Spinal decompression is a high-tech form of traction used to treat disc bulging and degeneration and their associated pain and disability.  Spinal decompression differs from regular traction in that it uses computer-controlled motors to trick the spinal muscles into remaining relaxed and uncontracted during the treatment session.  This results in much greater reduction in disc pressure than regular traction, which usually must work against the resistance of contracted muscles.  Most people get excellent results from spinal decompression treatment, but some do not get any improvement, and a few may actually get worse.  The following is an explanation of the reasons for the failures in spinal decompression treatment and ways you can know whether or not spinal decompression is likely to help in your particular circumstances.

I have been using spinal decompression in San Antonio for a few years now, and while it is a highly effective treatment for many people, it is not for everyone.  Unfortunately, the costs of providing spinal decompression services sometimes influences doctors to recommend it in cases where it may not be entirely appropriate.  Even with proper patient selection, spinal decompression is not 100% effective – no treatment is.  But when doctors are not as discriminating as they need to be in what patients they accept, the results can be far from ideal and some patients may even get worse with this form of treatment when doctors prescribe it inappropriately for financial reasons.

From my experiences in my San Antonio practice, the patients who get the best results with spinal decompression are those with one or more bulging/herniated discs and patients with mild to moderate disc degeneration.  Patients who have previously undergone disc surgery are somewhat more complicated, but most still get good results when they meet the selection criteria (no metal implantation in the spine, no spinal instability, and no impaired healing at the site of surgery). The vast majority of people who meet these criteria get very good results and are usually able to return to their normal activities without any significant pain.

While there are case reports that indicate complete disc ruptures can be treated with spinal decompression, in my experience, people with actual ruptures tend to not do very well with this form of treatment.  It should be noted that even doctors sometimes incorrectly call a disc bulge or herniation a rupture.  True disc ruptures (also called extrusions and sequestered discs), in which the inner gel of the disc is actually leaking out, are relatively rare, so it is good to find out for sure what your actual condition is. 

Besides the obvious importance of only using spinal decompression in cases where it is really appropriate, it is very important for the machine operator to be well-trained to ensure proper set-up of the machine for the patient.  There are several different decompression machines on the market, each with their own specific set-up procedures.  Whatever machine is being used, it is critical to have ongoing refresher training for the operating technicians to be sure that all patients are being set up on the machine exactly right.  While the better machines are unlikely to produce any major injury if they are not set up exactly right, results can suffer tremendously if the patient is not positioned and secured on the machine correctly on every visit.  I highly suggest asking any spinal decompression provider how frequently the technicians undergo training and only work with those providers who do re-training at a minimum of every 3 months. 

One other consideration is the fact that some patients are not good candidates for spinal decompression treatment because of their inability or unwillingness to follow the recommended treatment protocol.  In my experience, the primary reasons why a patient can’t or won’t follow the treatment recommendations are usually related to money and/or time. 

A complete spinal decompression program of care that inclues decompression as well as additional treatments may seem expensive to some people.  Since spinal decompression is an alternative to disc surgery though, a cost comparison with surgery will show spinal decompression to be much less expensive with statistically much better resuts, making it a good value in most cases.  Even so, some people try to lower the cost by attempting to reduce the amount of treatment they get.  In my experiences from my San Antonio office, this approach is often a very big mistake.  The people who discontinue care prematurely will often feel better and return to activities before their disc condition is stable.  This can lead to re-injury and even worse problems.  In my opinion, it is far better to invest in the recommended treatment in order to get maximum benefits.

The other reason that some people don’t follow the recommended spinal decompression protocol is time.  Some will frequently skip appointments or discontinue treatment altogether because they have busy schedules and just can’t or won’t take the time to get the treatment they need.  The key to lasting results with spinal decompression lies in having the recommended number of treatments at the recommended frequency to allow for maximum correction, stabilization, and healing of the disc.  The treatment just doesn’t work as well when patients don’t make it a priority for their time.  Some people can get away with neglecting themselves for a while, but in my experience, if you don’t make time for your health, sooner or later your health condition will absolutely force you to take the time (by means of a severe pain crisis), and this usually occurs when it is least convenient in your schedule.  You are far better off to simply make your treatment a high priority and get the problem taken care of properly. 

In summary, spinal decompression is a very effective means of treating the pain and disability associated with herniated and degenerated spinal discs, but there are some important factors in getting maximum results.  Doctors and patients alike are responsible for making sure the treament is done properly to get maximum results. 

Dr. George Best has been providing spinal decompression in San Antonio, Texas since 2006 with the DRX9000 system.  For additional infomation, visit his website at www.spinesanantonio.com.

 

 

What You Should Know If You Are Considering Spinal Decompression Treatment

Successful treatment for Herniated Disc at Beyer Chiropractic & Physical Therapy in Tinley Park IL

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