WHAT TO EXPECT DURING SPINAL DECOMPRESSION TREATMENTS

In last month’s blog, we introduced spinal decompression and gave a detailed synopsis of what it does, conditions treated, and how it helps. What we didn’t do last month was explain what to expect or discuss the treatment protocol. Due to the length and breadth of content, we felt it would be beneficial if we presented the information in separate blogs.

Quick Recap

Remember that spinal decompression requires patients to lay on a table, harnessed by Velcro and belts to insure patient stability. Successful treatment is achieved by proper weight calibrations and a segmental angulation system to help correct affected spinal discs and promote blood flow and nutrients to inflamed regions.

Decompression can help patients with failed surgeries, back pain, sciatica, herniated, bulging and protruding disc, degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome, tingling or burning sensations, leg/arm pain, neck pain, and loss of sensation.

If you haven’t read last month’s blog, we highly recommend doing so to prevent confusion during this month’s content.

What To Expect?

There are several spinal decompression companies on the market. Most have identical protocols with slight modifications. We will be sharing the protocol that we use in our office with the DRX-9000 and ABS decompression tables.

Each decompression patient has a treatment plan that is designed specifically for the patient’s needs. The patient’s case and the severity of the condition determine treatment plan protocol and duration. Typically, sessions last 25 minutes each protocol, and consist of 20-30 sessions. Ideally, treatment is broken into 5 times per week for the first 2 weeks, 3 times per week for the next 2 weeks and 2 times a week for the remaining 2 weeks. After each session, patients are given 10 minutes of electric muscle stimulation to help relax muscles and reduce inflammation.

Before beginning treatment, a common question that patients ask is if it is going to hurt. For the first several sessions, patients may not feel much of anything because the weight is low and is increased steadily over time. In fact, most patients fall asleep during the entire session. Even though a pull may not be felt initially, patients often feel positive results as early as the first session.

Our Office Protocol

Every office has a different protocol and how they treat decompression patients. From conversations with other decompression specialists nationwide, most chiropractors don’t adjust decompression patients and choose only to put them on the table. Others choose only to provide decompression services based on a health history and symptomatic state.

At our office, we have a detailed set of steps that we take before determining decompression candidates. When patients first present to our office, we sit down with the them and go through a detailed patient health history to determine what x-rays need to be taken, and what type of neurological examination needs to be conducted.

Once we determine what x-rays to perform and the type of neurological examination to conduct, we begin these procedures to formulate the patient’s diagnosis. X-rays help the doctor look at underlying conditions that are beyond a chiropractor’s scope of practice, bone density changes, disc height, bone degeneration and spinal curvature. In a clinical setting, x-rays are most importantly used to determine bone rotation and help the doctor determine adjustment listings in which direction spinal manipulation needs to be performed.

During a neurological examination, three specific testing categories are conducted.

1. Vitals- A vitals examination includes taking a blood pressure, pulse, blood oxygen reading, checking respirations per minute and checking for accurate body temperature. These tests will not determine decompression candidates, but are routine examinations that all doctors should perform to check for underlying medical conditions.
2. Neurological Testing- Neurological testing includes checking for adequate reflexes, muscle strength efficiency and sensory deficits. When patients present with diminished reflexes, muscle weakness, and/or loss of sensation, it could be the result of nerves being impinged from bone rotation, disc damage, and/or a progressive neurological disorder.
3. Orthopedic Examination- Orthopedic testing is a series of tests that are designed to rule out underlying conditions and can help chiropractors determine if an issue is neurological, discogenic, and/or musculoskeletal. It is important that the patient says when there is pain, where it occurs and if it is referred to somewhere else. These three things will determine the root problem.

Once x-rays and the neurological examination are complete, the doctor can determine if the patient is a decompression candidate. If the patient is a candidate, no treatment will be performed so that the doctor can have time to review the tests and evaluations, and to design a proper treatment plan to fit the patient’s needs. If the doctor determines that decompression is not necessary, the patient would be categorized as a chiropractic patient and treatment would be performed on the first visit.

Upon completion of the first visit, the doctor will request any MRI reports if they were not given upon arrival so that he can review any disc injuries that can be causing the patient’s pain. A disc is preferred so that the doctor can show the patient specifically where the disc damage is and show how it is destroying the nervous system. However, if a disc is unavailable, a report will work just as well. An MRI is not required to identify a decompression candidate, but it does make diagnosis and treatment more efficient.

Also included as part of the initial visit, the doctor will present a custom newsletter to the patient upon the day’s completion. The newsletter includes information about our clinic, decompression, medical conditions that decompression treats, research studies, treatment option comparisons, pain patterns and patient testimonials.

On the second visit, usually the next business day, the doctor will perform a Report of Findings (ROF). A ROF is a report  presented to a patient  reviewing the tests and examinations that were performed on the initial visit. The doctor spends roughly 20-30 minutes with the patient, giving additional information about the patient’s state and condition and research confirming the beneficial results of spinal decompression.

At the end of the ROF, a treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs will be presented. Earlier in the blog, we stated that many chiropractors only perform spinal decompression to their patients and nothing more. At our office, patients who invest their health and time are put on an aggressive decompression program that includes decompression treatment, spinal manipulation, unlimited x-rays and examinations, all therapeutic services such as electric muscle stimulation and ultrasound, and the first month’s supply of recommended supplements.

When patients sign up for care, they can begin treatment the same day and are advised to come in as much as possible to ensure treatment effectiveness. The more frequently patients get treated over a short period of the time, the more effective results will be.

After the Treatment Plan

Once patients complete their treatment plan, they are highly advised to sign up for our maintenance care plans. When decompression patients undergo treatment because of disc injuries, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome, etc., those corresponding symptoms are resolved, but the conditions are not gone.

When Dr. Wilkins became a disc specialist 20 years ago, patients who invested in a decompression program were released once their condition was resolved and they completed the program. Sometime later, whether it was 1 year later, 5 years later, or 10 years later, many patients returned with the same issues they had years before. This resulted in patients needing to start an entirely new decompression program. Consequently, Dr. Wilkins knew he needed to improve upon the current protocol.

He designed a yearly maintenance plan for two reasons. It ensures patient conditions will stabilize, avoiding major recurrences. Our yearly maintenance plans include the same benefits as our decompression program and it entitles patients to come in as much as they need whether it is every day, once a week or biweekly.

The Wrap Up

As you can see, we do not take patient care lightly. Yes, we are chiropractors, but we are more than just that. We are disc specialists who offer a unique service that is not offered at most chiropractic facilities in the tristate area.

Not every decompression candidate needs to show positive results on their examination. Some patients live with chronic pain and have tried every solution that just doesn’t work. That is exactly what we will discuss in next month’s blog. If you have any questions about spinal decompression or our treatment programs, please call us at (724) 547-3377 and check out our website at www.laurelmountainchiro.com for more content.

Yours In Health,

Brian M. Steinert, DC