Some Options Of Spinal Decompression Conroe Residents May Benefit From

By Amy Jackson


Back pain has many causes. Inter-vertebral disc prolapse contributes to a significant number of complaints that are seen in clinics. It is a leading cause of absenteeism from work and school and generally, reduced productivity. Spinal decompression is the intervention that is used to solve this problem. There are a number of important facts on spinal decompression Conroe clients need to have as they seek treatment for back pain.

One of the most widely used non-surgical options is known as traction. This treatment is based on a simple principle of applying a gentle pulling force on the spine so as to relieve any pressure that may exist on nerve tissues. In case there is a herniating inter-vertebral disc, the pulling force creates space between adjacent vertebrae such that the disc can slip back to its former position.

The entire exercise of traction takes between 30 and 60 minutes. You do not need any preparation so you can be subjected to the procedure on the same day that the decision is made. With your clothes on, a piece of equipment is fastened around the pelvis and the lower limbs. A pull on this hammock transmits the pulling force to the spine. The average person needs about 20 sessions to realize a positive change.

Although there are no strict criteria to be met for one to be considered a candidate, one must remember that there are certain situations in which having the procedure may be inappropriate. Pregnancy is one of such situations since there is a possibility of interfering with the fetal well-being. Another important situation is cases in which persons either have implants in their limb bones or have recent fractures. The risk of aggravating these injuries is quite high.

There are a number of other non-surgical interventions that exist. Physical therapy plays an important role either on its own or when offered alongside other interventions. There are two main forms of physical therapy that can be offered: active and passive. Other interventions include acupressure and chiropractic.

Surgery is often considered when all the available conservative options have proved futile. The aim of surgery is to remove the source of compression either by making positional adjustments or by surgical excision. This may involve removal of an entire vertebral body or just a small component. When the whole vertebral body is removed, this surgery will be referred to as corpectomy. The other types of surgeries will also be named depending on the type of component that is removed.

Surgery is associated with a number of risks that may be encountered either in the short term or in the long term. The short term complications that one may suffer from include excessive blood loss during the operation, injury to vital structures (including the spinal cord) and infections. If one or several vertebral bodies are removed spinal instability is a possible long term complication.

Before undergoing the operation, you need to be evaluated to establish that indeed you will benefit from this intervention. Part of this evaluation may include being subjected to imaging studies, undergoing several blood tests and so on. You will be asked to stop taking blood thinners a few weeks before the procedure so as to minimize the risk of complications.




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