Lumbar Disc Decompression

With a majority of the population experiencing back pain at least once in their lifetime, there have been few options other then medication and surgery. With the age of technology and the low success rate of surgery, patients have become more educated to alternative treatments for back pain relief. This changing trend is evident by the billions of dollars spent each year on alternative healthcare.

We utilize Disc Decompression Therapy , the system is a mechanized, patented, FDA approved device offering the most advanced non-surgical treatment of herniated, bulging, slipped, or degenerative discs, failed back and sciatica. Clinical studies have proven a success rate of 86% for these conditions.

The device actually lowers pressures in discs using a sophisticated combination of harnesses, air bladders and targeted angle pull adjustments designed to treat in a non-invasive, non-surgical manner. Intervertebral disc pressures are reduced to -150 millibars during each one half hour session of the twenty treatment visits spread over four to six weeks.

Each treatment utilizes a logarithmic ramp-up, hold and release protocol. The system bypasses the protective "proprioceptors" designed by nature to lock down ligaments and muscles when they sense movement at the disc.

Spinal experts have taught for decades that discs, in a compressed, anaerobic state find it next to impossible to heal. However, the negative pressures created in the nucleus pulposus combined with the ramp-up, hold and release protocol allows the disc to be reoxygenated, rejuvenated, rehydrated and renutrified as moisture and nutrients from the surrounding body tissues is absorbed, mimicking the healing process allowing the disc to heal itself.

Experts have confirmed via pre and post discgrams that this process allows "fibroblasts" to go to work actually sealing up tears in the disc. MRIs have shown that disc height is widened helping the disc reposition itself. This results in shrinkage of the herniation reducing or eliminating protrusions and relieving the pressure on surrounding nerves.

 Doesn't look like steroid injections for back pain are effective either.
158 patients diagnosed with herniated disk and sciatica were given either an epidural steroid or saline (salt) injection. Pain and functional measures were taken, along with physical examinations at intervals up to three months after the injections. The authors also looked at surgery rates for the two groups 12 months after intervention. There were no differences between the groups at 3 months follow-up. The epidural steroid injection group did report some transient reduction in subjective pain intensity and maximum forward flexion, however, this was not sustained at 3 months. The 1-year surgery rate was also almost identical across the two groups. Lumbar epidural steroid injections and sympathetic nerve blocks produce a large amount of money, with very little science to support their application.(1)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is it?
Disc Decompression Therapy was designed by NASA and Neurosurgeons to gradually relieve the pressures on the spine and the nerves of the spine often associated with low back pain. Decompression is achieved by enlarging disc space and strengthening outer ligaments to help move herniated areas back into place.

How does it work?
Patients are secured to a cushioned table that slowly lengthens and retracts the vertebrae's surrounding the affected disc. Through the application of negative pressure, nutrients and blood are pulled back into and around the disc, allowing even ruptured discs to heal and regain their shape.

Who should do this?
Individuals that know they have a non diagnosed pain that they live with, and would like to make it go away would find great benefit in visiting New body Chiropractic& wellness center. Patients that have be diagnosed with having a herniated, bulging or slipped disc, Degenerative Disc Disease, Posterior Facet Syndrome or Fail Back Syndrome have been successfully treated.

Does my doctor need to prescribe it?
Your doctor can order the therapy and refer you to our clinic for the procedure. You can also visit directly with the our Physician who can order the therapy and speak with your physician regarding the procedure.

Is it covered by insurance?
Different types of insurance cover different costs associated with the therapy. We are happy to verify your benefits when you come into our office and give you an idea of what you will need to pay out of pocket before any services are performed.

What is the cost for the decompression therapy?

Good news! The cost is reasonable and we provide everyone the opportunity to receive decompression therapy by eliminating the worry of finances by offering flexible payment plans. During your consultation, the doctor will determine if you are a candidate, and fully explain to you how much it will cost before any charges are posted. If it is felt that you are not a candidate for care, the doctor will tell you and there will be no charge. Fair enough?

If I don’t have insurance, are payment plans available?

Does it hurt?
The procedure is painless and many patients experience some level of pain relief immediately. The muscles and ligaments surrounding the  treatment area will become sore because of their current compressed state.

Is it uncomfortable?
Comfort level is different for every patient. The harnesses worn during the procedure are very snug and will be adjusted for maximum comfort, in fact many patients fall asleep during the procedure.

Is there immediate relief?
Many patients do experience immediate relief which is very encouraging to the pain sufferer. All patients that commit to the procedure need to realize that the disc healing process take time and that one visit will not cure their condition, it merely allows you to experience what the future will feel like.

How long do I need to do it?
Individual cases may "vary," most conditions require completion of 20 visits of 35-45 minutes over a 4-6 week time period.

Is it safe?
Disc Decompression Therapy is very safe, non-invasive and highly successful. Patients that are pregnant, that have severe Osteoporosis, fractures of the lower spine, tumors on the bone or have had back fusions of the affected disc.

Are you trained in the procedure?
The clinic staff has been fully certified to operate all of the technologies utilized within the clinic by the manufactures of the equipment.

Is there clinical proof that this works?
There are multiple studies published on the effectiveness of the procedure are available at a clinic in your area, or downloadable from internet.

Can I maintain normal activity between sessions?
During the initial 10 sessions the protocol requires limited activity with levels increasing during sessions 11-20. Your specific condition will dictate your personal level of activity during the protocol.

Disc Decompression Therapy

What is a Herniated Disc?

Herniation of the nucleus pulposus (HNP) occurs when the nucleus pulposus (gel-like substance) breaks through the anulus fibrosus (tire-like structure) of an intervertebral disc (spinal shock absorber).

A herniated disc occurs most often in the lumbar region of the spine especially at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels (L = Lumbar, S = Sacral).

This is because the lumbar spine carries most of the body's weight. People between the ages of 30 and 50 appear to be vulnerable because the elasticity and water content of the nucleus decreases with age.

The progression to an actual HNP varies from slow to sudden onset of symptoms. There are four stages:
1.disc protrusion
2. prolapsed disc
3.disc extrusion
4. sequestered disc.

Stages 1 and 2 are referred to as incomplete, where 3 and 4 are complete herniations. Pain resulting from herniation may be combined with a radiculopathy, which means neurological deficit. The deficit may include sensory changes (i.e. tingling, numbness) and/or motor changes (i.e. weakness, reflex loss).

These changes are caused by nerve compression created by pressure from interior disc material.

Progression of Herniated Disc

The extremities affected are dependent upon the vertebral level at which the HNP occurred.

Cervical - Pain in the neck, shoulders, and arms
Thoracic - Pain radiates into the chest
Lumbar - Pain extends into the buttocks, thighs, legs

Diagnosis of a Herniated Disc

The spine is examined with the patient laying
down and standing. Due to muscle spasm, a loss of normal spinal curvature may be noted. Radicular pain (inflammation of a spinal nerve) may increase when pressure is applied to the affected spinal level.

A Lasegue test, also known as Straight-leg Raising Test, is performed. The patient lies down, the knee is extended, and the hip is flexed. If pain is aggravated or produced, it is an indication the lower lumbosacral nerve roots are inflamed.

Other neurological tests are performed to determine loss of sensation and/or motor function. Abnormal reflexes are noted as these changes may indicate the location of the herniation.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides more detail. The MRI is the best method enabling the physician to see the soft spinal tissues unseen in a conventional x-ray.

Do's & Don'ts When Your Back is Hurting

In addition to exercise and using good body mechanics, there are other simple things you can do every day to avoid stress and strain on your back and neck. Here are some other things you can do.

Sitting:
Avoid sitting. If you must sit, get up and move around every 20 minutes.
Use a back support and get your knees level or a little higher than your hips.
Avoid leaning forward from the waist.
When driving, move the seat forward so that your knees are level with your hips. Don't get so close to the steering wheel that you cannot turn it easily.

Bending:
Avoid bending from the waist when your back hurts. This increases the disc pressure.

Recreational Do's & Don'ts
Remember: Anytime you suddenly increase your activity, you are going to become sore.  Keep exercising. You will work the soreness out as you increase your strength and flexibility.  Use ICE if the soreness is too great!
 

An Early Message
As a child my paternal grandmother was constantly after me saying, "Sit up straight," "don't slump in the chair," and "walk tall!" At just about every family gathering I could count on grandma giving me a lecture about posture. The message was the same even as I got older. In my teenage years the reminders became a source of
embarrassment and sometimes I would actually try to hide to escape her persistent pestering!

How Poor Posture Happens
Poor posture is easy whereas adapting habits of good posture often require conscious effort. Most people do not think about their posture until someone brings it to their attention. The benefits of good posture far outweigh the ease of slouchy poor posture.

You could say that poor posture habits have followed trends in society. Children carry huge over loaded backpacks, adults lug briefcases to work, and thousands of people spend hours hunched over a computer whether for work or play.

Poor posture is not only habitual, but is also seen in people with low self–esteem, degenerative problems affecting the spine, pain causing muscle guarding, and obesity.

What Does Good Posture Look Like?
The body is straight, but not robotic! The appearance is relaxed as the ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles align in one straight line. If you hung an imaginary plumb line from the earlobe, the line would hang straight through the middle of the anklebone.

Good posture means there is musculoskeletal balance. This balance helps to protect the joints in the spine from excessive stress. It also guards against injury and possible deformity. Good posture is a great 'tool' to possess to help prevent pain.

GETTING THE PROPER FIT
Current research encourages us to challenge our ideas about sitting. Over an extended period of time, all sitting positions strain the body. However, with variation and movement, we can avoid these strains. When sitting perfectly balanced, movement is easy. But when you’re not perfectly balanced, movement requires considerable physical effort.

While computer use in the workplace is considered “forward working”, we aspire to position the chair of the computer user in a “neutral posture”. This posture consists of the following criteria:

The hips should be higher than the knees. When the hips are higher than the knees, there is less forward torque to the pelvic girdle and thus less strain to the lumbar spine.

The back is fully supported and straight (open) not forward.

The seat pan should allow for a “gap space” of two to four inches between the front edge of the chair and the back of the knee. When the seat pan is too short it can irritate the sciatic nerve. If it is too long it can reduce blood flow to the lower extremity.

The seat cushion needs to be constructed with materials that allow equal distribution of the applied load that increases surface area contact between the tissue and the seat.

Most importantly, even when sitting in “neutral posture”, the best position is the next position. Our bodies need movement and circulation to work efficiently. One needs to get out of their chair and move at least five minutes per hour. These micro-breaks will increase blood flow and reduce fatigue.

 1. Carette S, Leclaire R, Marcoux S et al. Epidural corticosteroid injections for sciatica due to herniated nucleus pulposus. N Engl J Med. 1997;336(23):1634-1640.