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Treatment Of Sciatica With Spinal Decompression
January 24, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
The Treatment Of Sciatica With Spinal Decompression
Sciatica can be a life altering condition, and past treatment options have failed to bring relief. A new treatment option is providing relief in most cases, without the risk associated with surgery.
Sciatica is the the term used to identify pain running down the leg, it is irritation of the actual sciatic nerve as it exits the spine at various levels. The sciatic nerve is actually made up of several different nerves joining together to form one large nerve. The most likely cause of sciatica is a herniated or bulging disc in the lower back. The discs are thick fibrous structures between each vertebrae that offer cushioning and spacing needed for the nerves to exit and the flexibility needed to move. 
The inner portion of the disc has a much higher water content then the outer portion and as is much softer in consistency. One the outer fibers become weaker or are damaged the softer material begins to move it’s way outward because of the positive pressure on the disc itself. As it moves out it begins to create a bulge or what’s called a herniated causing the disc to protrude outwards and narrowing the hole where the nerve exits. The narrowing can cause direct pressure on the nerve itself or create inflammation that can then irritate the nerve creating symptoms of pain, numbness or weakness down the leg.
The treatment of sciatica often includes medications, spinal injections and in severe cases surgery may be recommended. With the exception of surgery these treatments are often temporary and don’t treat the actual cause. They also bring with them the risk of undesirable side effects. If the nerve is actually compressed these treatments may offer very little relief if any at all, and surgery brings with it other undesirable risks.
Steroid injections are one of the most common treatments utilized for severe sciatica as we have outlined previously. The goal of the injection is to reduce inflammation and soothe the surrounding areas. The problem is that the injection is only temporary and offers no real long term benefit for the patient. Side effect can include spinal headaches, a rebound pain phenomenon and a spike in blood sugar in diabetics. The relief obtained can sometimes be worth the risk, however a proactive approach must be coupled with the short term pain relief.
If sciatic pain becomes unbearable then surgical intervention may be recommended. In a small number of sciatica cases this treatment may provide relief, at least temporarily. The problem is that surgical outcomes on the spine are low with about a 50% success rate and it brings with it significant risk factors. A common condition called failed back surgery syndrome is associated with spinal surgery and can the result of excessive scar tissue formation, spinal instability after surgery and increased stress on other spinal structures. The risk is also there for the need for a repeat surgery down the road.
Fortunately a new treatment exists that is highly effective and doesn’t bring with it the risk of side effects associated with other treatments. Spinal Decompression is a new, advanced form of spinal traction with a patented computer monitoring device. This device allow a gently and logarithmic pull of the spine safely bypassing the guarding reflex muscle contraction associated with traditional traction. Bypassing this muscle response allows a therapeutic negative pressure to develop inside the disc space drawing in nutrition and fluid to help the disc heal, but also reducing herniated or bulging material and relieving the sciatica nerve. The treatment is safe and gentle and brings with it a very high success rate in the high 80 percentile and because it physically treats the cause of sciatica the problem is not likely to return.
As research continues to pour in on spinal decompression, the benefits of this technology are more and more evident. It represents a real option for many suffering from sciatica to truly correct the problem and remain pain free. Although there are some that spinal decompression is not indicated for, many will find long lastly and highly effective relief from spinal decompression.
By: Randall Pruitt, DC, DACNB, DAAPM, MUAC, CES-NASM
Article Directory : http://www.articledashboard.com
Dr. Randall Pruitt is a board certified chiropractic neurologist. He was one of the first doctors to use Spinal Decompression In Phoenix Arizona . He utilizes the DRX9000 in his practice to achieve results for the treatment of Sciatica In Phoenix
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Pinched Nerve Relief
January 24, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Sciatica Sufferers - Avoid These 3 Common Mistakes!
Sciatica can be an extremely painful and debilitating condition. Oftentimes sciatica sufferers make treatment decisions out of fear and a lack of undertanding of their condition that can wind up being very big mistakes.
The first mistake is rushing into a surgery. Although the vast majority of surgeons are not anxious to perform surgery on sciatica cases, there are a few who do recommend surgical treatment right from the start, and without even attempting any other type of treatment. Statistics indicate that sciatica goes away 80% of the time without the use of surgery. Even when surgery is successful initially, the development of scar tissue and abnormal mechanical stresses on the spine adjacent to the surgery often lead to future problems. Given that lower back spine surgery overall has about a 50% long-term success rate and people treated surgically often wind up worse than they were prior to surgery, it should be reserved as a treatment of last resort. 
The exception to the rule of considering surgery as a last resort is in the rare case of severe neurological compromise known as "cauda equina syndrome", which may be indicated by a loss of bowel and/or bladder control, sudden severe weakness in one or both legs, and/or "saddle anaesthesia" (a loss of sensation in the lower buttocks and inner thighs). Except in the rare instance of cauda equina syndrome though, it is generally better to avoid surgery if possible.
The second mistake sciatica sufferers often make is returning to normal activities too quickly once symptoms improve. The vast majority of true sciatica cases are due to bulging or herniation of one or more discs in the lumbar spine, and the inflammation that typically is associated with such disc problems. An amazing amount of symptomatic improvement is often achieved with just a small reduction in inflammation. Many sciatica victims mistakenly believe they are back to normal as soon as they feel better, but the reality is that the bulging/herniated disc is far from fully healed, and too much exertion too soon can easily trigger a recurrence of symptoms - sometimes even more severe than they were to begin with. Even professional physical therapists sometimes make the mistake of pushing a patient to do too much too soon, with the result being a return or increase in sciatica symptoms.
The third mistake people, including doctors, often make regarding sciatica is to view it as a condition that can be "cured". Because most people continue to engage in the activities that caused the underlying disc problems to develop that produced sciatica in the first place, the vast majority of sciatica sufferers will experience repeated episodes, usually becoming more severe and more frequent over time. This is because the disc problems that produce sciatica will gradually worsen over time if they are neglected. Once again, it is not safe to assume that a resolution of symptoms means that the problem has gone away. In fact, what happens in many cases is that the spine and discs gradually degenerate over time, making the person more and more susceptible to sciatica episodes. Eventually, the degeneration can become so severe that there really is no effective treatment, and many people are left with chronic, debilitating pain.
Fortunately, in most cases, sciatica can be managed effectively simply through an awareness of potentially damaging activities and positions and through simple exercises one can do at home. Chronic pain and disability can be prevented, but it does take a bit of time and effort to do the appropriate exercises on an ongoing basis and to avoid engaging in those activities that are particularly hard on the spinal discs, such as repeated bending, improper lifting, and poor posture (particularly when sitting). By making the small effort to manage your sciatica, you can avoid big problems in the long-run.
By: George Best
Article Directory : http://www.articledashboard.com
Dr. George Best has been treating people with sciatica and piriformis syndrome since 1992. To receive a free ebook on Sciatica Exercises and a video information program on understanding and managing sciatica , visit his website at www.sciaticaselfcare.com .
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