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Thursday, 3 March 2016

The Various Techniques Of Spinal Decompression Santa Monica Patients May Wish To Know


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.

You need to be aware of the situations in which this condition is contraindicated. One of these situations is pregnancy. When traction is performed on pregnant women there is a significant risk of harming the fetus. Whenever possible, other alternatives should be sought. It should not be done to persons that have suffered fractures of lower limbs due to the possibility of worsening the fractures. Others include abdominal tumors, aneurysms and metallic implants in the spinal column.

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 type of surgery to be done is named depending on the anatomical part that is to be removed. For example, if the whole vertebra is removed, the operation will be referred to as corpectomy. If only the disc is to be extracted, the surgery is termed discectomy. Removal of a vertebral arch (lamina is termed laminectomy) and that of a foramen, foraminectomy. These procedures may be done through an open procedure or through endoscopy.

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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