What Does Back Decompression Mean?

Back pain, often caused by neuralgia or nerve damage can result in spasms and often intense pain. This is because the nerves are compressed or have pressure on them, which can be as a result of a number of causes. Back decompression is one of the treatments used to alleviate back pain and take pressure off the nerves.

Herniated disks are often the cause of back pain as it puts pressure on the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and nerves. When nerves in the spine or back are compressed the problems with the disks can get even worse, causing the disk bulge to increase in size thus putting even more pressure on the back muscle nerves or the spinal nerves and their roots. This can result in intense back pain. Spasms occur to try and isolate the sore muscles, but can often result in more pain. Herniated disks are one of the causes of back pain that can be treated with back decompression. When disks have worn away or slipped so that they are no longer aligned, the back may also need to be treated with back decompression as it can cause intense pressure on the nerves. Arthritis or injury can also cause compression in what is called facet joint syndrome. This can cause inflammation in the joints and intense pain. Pinched nerves can also result in severe pain and the need for back decompression.

Back decompression can also be called vertebral decompression, spinal decompression, lumbar decompression or traction. The aim of back decompression is to relieve the pressure of whatever is causing back pain, whether it is a result of degenerated disks, herniated disks or pinched nerves.

Traction is a manual process that does not involve any type of surgery, eliminating the risks involved with back or spinal surgery. This mechanical process was first developed in 1985 by Dr. Allan Dyer. Chiropractors are normally responsible for this type of back decompression. Sometimes this can involve light spinal decompression exercises which help alleviate compressed nerves by stretching them and strengthening surrounding muscles. This can include lying on your back and doing stretches that target the spine. Sometimes equipment or special beds are used by chiropractors or physiotherapists to aid stretching.

There is also a surgical type of back decompression which involves two different methods. The first is a microdiscectomy and the second one is a lumbar laminectomy. While this involves physically making space for the nerves to heal and ease pressure, it is often the last resort in treating back pain.

Because back decompression relieves pressure on damaged nerves, it can often ease intense pain which is one of the major benefits. It also allows oxygen to flow freely through the spine and back which may have been lacking due to ischemia. Different stretching and strengthening exercises help to increase the space between disks. This also helps to realign the disks thus targeting the cause of nerve pain.

Back decompression especially involving the spine, can aid inflamed areas working the muscles, ligaments and tendons in the process as well. This helps to ease problems with disks and alleviate nerve damage or pressure. It is a form of treatment to look into if back pain and spasms affect a person on a regular occurrence. While anti-inflammatory medication or painkillers might alleviate the problem temporarily, back decompression can target the actual cause of the problem, which will help to prevent the pain from occurring again as well as aiding in the actual healing of the cause as opposed to just numbing the pain.

Treatments for Cervical Stenosis

Any problem in your neck is potentially serious because it connects your head to your body, and the structures within it are necessary for life. Cervical stenosis occurs when the spinal cord or spinal nerves are compressed due to narrowing in the seven vertebrae in your neck.

When we use the term, "cervical stenosis," we are usually talking about degenerative changes that cause narrowing, such as arthritis. Cervical spinal injuries can cause cervical stenosis, too, and may be much more serious. A herniated disc or cervical fracture that damages the spinal cord or a spinal nerve root can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

The symptoms associated with cervical stenosis depend on whether the spinal cord or spinal nerve is being compressed. If it's spinal nerves, symptoms will be limited to the neck, shoulders and arms. Symptoms include neck, shoulder or arm pain, numbness, heaviness or tingling, arm weakness or difficulty grasping objects.

If the spinal cord is compressed, you can also have muscle spasms and pain in your legs, loss of coordination and be unsteady when you walk.

Treatment

Early cervical stenosis can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications and pain medications. If the pain is severe or if there are functional problems (arm weakness, difficulty walking, etc), surgery is usually necessary. Both minimally invasive and open surgical techniques are used to treat cervical stenosis, and either an anterior (through the front) or posterior (through the back) approach may be needed.

Discectomy--the disc between vertebrae is removed, along with any bone spurs, to relieve nerve pressure. The disc may be replaced with a bone graft or an artificial disc. Cervical discectomy usually requires an anterior approach.

Corpectomy--the body of the vertebra and the intervetebral discs are removed, enlarging the spinal canal. The vertebrae are usually fused together with a bone graft or hardware; an anterior approach is used.

Laminectomy, laminotomy, laminoplasty--the lamina is the bone at the back of the vertebra. It's removed in a laminectomy, partially removed to make a larger opening for the nerve in a laminotomy or repaired in a laminoplasty. Laminal surgery is done from the back. Laminotomy and laminoplasty can sometimes be done with an endoscope.

Facetectomy--removal of the facet joint between two vertebrae to enlarge the opening.

Surgery usually improves the symptoms of cervical stenosis, but doesn't always resolve them. By the time cervical stenosis is severe enough to warrant treatment, there may be some permanent nerve damage. In addition, symptoms can reappear as aging and degeneration continue.

Magnesium Deficiency - How to Increase Your Magnesium Levels

If you eat a westernized (American) diet that includes junk food, you probably lack magnesium. If you are deficient in magnesium you are probably not getting at least the current Daily Value of 400 mg of magnesium in your daily diet. If you are magnesium deficient then some of these symptoms may be familiar to you: stress, sleeplessness, irritability, joint and muscle pain, arthritis, persisting PMS symptoms, anxiety, depression, migraine headaches, fatigue, stomach problems, and compromised lung and respiratory health such as bronchitis and asthma. Because magnesium is so important to our living cells and for our bodies to keep moving, the signs of being deficient in this mineral are numerous.

Research continues to be conducted on how we can increase our magnesium levels, and committing to a healthy diet is a great place to begin. Get your day going with a healthy breakfast and make rice, oat and wheat bran meals. These grains rank the highest in magnesium content. One cup of crude rice bran has 922 mg of magnesium, and a cup of rice and cup of wheat bran contain 354 mg and 220 mg respectively. Sprinkled over salads or eaten as snacks throughout the day, nuts and seeds are also high in magnesium with almonds, pumpkin seeds and even watermelon seeds ranking quite high in magnesium content.

Another magnesium rich food is the ever popular dark chocolate which packs a whopping 499 mg of magnesium per cup. Dinner is a great way to pack in the magnesium at the end of the day. Delight in Halibut fish filets, 1 cup of steamed spinach and a cup of brown rice, and you have just cooked up a total of 411 mg of magnesium, 11 mg over the recommended DV.

If cooking a magnesium rich meal does not appeal to you this week, consider taking a magnesium supplement. With no ambiguous additives, preservatives or chemicals, Magnesium Oil spray is an excellent and effective topical health supplement for many ailments, and the absorption rate through transdermal delivery is substantial. To improve anxiety, depression and PMS symptoms, as well as to calm, spray magnesium oil down the spinal cord for fast absorption into the nervous system. This magnesium therapy may also provide more restful sleep. Find relief from sore muscles and aggravated arthritic joints when committing to a daily regime of spraying with magnesium oil before and after bodybuilding exercises.

Another option for increasing the magnesium in the body is to immerse yourself in a warm bath with Epsom Salts after a challenging workout or run. If you prefer to take minerals orally, then take a daily does of magnesium in tablet form. End your day with a warm cup of tea made from 1 - 2 teaspoons of magnesium citrate and you may experience more restful sleep.

Treating Chronic Pain With Spinal Decompression

Spinal Decompression therapy is a highly effective way to treat chronic back pain without surgery or drug intervention. It is a noninvasive technique that does not allow for any major side effects. When pressure builds up between the vertebrae in the spine, discs get stressed. When this occurs, bulges and herniations many ensue causing the patient to experience a numbness or tingling sensation down one or more of their limbs. In severe cases the pressure exerted on the discs may cause weakness and or atrophy of the involved limb correlating to the spinal disc level being affected.

How It Works:

Depending on the area being affected within the spine, the computerized spinal decompression table isolates the disc level allowing pressure to be released off of the disc as well as the nerve root involved. This occurs because the table itself creates a negative vacuum like movement at the disc level affected allowing the major inside "jelly" like substance within the center of the disc to be drawn back to its original state. Decompression therapy also allows for nutrients to get in and out of the discs.

Treatments on the table last around 30 minutes and patients feel a difference around their fourth to sixth treatment. As with any form of physical therapy, decompression will take a series of treatments to stabilize the disc being affected. A schedule of 16-20 treatments is recommended within a two month span to assist in correcting the problem.

Patients suffering from herniations, bulges, arthritis and congenital abnormalities such as facet syndrome are prime conditions for utilizing spinal decompression therapy.

Possible Herbal Treatments For Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is considered as one of the rheumatic diseases. This is also a persistent, inflammatory condition that causes arthritis of the vertebrae and sacroiliac joint at the base of the spine, wherein the spinal column joins the pelvis. In short, Ankylosis means the union of the vertebrae to each other.In short, Ankylosis means the union of the vertebrae to each other. It blends together because of the techronic inflammation and irritation of the spinal joints.

If you are one of the individuals who suffer from this health condition, listed below are some of the herbal remedies that can alleviate the pain:

1. Nirgundi (Vitex Negundo) - this is described in Ayurveda as one of the most potent natural anti-arthritic herbs. It is very efficient in controlling stiffness and inflammation most especially in arthritis and sciatica patients.

2. Shallaki (Boswellia Serrata) - this is a renowned anti-inflammatory herb that is used. In India this is known as the Salai Guggul. The resin which originate from the tree is purified and after utilized for pain and swelling. It alleviates the pain naturally without causing any bad outcomes.

3. Guggul (Commiphora mukul) - this is also known as anti-inflammatory agent that does not only help in inflammation but also in arresting the development of ankylosing spondylitis. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory action is approximately direct.

4. Sonth (Zingiber officinale) - this is commonly known as a dry ginger which is another effective anti-inflammatory herb that helps to improve the appetite. it is also good for the respiratory and digestive system and it really lessens the markers of inflammation in the blood, it is a very potent analgesic.

These are just some of the herbal remedies that you can use in order to alleviate the pain that is caused by ankylosing spondylitis. But as much as possible, you have to visit your doctor in order to know if the herbal remedy is truly right for you.

Causes of Cold Weather Back Pain

Whether you have chronic back pain or pain that comes and goes, you may notice that the pain is worse in cold weather. While an exact causal link between increased pain and cold weather has not been found by the scientific community, the fact of this connection is certain. Cold weather back pain is common among people with arthritis, but it can also occur due to increased muscle tension.

Muscle Tension

When we open our doors to a frigid winter day, we tend to distort our posture and tense up our muscles to cope with the cold. This is usually done unconsciously for a couple of reasons. First, when your muscles contract, they burn energy which is released as heat. Tensing up, then, is a natural bodily response to cold. Shivering occurs when muscles rapidly contract and relax to release energy (heat) fast.

You may also notice that, in the cold, you tend to drop your head and raise your shoulders, which causes your hips to tuck under and your lower back to flatten out. You're trying to share your shoulders' body heat with your neck and ears. This is a natural reaction, but a reaction that distorts posture throughout your back and pelvis.

Sore necks, shoulders and lower backs in the winter indicate muscular tension. If you have widespread muscle soreness when it's cold out, this is likely a sign that your apparel is not suited to your climate. It is important to have a winter hat that covers your ears and a scarf to cover your neck. These, combined with self-awareness, will help to prevent postural distortion. Your muscles will still automatically tense up to stay warm if the rest of your outfit isn't warm enough. If you can't find a heavy-duty coat within your budget, rely on layering. A good pair of long underwear will help keep both your lower and upper body protected from the cold. Being conscious of your posture and muscle tenseness can help you relieve cold weather back pain.

Osteoarthritis

If you tend to have joint pain and stiffness that worsens with inactivity and cold weather, you may have osteoarthritis. This form of arthritis affects various parts of the body, including the spine. It occurs when the cartilage that cushions spinal joints wears down, causing friction, inflammation and sometimes the formation of bone spurs that can impinge nerves.

Cold weather doesn't cause osteoarthritis; it can, however, exacerbate it. Along with cartilage breakdown, osteoarthritis entails inflammation of the synovium, which lines the joint and excretes a lubricant called synovial fluid. As cartilage hardens and wears, the synovium can become inflamed. The prevailing theory on the link between cold weather and increased osteoarthritic pain is that the synovium is sensitive to barometric pressure. When barometric pressure drops, as when foul weather is coming in, the synovium becomes inflamed. This worsens the stiffness and pain surrounding arthritic joints. This theory has its issues; it has led to inconsistent results in research and barometric pressure is not necessarily low when it is cold, but does indicate precipitation and storms. More research into this is needed before an exact link between joint pain and cold weather is understood.

That said, there are still ways to alleviate the extra burden the cold places on your joints. One of the aggressors of arthritic pain, as said above, is inactivity, and one of the best ways to exercise with osteoarthritis is in the water. A warm pool can do wonders for your joints year-round, and especially when it's cold outside. It is also important to be aware of the above muscular cause of winter back pain, as tight muscles in conjunction with stiff, sore joints will exacerbate your pain.

Take care of your muscles and joints during the cold season. Appropriate apparel, self-awareness and indoor exercise could be enough to ease your back pain this winter.

When Should a Spinal Fusion Be Added to a Spinal Lumbar Discectomy Surgery?

A spinal discectomy surgery in America is a very common procedure. The risks of the procedure are fairly low compared with the benefit. Granted, there is a risk of infection, bleeding, injury to the nerve being decompressed, etc. but overall with a discectomy spine surgery the risk profile is low and patients benefit dramatically.

Typically the surgery takes around 45 min. and patients go home either same day or next day. When would a surgeon consider doing a fusion of that level and not just a discectomy? Adding a fusion to the surgery increases the potential risks and complications and should not be taken lightly. But there are times when it is a good idea to add it to the procedure.

One of the most common indications for adding fusion is if the patient has had multiple discectomies at the same level. Here is the thought process on that. If the patient has a recurrence of a disc herniation at the same level as having had a previous surgery, the person should have nonoperative treatment pretty much the same as before to try and avoid surgery. This may include epidural injections from a pain management doctor, physical therapy or chiropractic treatment, and medication management. But if this fails, a lumbar disc removal surgery is indicated after 6 to 8 weeks for pain control, especially if the patient is beginning to have muscle weakness such as a foot drop.

When a person has a discectomy surgery, the part of the disk removed does not regenerate. So disc degeneration is the end result. After one discectomy surgery, this is often fairly tolerable by patients and may just lead to mild to moderate back pain on an inconsistent basis. After a 2nd discectomy surgery, often times the patient ends up with severe degenerative disease. If the patient is having a third discectomy surgery, it is a very good idea to include a spinal fusion surgery. This would remove the rest of the disc, and immobilize that segment so that the eventual severe back pain is hopefully avoided.

If a patient is having a first-time lumbar discectomy surgery and the patient has severe disc degeneration with a considerable amount of back pain, simply taking out the small piece of disk that is pushing on a nerve root is only going to help with leg pain. It is not a back pain operation. So the patient has just as much back pain as they do leg pain, along with a severe degenerative disc, it does make sense to consider having a spinal fusion at that level.

This will hopefully address both the person's back pain and leg pain at the same time.

As mentioned, adding a spinal fusion to a discectomy surgery increases the risks. There is hardware involved with screws and rods, and more dissection is necessary to complete the procedure. There are some minimally invasive ways of doing the surgery, however, anyway you look at it it involves more time in the operating room, more blood loss, and increased risks. For this reason it should not be a decision taken lightly.