A New Treatment For Herniated Discs

Herniated disc sufferers have traditionally had the treatment options of medication, physical therapy, spinal injections, and/or surgery, and because of the limited effectiveness of these approaches, many simply have had to learn to live with the pain. But a new option is now available and while not appropriate or effective for every person with a herniated disc, it does represent a huge leap in effectiveness and safety in treating herniated discs.

A new kind of intermittent spinal traction known as spinal decompression is rapidly becoming the treatment of choice for herniated disc sufferers. The old kind of traction was used for many years in herniated disc cases, but it was not particularly effective, and it even made symptoms worse in some patients. Regular traction often sets off muscle spasm, which may increase pain and may even compress a herniated disc further, increasing the bulging.

Spinal decompression has solved these problems though. Although still technically traction machines, true spinal decompression systems pull very slowly and gradually in order to keep the muscles relaxed and avoid triggering spasm. In addition, the more advanced of the spinal decompression systems also have computer-controlled motors and have sensors to measure the body's resistance to treatment. Any hint of muscle contraction sensed by the system causes it to reduce its pull and allow the body to relax again. The most advanced of these systems can respond to what the body is doing in an amazing 1/17th of a second. Since the body's reactions take place in approximately 1/5th of a second, these advanced spinal decompression systems can modify treatment before the muscles can spasm, allowing for comfortable herniated disc relief.

This ability to avoid the body's muscle spasm response allows spinal decompression systems to dramatically lower the pressure within a herniated disc. In fact, disc pressure is actually dropped into the negative pressure range, creating a suction that pulls the bulging disc material back towards the center of the disc and away from sensitive nerves. In addition, fluid and nutrients are pulled into the disc from the surrounding tissues, and this assists in disc healing. Over time and repeated treatments, the herniated disc material is pulled back in, and the healing of the disc provides stabilization of the outer wall of the disc to prevent further bulging.

Decompression treatment varies in terms of the number of sessions and duration and frequency of treatments depending on several factors such as patient age, the severity of the problem, and the number of herniated discs present. It can be used in both lumbar and cervical herniated discs with a high rate of success.

With careful patient selection, spinal decompression has be shown by preliminary clinical studies to have a success rate of 80 to 90 percent. Of those who do experience a successful outcome, the results are long-term in the vast majority of cases. Because of the high rate of success and a low rate of side effects, the most common of which is temporary muscle soreness, spinal decompression is the best herniated disc treatment option for the majority of cases.

Unfortunately, the aggressive advertising and hype, and inapproriate use of spinal decompression by some health care practitioners in recent years has led to unrealistic patient expectations and crackdowns by regulatory agencies on advertising claims that have sullied the reputation of spinal decompression. While spinal decompression does represent a major advance in the treatment of herniated discs, it is not a cure-all, it is not 100% effective, and it is not appropriate for every patient.

Spinal decompression, when used appropriately, does produce enough improvement and disc healing in the vast majority of cases to allow patients to resume normal lives and return to most activities (even playing golf or tennis and working in the yard), but it does not restore a herniated disc to 100% normal. No treatment can. Even the still-experimental disc replacement surgery does not restore the spine to a normal condition and future back problems following disc replacement are to be expected. Overwork, poor posture, or failure to use good bending and lifting techniques can set the stage for a recurrence of disc problems no matter how good the results of treatment are initially.

With appropriate patient selection and by giving patients realistic expectations, spinal decompression providers can supply a very safe and effective treatment option for those with a herniated disc.

Article Source: Main Articles

Dr. George Best has been treating people suffering with herniated discs since 1992. To get additional information on herniated discs, sciatica, or degenerative disc disease, visit Herniated Disc.

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