Back pain occurring after heavy lifting or after blunt trauma to the spine is most likely the result of a displaced intervertebral disc. A displaced disc causes nerve impingement and may even exert pressure on the spinal cord. The resultant pain affects both the back and either the lower or the upper limbs. The solution to this problem is decompression. There are a number of methods of spinal decompression Conroe patients will be happy to know.
When you visit your doctor for a diagnosis, you will be asked to give a history and then you will be taken through a physical examination with a bias of the back and spine. Apart from a displaced disc, the symptoms may also be caused by bony growths or any disorders affecting the connective tissue structures within the spine. Radiographic images in the form of MRIs, CT scans and plain X-rays are some of the most important investigations here.
The options that are employed in decompressing the spine fall under two major categories. These are the conservative option (traction) and surgical intervention. There is a general recommendation that all patients who require decompression undergo traction first and should only consider surgery if this conservative approach fails to yield results. In this technique, a gentle but steady pulling force is applied onto the spine with the aim of restoring its natural shape.
The force on the spine results in increased intervertebral disc space and reduced pressure. If there is a disc that has slipped out of position, it falls back into this space. This effectively relieves the pressure that is exerted on either the nerve roots or the spinal cord. One session will typically last for a maximum of one hour. You will be allowed home on the same day and come back on subsequent sessions as an outpatient.
You need to know that are a number of conditions for which traction is contraindicated. One of them is fractures in the lower limb bones and the pelvis. Subjecting these bones to traction is likely to aggravate the injuries. Similar injuries may be in persons who have metallic implants. The other contraindications include pregnancy, severe osteoporosis, pelvic tumors and aortic abdominal aneurysms among others.
There are several types of surgeries that are performed in decompression operations. The type that is performed depends on the underlying cause. The surgeries are named depending on the part of the spine that is removed. They include, laminectomy, corpectomy, discectomy, foraminectomy and osteophyte removal among others. Discectomy, for instance, is the removal of the intervertebral disc while corpectomy involves removing the vertebral body (usually with the disc as well).
You need to be aware of the possible complications which may be encountered even if the incidence is low. Possible immediate complications include injury to spinal nerves, bleeding and surgical site infection. In the remote period, the main worry is that the patient may get spinal instability particularly if the operation has involved the removal of large bony parts. Spinal fusion surgery may be required in some cases.
The main method used in relieving pressure from the spine is traction. Surgery is only considered when traction and other conservative methods fail to yield positive results. It is important that both the doctor and the patient consider the options available and explore both the merits and demerits.
When you visit your doctor for a diagnosis, you will be asked to give a history and then you will be taken through a physical examination with a bias of the back and spine. Apart from a displaced disc, the symptoms may also be caused by bony growths or any disorders affecting the connective tissue structures within the spine. Radiographic images in the form of MRIs, CT scans and plain X-rays are some of the most important investigations here.
The options that are employed in decompressing the spine fall under two major categories. These are the conservative option (traction) and surgical intervention. There is a general recommendation that all patients who require decompression undergo traction first and should only consider surgery if this conservative approach fails to yield results. In this technique, a gentle but steady pulling force is applied onto the spine with the aim of restoring its natural shape.
The force on the spine results in increased intervertebral disc space and reduced pressure. If there is a disc that has slipped out of position, it falls back into this space. This effectively relieves the pressure that is exerted on either the nerve roots or the spinal cord. One session will typically last for a maximum of one hour. You will be allowed home on the same day and come back on subsequent sessions as an outpatient.
You need to know that are a number of conditions for which traction is contraindicated. One of them is fractures in the lower limb bones and the pelvis. Subjecting these bones to traction is likely to aggravate the injuries. Similar injuries may be in persons who have metallic implants. The other contraindications include pregnancy, severe osteoporosis, pelvic tumors and aortic abdominal aneurysms among others.
There are several types of surgeries that are performed in decompression operations. The type that is performed depends on the underlying cause. The surgeries are named depending on the part of the spine that is removed. They include, laminectomy, corpectomy, discectomy, foraminectomy and osteophyte removal among others. Discectomy, for instance, is the removal of the intervertebral disc while corpectomy involves removing the vertebral body (usually with the disc as well).
You need to be aware of the possible complications which may be encountered even if the incidence is low. Possible immediate complications include injury to spinal nerves, bleeding and surgical site infection. In the remote period, the main worry is that the patient may get spinal instability particularly if the operation has involved the removal of large bony parts. Spinal fusion surgery may be required in some cases.
The main method used in relieving pressure from the spine is traction. Surgery is only considered when traction and other conservative methods fail to yield positive results. It is important that both the doctor and the patient consider the options available and explore both the merits and demerits.
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