Facts About Spinal Decompression Conroe Residents May Find Beneficial

By Douglas Gray


Spinal decompression is a form of therapy meant to provide pressure relief to nerve impingement within the spinal cord. It is applied in management of conditions where chronic back pain is the chief complaint. Examples of these conditions include spinal stenosis, disc herniation, sciatica and so forth. These are some of the facts about spinal decompression Conroe people may wish to know.

The procedure can be done either surgically or non-surgically. The common techniques used in the surgical procedure are laminectomy and microdiscectomy. Microdiscectomy, also known as microdecompression, is where an instrument is used to correct herniation of an intervertebral disc with the help of a microscope.

Open decompression, as the term suggests, entails removing a small part of the arch of the vertebrae through direct invasion or entry to release pressure on pinched nerves. Most surgeons prefer microdiscectomy to open decompression because it is less invasive. The open technique should only be employed as a last resort.

Non surgical procedures mainly engage the use of mechanical pull on affected spinal discs to cause pressure relief. The system is composed of a surface against which the patient lies, straps and a working computer to provide direction on what amount of force to apply and what angle to position the patient. The patient can be positioned horizontally or vertically, lying upright or upside down.

During the non surgical procedure, the patient lies on the table with all the clothes on. The harnesses are placed strategically at affected sites along the spine. This may be the neck, lower chest, back or waist. One therapy lasts for about thirty to forty five minutes. The whole treatment last for about seven weeks after an average of twenty treatments have been performed. Other modes of treatment can be incorporated to compliment. This may include ultrasound, electric stimulation and cold and heat therapy.

In general, non-surgical methods are preferred to the surgical techniques because they are less invasive and usually do not require any special medication. It is important to note that there are certain cases in which this form of treatment is not recommended. For instance, patients who have had unsuccessful back surgery, people with spinal fusion, patients with a broken vertebra, pregnant women among other special cases.

The recovery from the operation is a process and not an event. There is need for close cooperation between the patient and the caregiver. The exact time that is required for full recovery depends on individual factors such as the nature of the initial problem, type of operation performed and their healing power. On average, between two and six weeks are required for one to regain their original state of health.

Physical activity plays a vital role in the healing process and should be highly encouraged. The plan should be to start with lighter routines and to increase the intensity progressively with time depending on how much one can tolerate. Exercise helps by increasing blood flow to the healing tissues and expedites the process. At the same time, it ensures that the connective tissue elements remain active and functional.




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