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As I have written about in previous articles, discomfort is a bit of a mysterious phenomenon. Whereas most many people would assume that soreness means that there’s damage to a physique part, the mind isn’t going to evaluate situations in that manner. The brain only sends a agony message when it senses that a part of the overall body is in danger and protective actions need to be taken. But this isn’t going to imply that the tissues themselves are broken in any way, only that the mind has determined that some hazard is present and it would be a great thought to move away from the source of it.

Thus, the mind sends a tenderness message for the a part of the body where it has decided danger to exist. This could quite possibly or may not have any correspondence with the reality on the scenario. When injury essentially occurs to a tissue, for instance a pulled muscle or tendon, the human body repairs the damage in a set quantity of time. Skin is repaired, the tendon swells up and then inflammation reduces, range of motion is regained in a previously injured joint, and so on. Suffering could be the brain’s way of telling us to keep a a part of us out of hazard.

But what about when an harm heals and discomfort lasts extended after the damage and healing course of action have ended? These feelings of discomfort can turn out to be persistent. Are the tissues nonetheless damaged? Most likely not, unless something went wrong during the healing practice. So it need to be the mind which is continuing to send the ache message lengthy after an harm has healed.

And what about phantom limbs and phantom limb discomfort? People today who have had a leg amputated can sometimes feel the limb despite the fact that it has been missing for yours. Even kids who are born with out an arm or leg can really feel the lacking limb — although it never existed in reality at all. And these lacking limbs can generally really feel painful and uncomfortable. So how is the brain nevertheless sending a ache message to a limb that isn’t going to exist?

Phantom limb discomfort indicates that the mind keeps its own separate but connected map with the body, and can send suffering messages even with the absence in the limb it has decided is in danger. Talk about overly sensitized nerves! But this also shows that the mind constructs the ache experience after which projects it onto its map of this physique, also referred to because the virtual system. However the feelings that we can have based on the brain’s messages to the virtual entire body may well have little or nothing to do with what is in fact going on in the tissues themselves.

This can be both a frightening and positive discovery for most people suffering from power ache syndromes. All on the massage, acupuncture, and supplements while in the world might have tiny benefit for persistent tenderness, because the tissues may well no longer be damaged, however the painful feelings are still projected onto the brain’s map on the physical structure by the anguish centers during the brain itself. Whilst this isn’t going to mean that all chronic suffering is “all in your head,” it does give individuals even more control over the therapy of their conditions, as future articles will discuss.

Nick  writes articles discussing lower back anguish and treatments for persistent painful syndromes, among a number of other health problems. He focuses mainly on providing info that individuals can use from the treatment of joint soreness, such as the spine, hips, knees, and other very important areas of one’s shape. If you’re interested in learning far more about how spinal decompression operates, please go to his site and download a free e-book explaining how the course of action operates, the price, and what you can expect following a series of treatments. He also provides information if you are looking for a Boulder, CO chiropractor, or a back pain doctor in Buffalo.

Technorati Tags: pain centers, phantom limb pain, spinal decompression, virtual body

Degenerative Spondylolisthesis is a very common condition that is a result of spinal arthritis. One vertebra slips on another, and it becomes a mechanical problem that cannot be “fixed”. It may be painless and seen as an incidental finding on x-rays. Or symptoms may include back pain along with buttock, hip, and/or leg pain.

Once diagnosed with degenerative spondylolisthesis, what are treatment options? Here are 7 nonoperative pain management treatment options:

1. Ignore it
2. Phoenix Physical Therapy
3. Chiropractor Treatment
4. Spinal Decompression
5. Pain Medication
6. Interventional Pain Treatments
7. Bracing and TENS Unit

Ignoring the symptoms of degenerative spondylolisthesis is a treatment known as benign neglect. It’s not a fatal condition and will not paralyze anyone, so if the symptoms are tolerable it is ok to simply deal with it until it rises to the level of concern. If you are wondering whether or not there is something you can do to prevent the condition from worsening, the answer is – not really.

There is some thought that nutraceutical substances like glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may hold off the arthritis that may result in the spondylolisthesis, but this is not a definite.

Chiropractor and phoenix physical therapy treatment have been shown to exceptionally effective for back pain issues, especially when it’s acute (less than one month duration). It could be that symptoms are an acute exacerbation and if treated with these alternatives, may decrease back to a tolerable baseline.

Spinal decompression treatment is an FDA cleared, revolutionary treatment using intermittent traction. It is very safe, FDA cleared, relatively painless, and extremely effective. Individuals with degenerative spondylolisthesis are fine for the spinal decompression machine unless they are post spine surgery with hardware or have severe osteoporosis.

Pain meds include Tylenol, NSAIDS, neuropathic meds, or narcotics. Over the counter meds taken according to manufacturer’s recommendations may control the pain very well such as Aleve or ibuprofen. Neuropathic medications can include Lyrica or Neurontin. Narcotics should be provided under the guidance of a physician and should only be obtained by one doctor.

Interventional pain treatments include facet injections (facet blocks), epidural injections, or radio frequency ablation. For spinal arthritis or pinched nerves, spinal steroid injections have been shown to be extremely helpful. They are very low risk and may have very high benefit.

Spinal bracing can be extremely helpful especially if the back pain is from instability with one segment shifting on the level below. A TENS Unit may keep symptoms at bay when utilized in moderation. It should be utilized according to your provider’s recommendations usually no more than an hour at a time then with an hour off.

Surgery for degenerative spondylolisthesis should be performed as a last resort when all nonoperative options at an arizona pain center have failed.

Technorati Tags: facet injections, spinal decompression, spondylolisthesis, TENS unit

Facet Syndrome is a condition in the low back that involves a problem with the facet joints, which are thumbnail sized joints on either side of the spine at every level.

As with any synovial joint in the body, arthritis can result, and the facet joints are no exception to this occurrence. Facet joint arthritis typically occurs at numerous levels, so if surgery is undertaken quite a few levels would need to be addressed. This is usually not a good indication for surgery unless one has significant degenerative scoliosis, instability or a separate issue needing to be addressed.

There are numerous ways to avoid surgery with facet arthritis and facet syndrome. Here are the top ten nonoperative methods.

1) Live With the Pain, Activity Modification – Not ideal but at the end of the day surgery for facet arthritis is a quality of life decision. If a patient can avoid painful activities and thereby keep the pain under control this may in fact be the best option. All legitimate nonsurgical options should be exhausted and this may be the last option standing.

2) Lower Your Body Mass Index – Being overweight equals extra weight on the arthritic facet joints. If the joint is painful from arthritis and the body weight is pushing down on the painful region then extra pressure may exacerbate the problem.

3) PT, Rehab, Lumbar Strengthening – Physical therapy can strengthen the muscles surrounding the spine, thereby reducing pressure on the arthritic and painful facet joints.

4) Spinal Decompression – This is a revolutionary nonoperative treatment that is FDA Cleared, very safe, and highly effective that may dramatically decrease the pain from facet syndrome. Treatment at an Arizona Pain Center with spinal decompression treatment can allow for surgery to be avoided.

5) Chiropractor Therapy – Treatment with an AZ chiropractor may be very effective at decreasing back pain from facet arthritis.

6) Medial Branch Blocks – The facet joints are supplied with small nerve endings for sensation called medial branches. They can be numbed with numbing and steroid medication placed into the area of the medial branches around each of the affected facet joints. Just like with facet blocks, this may provide pain relief for months.

7) Facet Injections – these are injections of steroid and numbing medication pushed directly into the facets. They may provide excellent pain relief for anywhere from days to months.

RFA – Radiofrequency Ablation involves thermal ablation, or burning, of the medial branches, which are the small nerve endings bringing sensation to the facet joints. This procedure is the most modern available for facet syndrome pain and may help with pain relief for 3-18 months.

9) Pain Medication – NSAIDS and pain medication may provide excellent pain relief on a daily or as needed basis with flare ups.

10) Bracing and TENS Unit – These may provide significant benefit with pain reduction for facet arthritis. TENS machines are available at your AZ pain doctors office.

Technorati Tags: facet block, facet joint, radiofrequency ablation, spinal decompression

Spinal Decompression Therapy is a non-surgical traction based treatment that can effectively treat back, neck, arm, and leg pain. It works extremely well for treating herniated or bulging discs in the neck and lower back along with degenerative disc disease, failed back surgery syndrome,, facet arthritis, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and radiculopathy.

The FDA cleared spinal decompression therapy in 1996. It’s extremely safe, affordable, and revolutionary.

How Does Spinal Decompression Work?

The treatment is traction-based, with gradual application and release of traction forces designed to “trick” the para-spinal muscles so they do not guard or spasm.

This produces a negative pressure on the spine, which subsequently allows increased blood flow bringing with it substantial oxygen and nutrients. This permits the herniated or protruded disc to be pulled back within the normal boundaries of the disc, which allows healing to occur.

What Problems Are Helped By Spine Decompression Treatment?

· Herniated Discs Neck & Back
· Bulging Discs
· Degenerative Disc Disease
· Failed Surgery
· Sciatica
· Radiculopathy
· Spinal Arthritis
· Spinal Stenosis
· Facet Syndrome

Is Spinal Decompression Therapy Painful? How Many Sessions are Needed?

For the vast majority of patients, treatment is completely painless. A considerable amount of patients actually fall asleep during the sessions.

Based on existing research and our providers clinical results, the best course of treatment is 20 sessions over a 6 week period. To reduce inflammation and assist the healing process, supporting structures sometimes are treated with passive therapies (heat/ice/muscle stimulation), active rehabilitation, and/or chiropractic adjustments (when indicated) in order to strengthen the spinal muscles.

Are there Clinical Trials that Document the Effectiveness of Spinal Decompression Therapy?

There are quite a few actually, although none are Level 1 studies. In a 1998 study in the Journal of NeuroImaging, Eyerman found in 20 patients that treatment with spinal decompression therapy resulted in disc rehydration and herniation reduction in over 50% of patients.

A study in 1997 by Shealy et all in the American Journal of Pain Management showed that eighty six percent of ruptured intervertebral disc patients showed good to excellent results with spinal decompression. Back Pain and Sciatica were substantially relieved and of the facet arthrosis patients, seventy five percent obtained good to excellent results with spinal decompression therapy.

One of the most well known spinal decompression therapy studies was published in 2003 by Gionis et al in the Orthopedic Technology Review. Out of 219 patients, eighty six percent who completed treatment reported immediate symptom resolution, while 85% remained free of pain 90 days after treatment. Physical examination findings showed improvement in ninety two percent of the individuals and remained intact in eighty nine percent ninety days after treatment.

Are there Conditions where Spinal Decompression Therapy is Not Indicated?

Decompression Treatment is not recommended for pregnant women, people with severe osteoporosis, or post spinal surgery with instrumentation. Spine fusion surgery with no instrumentation is acceptable along with spine surgery without a fusion.

Do Patients Receive Physical Therapy Also?

Typically yes. To assist in the healing process and reduce inflammation in the spine, physical therapy along with rehab is usually added to strengthen the paraspinal muscles. Also passive therapies like heat, ice, muscle stimulation, and chiropractic manipulations are added to the mix as well.

How Much Does it Cost and does Insurance cover it?

The cost for 20 sessions ranges typically from $1200 to $4500, which is very reasonable considering the cost and potential adverse outcomes associated with spine surgery.

It’s debatable whether insurance covers spinal decompression therapy. Some centers advertise that it does but it can be potentially be deceiving. Codes exist for vertebral traction, however spinal decompression is not pure traction, it is a traction based treatment. Most pain centers offering spinal decompression therapy offer it as a cash based fee for service.

The Bottom Line

Spinal decompression therapy has saved many people from spinal surgery. According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, surgery is no more effective than non-invasive treatments, including chiropractic care, for patients with lumbar disc herniation causing sciatica.

It is very safe, affordable, FDA cleared, and extremely effective for many conditions such as arm, leg, back, and neck pain.

Technorati Tags: phoenix spinal decompression, scottsdale spinal decompression, spinal decompression, spine decompression