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Tuesday, 23 February 2016

Options Of Spinal Decompression Santa Monica Patients Will Find Helpful

By John Potter


Chronic back pain has been identified as a leading cause of absenteeism from the workplace and reduced productivity. This source of this pain may be connective tissues such as bones, muscles or ligaments or the nerves that traverse them. Commonly, this pain is transmitted to the upper or lower limbs. There are some important aspects on Spinal Decompression in Santa Monica residents need to know if they have been schedule to have 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.

Decompression by traction is contraindicated is a number of circumstances. These include, for instance, the presence of fractures affecting any of the lower limbs. The pull may aggravate the fracture and delay the healing process. It should also be avoided in persons that have severe osteoporosis due to the increased risk of fractures. When performed on persons who have abdominal tumors the chance of spread and bleeding is increased.

The surgical option is used when all the conservative techniques have proved ineffective. Indications include conditions such as bony growths, soft tissue swellings and ruptured intervertebral discs. When successful, surgery helps release pressure exerted on both the spinal cord and exiting nerve roots. Many types of operations that can be performed to intervene. The choice mainly depends on the nature of 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.

You should understand that the surgery carries with it a risk for complications both in the short term and long term. Intraoperative complications may include excessive blood loss and nerve damage. Infections may set in a few days after the operation but these tend to be rare if antibiotics are administered. The most significant long term complication is spinal instability.

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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