Backpain: Is anyone familiar with Spinal Decompression?
Spinal Decompression - Herniated Disc, Spinal Stenosis, Backpain, Facet Syndrome, Sciatica and etc...
Answers:
i am a chiropractor and i use spinal decompression in my office. the disc acts as both a cushion and a spacer between each vertebrae. if a disc is bulging/herniated, that bulge can put pressure on the nerves exiting between each vertebra which causes a "pinched nerve." also if the disc is wearing out (getting thinner) you lose the space between the vertebra, which leaves less room for those nerves to exit--and again can pinch a nerve. the nerves in your cervical spine (neck) go all the way down your arm while the nerves in your lumbar spine (low back) form the sciatic nerve which runs all the way down your leg. if any of these are "pinched" they can cause pain, numbess, tingling, weakness wherever these nerves go (down arms/legs).
as a chiropractor i see this type of scenario on a daily basis. for those who have degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, disc bulging, etc.--normal chiropractic care can usually help with those problems. but there are also many people out there that have had this problem for many years and can't find relief with anything they try--including chiropractic.
there is a treatment called spinal decompression that is perfect for these situations and the best part is: it's non-surgical and non-invasive. this type of treatment focuses on disc injuries and the problems they cause. i use the DRX9000 spinal decompression system in my office and it works wonders for people with these types of injuries (approx. 90% successful). the DRX9000 is fda approved and is the best decompression system available (there are cheap knock-offs that don't give the same results).
my recommendation would be to see a chiro, especially if you've never tried it before-just to see what they have to say. also do some research on this treatment and then contact someone (usually a chiro) who uses it in their office. i would just google "DRX9000" to find info on it and doctors in your area who may have it. this treament is able to encourage the disc to go back to it's normal orientation and also rebuild its height--which then takes the pressure off whatever nerve it is compressing. pain meds, cortisone shots, epidurals won't do anything to solve the problem--all they do is cover it up and they become less and less effective over time. surgery AT BEST is 50% successful and usually doesn't solve the problem since most people need another surgery 5-10 years down the road for the same issue. it's typically a viscious cycle. remember: surgery is always an option, so try something prior to surgery to see if you can avoid it--cause once you do the surgery there is no going back.
this treatment is extremely effective for degenerative disc disease, disc bulging, herniation, etc. and also sciatica type of cases, especially if you haven't had surgery yet. i've had many patients who were scheduled for surgery, tried this treatment as a last resort, and then ended up cancelling their surgery altogether after treatment was completed. it really does work and that's what my recommendation would be for you. good luck and hopefully this gives insight to others experiencing similar problems--there is a solution!
more info at http://www.axiomworldwide.com
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Spinal decompression:
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Herniated disc:
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Spinal stenosis:
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Back pain:
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Facet syndrome:
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Sciatica:
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Honey I've had 5 lumbar fusion due to degenerative disc disease. This condition causes facet syndrome, herniated discs, & spinal stenosis to name a few of them. I'm not sure what it is that you want to know. What i can tell you is that if you are suffering from any kind of serious back condition you need to be under the care of an orthopedist. At the very least you will need several different tests to determine the extent of your problem. Sciatica is pain that is caused by the compression of the sciatic nerve. The pain will travel down your leg. When this happens it is called ridiculopathy. A good deal of the time the only way to successfully deal with these problems is to under go surgery. However, these types of surgery are no walk in the park. You'll want to consider your options very carefully.
Having suffered an L5-S1 disc herniation last year, along with extreme sciatic-based pain down my right leg, I was faced with several options. One of which was Spinal Decompression therapy. As mentioned by the Chiropractor in a previous answer, the procedure is non-invasive and virtually painless.
While there are many different methods of Spinal Decompression therapy I was fortunate enough to undergo treatment using the DRX9000. A harness is fastened on you and you are positioned in a horizontal position with your arms resting above comfortable posts while your harness is connected to the DRX9000 machine.
Using the harness, the machine gently pulls your back forwards while your arms above the posts provide the resistence to keep your body from following suit. After about a minute or so, the machine will loosen its grip and your back is returned to the original position. A few moments later, the cycle repeats. The treatment usually lasts between 30mins to an hour.
The idea behind Spinal Decompression is to gently widen the spacing between your vertebrae which causes negative pressure. This negative pressure acts as a vacuum inviting your damaged disc to return to its original location. If one is suffering from a pinched nerve (aka sciatica), this is highly desirable since the disc is no longer putting pressure on said nerve. No pressure - no pain.
Treatment visits vary -- depending on how severe the injury is.
Some doctors may recommend "disc-nourishing" supplements to help in the healing process.
If you are overweight, you may be asked to lose as much as you can, thereby alleviating your back from that extra burden. It may also be suggested that you strengthen your abdominal and back muscles with mild exercise thereby giving your back additional support.
Of course, your treatment regimen may differ.
I'm not a physician nor do I recommend anyone follow or base their treatment on what I've outlined here. Best bet is to discuss this with a doctor, chiropractor, neurologist or other medical professional that can provide you with the best treatment plan.
Spinal Decompresion isn't cheap. However, most insurance companies do cover it. Check with your insurance provider.
One final thought: Some doctors may prescribe powerful pain-killers to help you deal with the intense pain. While this may provide some relief, pain-killers do nothing more than mask the problem. Find a real solution and ween yourself off the pain-killers as soon as you can.
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