Important Information On Spinal Decompression Conroe Residents Need To Have

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.

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 entire exercise of traction takes between 30 and 60 minutes. You do not need any preparation so you can be subjected to the procedure on the same day that the decision is made. With your clothes on, a piece of equipment is fastened around the pelvis and the lower limbs. A pull on this hammock transmits the pulling force to the spine. The average person needs about 20 sessions to realize a positive change.

While there are no strict criteria to be met by prospective candidates of this procedure, it is important that one exercises caution in a number of situations. An example is persons that have fractures or have metallic implants for any other reason. When the force is applied in these cases, there is a risk of worsening the underlying problems. Pregnancy is also a challenging situation due to the risk of harming the unborn fetus. Others include weak bones due to osteoporosis and abdominal tumors.

There are a number of other non-surgical interventions that exist. Physical therapy plays an important role either on its own or when offered alongside other interventions. There are two main forms of physical therapy that can be offered: active and passive. Other interventions include acupressure and chiropractic.

Surgery is generally a last resort option. Its aim is to either re-position the anatomical structure that is causing the symptoms or to remove it in its entirety. Vertebral bodies may be removed in whole or in part. The surgery is named depending on the part that is removed. For instance, in the case of the lamina (the arched part of the vertebra) it will be called laminectomy and if it is the foramen (canal) that is widened it will be referred to as foraminectomy and so on.

You need to be aware of the likely complications associated with this kind of surgery. Those that are likely to be encountered intraoperative and in the immediate postoperative period are excessive blood loss, injuries to nerves (and at times the spinal cord) and infections. Fortunately, the incidence of these complications is fairly low. Spinal instability may be seen in the long term if a large part of a vertebral body has been removed.

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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