adovr_d87389c80da99bef8f38776d3f905184 Articles medical and health: Some Options Of Spinal Decompression Conroe Residents May Benefit From

Some Options Of Spinal Decompression Conroe Residents May Benefit From

By Amy Jackson


Back pain is a major complain among both men and women. The incidence has been shown to increase steadily with advancing age. The condition is a major contributor of reduced productivity in the work place. One of the commonest causes is herniation of intervertebral discs which subsequently compress neurovascular structures. The solution is to decompress so as to release this pressure. If they plan on having spinal decompression Conroe patients should know a number of things.

Traction is the commonest non-surgical option that is used. In this method, a gentle pulling force that is computer generated is applied to the spine. The result of this pull is restoration of the shape of the spine. If you have a prolapsed inter-vertebral disc, the resultant negative pressure between the vertebral discs causes it to slip back into position. This effectively resolves the symptoms.

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.

Your doctor will evaluate your condition before a decision to have the surgery is made. Part of the evaluation is to subject you to imaging studies such as an X-ray, a CT scan or an MRI. A number of blood tests may be needed as well in some cases. Smokers are advised to abstain for at a number of weeks before and after the operation.




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