Doctor LoGiudice D.C.- Linn City Chiropractic, West Linn Pain Relief & Massage

What is Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression (NSSD)?

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is a revolutionary new technology used primarily to non-surgically treat disc injuries in the neck and back. This treatment option is very safe and utilizes FDA cleared medical equipment to apply axial distraction forces to spinal structures in a precise and graduated manner. Distraction is offset by cycles of partial relaxation. This technique of spinal decompression therapy unloads the vertebra, thus reducing  pressure on the discs. Spinal Decompression causes a distraction and re-positioning of the disc material and has shown the ability to gently separate the vertebrae from each other, creating a vacuum effect inside the discs that we are targeting.  This “vacuum effect” is also known as negative intra-discal pressure.  The herniated material fills the void and retracts inside of the vacuum created by negative pressure.   This is how and why spinal decompression works.

We are proudly serving residents from Portland, Milwaukie, Gladstone,Oregon City, Canby, Aurora, Tualatin, Wilsonville, Tigard, Sherwood, Newberg, Beaverton, Sandy, Mollala, Mulino, Banks, Woodburn and Hillsboro.  We pride ourselves as being affordable, convenient, and most friendly spinal decompression clinic in Clackamas County.

What are the effects of spinal decompression?

When the traction force is applied and the space between the bones is increased the following can occur:

• There is less pressure within the spinal discs relieving pain and encouraging nutrition to the disc.
• A protrusion or bulge in the disc may be reduced by drawing or “sucking” the gel nucleus towards the centre of the disc
• The tunnels where the nerves exit the spine become larger and therefore allow the nerves to “breathe” and regain proper circulation and become “un-pinched”.
• Painful or arthritic spinal joints are stretched and decompressed from the effects of constant gravity and poor posture acting on the body.
• Muscles, tendons and ligaments are lengthened and stretched in ways that are impossible with exercises and day to day movements unless you are able to fully relax and hang from a bar!
• Proper circulation and nutrition to the spine is achieved by allowing a flushing of inflammatory chemicals and bringing oxygen and nutrition to the area. This encourages healing and reduces painful irritation of the nerves in the spine.

The effects of negative pressure work to retract or reduce the herniation or bulging disc material back to its central location;  inside of the disc. This has been shown to take the pressure off of the nerve root, thecal sac, or both, even when there is spinal cord deformity.  It happens only microscopically each time, but cumulatively, over four to six weeks, the results are quite dramatic.

The treatment protocol for a spinal decompression patient includes several cycles of decompression with each treatment.  The cycling of the computer program is what differentiates spinal decompression from traction.   Traction is static (constant).   Spinal Decompression is dynamic (vigorously active).  The computerized pattern is fully customizable.  During spinal decompression there is a programmed pull, followed by a programmed relaxation, over a series of visits, this pumping action promotes the diffusion (imbibition) of water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids from the outside of the discs to the inside. These nutrients enable the torn and degenerated disc fibers to begin to heal.

For low back pain, with or without sciatica, the patient lies comfortably on his back or stomach on the decompression table, with a set of nicely padded straps snug around the waist and another set around the lower chest. For neck pain, with or without radiating arm pain, the patient lies comfortably on her back with a pair of soft rubber pads behind the neck. Many patients enjoy the treatment, as it is usually quite comfortable and well tolerated. Since many patients feel no pain during treatment, they often fall asleep.

UNDERSTANDING NON-SURGICAL SPINAL DECOMPRESSION

Our website is designed for anyone else suffering from back pain, sciatica, shooting/stabbing leg pain, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, bulging discs, tingling, numbness, arm pain, neck pain, and some patients with spinal stenosis and even failed low back syndrome. It also educates current patients, physicians, and other medical specialists not familiar with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.  Spinal Decompression is a safe and non-surgical form of therapy that allows patients a 70%-86% chance of resuming a normal lifestyle. We hope our website will educate Americans who are suffering with debilitating pain on a daily basis.   This is a safe, effective, alternative option to surgery, drugs, epidurals, and cortisone shots.  Patients can now be informed and updated with current working knowledge of these conditions and the latest non-surgical breakthrough called non-surgical spinal decompression.

We sincerely hope you find the information useful. We further hope that you take advantage of all the material which is provided for your benefit. You are going to have some tough decisions to make, and you should be making those decisions based on your comfort level. Choices must be made. Some treatments are aimed at pain suppression and temporary pain relief. Other treatments are corrective in nature. Know the difference! Empower yourself to choose those procedures that make sense to you, it’s your health. EXPLORE this new technology! LEARN how is works! START getting pain relief today.

UNDERSTANDING SCIATICA

The sciatic nerve is a collection of several nerve roots that exit between your lumbar spinal bones (vertebrae). These nerve roots join together and form the largest nerve in the body, the sciatic nerve. This nerve travels down from the low back under the buttock muscles all the way down the legs and feet. Sciatica is a term to describe an irritation or pressure on the nerve, which is commonly caused by a herniated or bulging disc (also referred to as a ruptured disc, pinched nerve, or slipped disc) in the lumbar spine. The pressure or irritation leads to a complex of symptoms that include sharp, radiating pain, burning, and/or numbness and tingling. This is a very debilitating condition that affects thousands of people every year. Piriformis syndrome can mimic Sciatica, we will test for that as well during your examination.  After we perform a detailed exam, if you have not had an MRI in over a year, we may suggest an MRI if your symptoms indicate a herniated or bulging disc.

Generally speaking, herniated or bulging discs are the cause of the problem. The herniated material of the disc will compress or contact the exiting nerve root producing the symptoms. Sometimes central canal stenosis, lateral canal stenosis, spondylolithesis, or degenerative disc disease can cause this nerve compression as well. The problem is often diagnosed as a “radiculopathy”, meaning that one or more intervertebral discs have herniated or protruded from its normal position in the vertebral column and is putting pressure on the nerve root in the lower back, which forms part of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica occurs most frequently in people between 30 and 50 years of age. On many occasions this condition slowly develops as a result of general wear and tear on the structures of the lower spine and discs. Rarely is this condition surgical. Unless there is a progressive neurological deficit, or cauda equina syndrome, the majority of people who experience sciatica get pain relief with non-surgical treatments. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is very effective for these conditions. Physical therapy and Chiropractic care may be recommended when the worse of your symptoms have improved.  If you have tried cortisone shots, nerve blocks, physical therapy, and chiropractic and had little relief, ( but are still holding off on surgery ) you may be a candidate.

UNDERSTANDING SCIATIC PAIN

Since sciatica nerve pain is caused by a combination of pressure and inflammation on the nerve root, treatment is centered on relieving both these factors, typical non-surgical sciatica treatments include:

• Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Chiropractic Manipulation Therapy
• Massage Therapy
• Acupuncture

ALTERNATIVES TO NON-SURGICAL SPINAL DECOMPRESSION:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, COX-2 inhibitors and oral steroids can be helpful in reducing inflammation and pain associated with sciatica.

EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTIONS

The goals of non-surgical treatments should include both relief of sciatica pain and prevention of future sciatica problems. Injections are invasive and are usually provide temporary relief and are clearly not the solution.

SURGICAL OPTIONS

How does Spinal Decompression work?   The pumping action described below does two amazing things:

• As the Spinal Decompression table gently pulls on your spine, this gentle pull separates the vertebrae from each other, creating a negative vacuum effect inside of the discs.  This vacuum effect causes  the bulging or herniated to retract back into the inside of the disc, thus taking pressure off of the nerve root.  It is the pressure on the nerve root that is causing the pain.  It happens only microscopically each time, but cumulatively the results are quite dramatic.
• Also, this pumping action re-hydrates and provides nutrient-rich fluids from the outside of the discs to the inside. These nutrients enable the torn and degenerated disc fibers to begin to heal.  Only a few years ago, it was thought that once a disc was degenerated, there was nothing you could do. Now we routinely see discs gain one to two millimeters of sustained increased disc height. While this may not seem like much, it can make all the difference in the world for your nerves.  Two supplements we recommend with treatment are ArthoSoothe and Ultra Marine Omega-3 to nutritionally support healing of the disc. 

Does Spinal Decompression work for all spinal conditions?

No. But it is effective in most cases we accept in our office. We’ve treated many cases, some of these patients had both neck and low back pain.

Typically dramatic improvements:

• Sciatica (pain radiating down one or both legs)
• Radiating neck pain (typically down one or both arms, into the chest, and/or into the upper and middle back)

Typically very good improvements:

• Arthritis
• Headaches
• Chronic neck pain
• Chronic low back pain

Typically tough cases with 20-50% improvement:

• Spinal stenosis caused by significant bone spurring

How long does it take?

Each patient responds to treatment differently. As a general rule, chronic pain and older patients take longer than healthy young adults.  Every patient is different.  Each patient has a treatment plan tailored specifically to his or her condition. In general, the total treatment ranges from two to four months and may include from 20-40 visits, more frequently in the beginning and tapering off as your spine begins to stabilize. Usually you will be in the office for about 45-50 minutes, some tougher cases which include multiple herniations or involve both neck and low back, may require rehab exercises or other therapies,  require up to an hour.

How much does it cost?

That depends on many factors, as there are many variations of disc injury and severity. The great news is that it can be very affordable, and we at Linn City Chiropractic and Spinal Decompression are dedicated to making this safe, breakthrough therapy available to all patients, providing stress-free payment plans. This enables patients to receive the care they desperately need even if they are on fixed incomes. The typical treatment program may vary from $2500-$6000 to even more. Check out the cost effectiveness of spinal decompression. The cost of Spinal Decompression Therapy ranges from $135 - $250 per treatment.  The range is included because some patients need other services (i.e. myofascial release, rehabilitative exercises, chiropractic adjustments, massage, heat, and ice).

Do you bill insurance, and does it cover any of this treatment?

We will do our best to maximize your health insurance benefits.  Insurance companies will not pay for the spinal decompression, however, it may pay for the chiropractic part of your treatment.  Several payment options are available. Many patients choose to treat at Linn City Family Chiropractic & Spinal Decompression due to the convenience, flexibility, and price — even when their insurance will not cover treatment. Patients call us “the nicest chiropractic clinic in town”, both in terms of the physical appearance of the office and the friendliness and caring of the staff.  Please click the Chase link from the home page and read about getting no-interest financing if you cannot afford, but absolutely need care.  It is fast, convenient, and available for any medical care that you may need.  In most cases you are approved in less than 5 minutes.

Is there any research on the effectiveness of Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression?

Absolutely! There are many tables that perform non-surgical decompression of the spine. The following results were obtained from DRS/Inter-Discal Decompression (IDD) therapy, Vertebral-Axial Decompression and DTS Spinal Decompression Therapy. Although the concept of non-surgical Spinal Decompression therapy is similar in the DRS/VAX-D, please note that each table is a registered trademark and the following research may be specific to a specific decompression table/protocol employed. LCD is up to 70% successful, but studies on Spinal Decompression indicate between a 71%-90% success rate with one study reporting an immediate resolution of symptoms in 86% of the participants involved.  Spinal surgery is about 50% effective and in most cases, scar tissue needs to be removed years later.

Clinical Trials:

In a recent journal article in Orthopedic Technology Review titled Surgical Alternatives: Spinal Decompression, results showed that 86% of the 219 patients who completed the therapy reported immediate resolution of symptoms while 84% of patients remained pain free 90 days post treatment. Physical examination findings showed improvement in 92% of the 219 patients, and remained intact in 89% of these patients 90 days after treatment.

Another article in Journal of Neurological Research reported that vertebral axial [spinal] decompression was successful in 71% of the 778 cases”. The success rate varied from 73% for patients with a single herniated disc. It was 72% for people with multiple herniated discs.

The American Journal of Pain Management reported “good to excellent” relief in 86% patients with Herniated discs, with back pain and sciatica symptoms being relieved. Good to excellent results were also obtained in 75% of those with facet syndrome.

A small non-randomized study in Anaesthesiology News reported of the 23 patients who responded to therapy, 52% had a pain level of zero, 91% were able to resume their normal daily activities, and 87% were either working or were retired without having back pain as the cause of retirement.

In a small study to determine the long-term effects of vertebral axial decompression, the following results were obtained: “Among 23 patients, 71% showed more than 50% reduction in pain immediately after treatment, and 86% showed a 50% or better pain reduction at four years. After four years, 52% of respondents reported a pain level of zero. Thus, pain relief not only improved but lasted. This pilot study shows great promise for long term relief and new pain management techniques.

An interesting study at the Rio Grande Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery compared the effects of 20 treatment sessions vs. 10 treatment sessions on chronic low back pain sufferers. The group receiving 20 treatments of decompression therapy reported a 76.5% with complete remission and 19.6% with partial remission of pain and disability. The second group, receiving 10 treatments of decompression therapy, reported a 42.9% rate of remission and 24.1% with partial remission. Failure rate was only 3.9% for those receiving 20 treatment sessions while it was 32.9% for those receiving only 10 sessions. Remission was defined as 90% or greater relief of pain, back to work without limitations, and abilities to carry out Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s). Partial remission was defined as persistence of some pain but ability to carry out most ADL’s and return to work with some restriction of duties, depending on the occupation. Failure rate was defined as no change in the level of pain and or/ADL.

As you can see from the abovereferenced Clinical Trials, Spinal Decompression Therapy may be the only effective therapy for some people experiencing Discogenic or Arthritic pain (pain arising from the disc or caused by various types of Spinal Arthritis). In addition, promising research suggests that the effects of Spinal Decompression Therapy can be a long-lasting solution to certain chronic back pain disorders. Although failure rates are relatively low, studies suggest that completion of prescribed treatments can reduce failure rates from 32.9% to 3.9%.

What if it doesn’t work or I’m not a candidate for this kind of treatment?

We work closely with other health care professionals here in Clackamas County; from Psychologists to Neurosurgeons.  Sometimes patients havewaited too long before they found out about Spinal Decompression and may no longer be candidates for treatment here. For some conditions we refer to acupuncturists, for others to minimally invasive surgical procedures or even disc surgeries. The Portland area is home to some of the top neuro and orthopedic surgeons in Oregon, and we have good working relations with many of them.   The medical doctors we recommend are professionals and come highly recommended by our current patients and through personal experience. Of course, surgery should always be a last resort (any good surgeon will tell you that).

How is spinal decompression different from a traction or an inversion table?

Traction has been around for thousands of years, but with very limited results. Traction does basically the same thing, but instead of gradually increasing the pull and gently pumping the discs, traction pulls all at once, quite strongly, and holds steady for an extended period. If the patient doesn’t start out with much pain or muscle tightness, then traction or an inversion table could feel good. However, research shows that any significant disc condition is going to have moderate to severe guarding surrounding the injured area, and that often this guarding will cause an increase in the pressure on the disc when subjected to traction.

I have heard of other tables claiming to be “the only true Spinal Decompression” or the only FDA-approved Spinal Decompression. Is this true?

Ask for documentation. The FDA “clears” medical equipment; it doesn’t approve it. Also, the FDA makes no distinction between any of the spinal decompression tables.

What about “manual spinal decompression” or “flexion & distraction” or “imbibition”?

While all of these can be beneficial for the spine, the research is lacking on proving decompression on the discs or long-term reduction of disc herniations.

First, everyone responds differently to pain. For some people, the pain from sciatica can be severe and debilitating. For others, the pain might come and go intermittently, and not be so intense. Usually, sciatica only affects one side of the lower body, and the pain often radiates from the lower back into the deep buttocks all the way through the back of the thigh and down through the leg.  Sometimes the person experiences calf or foot pain. It is quite variable.

One or more of the following sensations may occur as a result of sciatica:

• Pain in the buttocks or leg that is worse when sitting
• Burning or tingling down the leg
• Weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg or foot , with the
• Leg pain being a little worse than the back pain.

While sciatica can be very painful, it is important to keep in mind that the main problem may be with the intervertebral discs. Most likely the discs are dry and weakened due to “wear and tear” injuries. Treatment goals should be to minimize pain, minimize the disc herniation, re-hydrate and re-nourish the discs and nerveroots, and to strengthen and rehabilitate for permanency and prevention of re-injury. This is where spinal decompression therapy can be very effective.

Symptoms that may constitute a medical emergency include: Progressive weakness in the leg (drop foot), loss of control of bladder/bowel or incontinence, and/or total paresthesia of an extremity.  As mentioned above, this may represent a rare condition called cauda equina syndrome. Seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing these signs.  A MRI is warranted in symptoms such as these.

In general, patients with complicating factors should contact their doctor if sciatica occurs, including people who have been diagnosed with cancer; take steroid medication; abuse drugs;  have diabetes; have unexplained, significant weight loss; or have HIV/AIDs.  If you are doubting your doctor’s opinion, use common sense and get a second opinion.