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 procedure is usually conducted in just under one hour. Since you do not need to prepare, the procedure may be conducted on the same day that it is prescribed by your doctor. Typically, you are fitted with a piece of equipment (a hammock) around your waist and on the lower limbs. The hammock serves the purpose of transmitting the forces to the spine. One session lasts less than one hour and the average person would require about twenty sessions.

Be informed that there are a number of situations in which the traction procedure is either contraindicated or highly discouraged. Persons who have preexisting lower limb fractures may have these injuries aggravated if they are subject to the pulling force. Similar problems may be encountered among persons who have metallic implants in their thigh or leg bones. Other conditions that require caution to be taken include severely weakened bones due to tumor or osteoporosis and the presence of abdominal tumors and pregnancy.

Apart from traction, there are a number of other non-conservative options that exist. Physical therapy has been tried for a number of patients with varying success. The therapy is broadly divided into active and passive exercises. Alternative medicine options such as chiropractic and acupressure may also be beneficial on their own or when conducted alongside other interventions.

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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