Saturday, February 27, 2016

The Available Methods Of Spinal Decompression Conroe Patients May Wish To Know

By Joyce Murray


If you experience sharp back pain after heavy lifting or after a traumatic event involving the back, there is a high probability that your intervertebral disc has herniated. The displacement exerts pressure on nearby structures. If nerve roots or the cord is affected, this pain will be persistent and will typically also involve the limbs (either the upper or the lower limbs depending on the level of the injury). There are some important facts on spinal decompression Conroe patients should know.

The doctor will try to rule other possible causes by taking a detailed history and subjecting you to a physical examination with a special emphasis on the back. Bony growths, tumors and fractured vertebral bodies may also lead to similar symptoms. The treatment is more or less the same for most of these conditions. Radiographic images of the spine helps to visualize the exact connective tissue component that is affected.

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 that is exerted on the spine leads to an increase in the size of the intervertebral disc. There is also an accompanying reduction in pressure. As a result, any structure that may have been displaced, falls back into its original position. The compression on nerves is relieved and so are the symptoms. A single session lasts between thirty minutes and an hour. Twenty to twenty five sessions are needed.

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 various types of surgeries that are performed depending on the problem that has been identified. The surgeries are named depending on the component that is cut or removed. Examples include laminectomy, corpectomy, removal of osteophytes, discectomy and foraminectomy. In discectomy, the affected disc is removed in its entirety but everything else is left intact. Corpectomy involves surgical removal of the vertebral body and its associated disc.

Even as you plan to have this operation, you need to remember that there is a risk, albeit small, of complications. Bleeding, injury to nerve roots and infections. These tend to be seen mainly in the short term. In the long term, the biggest worry is the possibility of ending up with spinal instability if large components of vertebral bodies are removed. Spinal fusion surgery helps correct this problem.

Traction is the mainstay of surgical decompression especially if the cause is a displaced intervertebral disc. Surgery is often regarded as a last resort due to the high success rates of traction and the possible complications that come with surgery. Talking to your doctor every step of the way helps in making informed decisions.




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