relief.
This ability to avoid the body's muscle spasm response
allows spinal decompression systems to dramatically lower
the pressure within a herniated disc. In fact, disc
pressure is actually dropped into the negative pressure
range, creating a suction that pulls the bulging disc
material back towards the center of the disc and away from
sensitive nerves. In addition, fluid and nutrients are
pulled into the disc from the surrounding tissues, and this
assists in disc healing. Over time and repeated
treatments, the herniated disc material is pulled back in,
and the healing of the disc provides stabilization of the
outer wall of the disc to prevent further bulging.
The frequency and duration of spinal decompression
treatment will vary depending on the age and condition of
the patient, the severity of the herniated disc, and the
number of herniated discs. Spinal decompression can be
used in both the lumbar and cervical spine very effectively.
Statistically, spinal decompression with the more advanced
machines, and with appropriate patient selection has a
success rate of 80-90%, and of those who are successfully
treated, the results hold up well long-term in most cases.
Given the success rate and the fact that the most common
side-effect is some temporary post-treatment muscle
soreness, spinal decompression is often the best option in
herniated disc treatment.
Unfortunately, the aggressive advertising and hype, and
inapproriate use of spinal decompression by some health
care practitioners in recent years has led to unrealistic
patient expectations and crackdowns by regulatory agencies
on advertising claims that have sullied the reputation of
spinal decompression. While spinal decompression does
represent a major advance in the treatment of herniated
discs, it is not a cure-all, it is not 100% effective, and
it is not appropriate for every patient.
Spinal decompression, when used appropriately, does produce
enough improvement and disc healing in the vast majority of
cases to allow patients to resume normal lives and return
to most activities (even playing golf or tennis and working
in the yard), but it does not restore a herniated disc to
100% normal. No treatment can. Even the
still-experimental disc replacement surgery does not
restore the spine to a normal condition and future back
problems following disc replacement are to be expected.
Overwork, poor posture, or failure to use good bending and
lifting techniques can set the stage for a recurrence of
disc problems no matter how good the results of treatment
are initially.
With appropriate patient selection and by giving patients
realistic expectations, spinal decompression providers can
supply a very safe and effective treatment option for those
with a herniated disc.
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Dr. George Best was one of the first to offer spinal
decompression in the San Antonio, Texas area. For more
information on treatment for a herniated disc, sciatica, or
other disc-related conditions, please visit his herniated
disc website at http://www.spinesa.com/bulgingdisc.html .
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