Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Options Of Spinal Decompression Santa Monica Patients Will Find Helpful

By John Potter


If you are suffering from chronic back pain then perhaps you are familiar with the associated discomfort. All over the world, this condition is a major cause of reduced productivity. The cause could be any of the structures that makes up the spine or passes through it. Spinal decompression helps to relieve most cases of back pain. There are a number of facts relating to Santa Monica's best spinal decompression therapy residents need to know if they decide to undergo the procedure.

There are two main categories of methods that are used in this exercise: conservative (non-surgical and surgical). The conservative method employs the use of traction forces that are applied in the spine axis. A computerized traction table is usually used for this. The force helps to restore the intrinsic force within the spinal column and to readjust its shape back to normal. If any disc has slipped from its natural position, it will fall back into its usual space.

A session of non-surgical decompression typically lasts between thirty and forty five minutes. This will, of course, depend on the initial severity of your illness and the rate at which you show a positive response. On average, most people tend to show improvement after 20 to 28 sessions. The sessions are spread over five to eight weeks. To increase the chances of success, a number of other treatments may also be given alongside traction.

There are a number of situations in which traction is contraindicated or deemed inappropriate. If it is performed on pregnant women, for example, there is a risk of harming the fetus hence alternative techniques should be used. It should also not be used in persons with fractures due to the risk of worsening the injury. Other contraindications include abdominal tumors, some bone conditions such as osteoporosis and the presence of metallic spinal implants.

The surgical technique is considered when all other options have failed to relieve the symptoms. It is used for conditions such as ruptured intervertebral discs, bony growths and other masses related to soft tissues. It helps to release pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. There are different types of surgical operations that can be performed depending on the underlying problem.

The types of surgery performed is named based on the anatomical structure that is incised or removed. Discectomy, for example, is the surgical removal of a disc. It is possible to do this through an open technique or by use of endoscopy. Laminectomy involves partial removal of the lamina, the arch of a vertebra. In corpectomy, the entire vertebra and the adjacent disc are removed. Others include foraminectomy and osteophyte removal.

Surgery may lead to a number of complications in the immediate or the remote postoperative period. Possible short term complications are similar to those that are seen with other types of operations. They include bleeding, infection and damage to nerves in the region. In the long term, spinal instability is a possible complication especially when an entire vertebra has been removed.

The two main methods of decompressing the spine are traction (a non-invasive approach) and surgery (an invasive option). The former is preferred due to a lower incidence of complications. A patient should be educated on both the merits and demerits of each approach and allowed to make an independent decision on what they think is most suitable.




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