A 56 year old Caucasian female presented to my office with moderate chronic lower back pain which began 20 years ago with no known onset of injury. Her ADL’s included difficulty turning bending, sleeping, walking and sitting for prolonged periods of time. Examination revealed shortening of the hamstrings, piriformis and erector spinae muscles bilaterally and restricted ROM in the thoracolumbar region. The pain was rated as an 8/10 on the VAS in the lumbar region. LE DTR’s and dermatomes are WNL. The pain has progressively become worse in the last 2 years and she is tired of the pain. 

Diagnostic Studies: A lumbar MRI w/o contrast was ordered and revealed a disc herniation at T11-T12, T12-L1, L1-L2 and disc bulging at L3-L4 and L4-L5.

Recommended course of treatment: 3 consecutive days of Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA) followed by a 6 week intensive physical therapy program.

Conclusion: After receiving 3 consecutive days of MUA performed at an outpatient surgical center, the patient noticed a 65% improvement of her symptoms. She can now resume her ADL’s without difficulty which include household chores and sleep through the night without waking due to pain. Her ROM is full in the thoracolumbar spine. Her pain is rated a 3/10 on the VAS. The patient is excited to resume her normal ADL’s with full function and without a dependency on invasive measures.

 More information on back pain and  Lake Worth Chiropractic.

Physicians Wellness Care, Inc.

6894 Lake Worth Road Suite 104

Lake Worth, FL 33467

(561) 964-9191

www.drmorgen.com

Dr. Sabrina Morgen is a board certified chiropractic physician and has been in private practice for 9 years. She is certified in MUA and pain management and works with a team of board certified physicians who offer the procedure in a JCAHO and AHCA accredited out-patient surgical facility. She welcomes both physician and patient calls at 561-964-9191. The procedure is covered by most insurances.

Spinal decompression effectively creates negative intradiscal pressure within the disc space at specified cervical and lumbar disc levels. A study that was published in Orthopedic Technology Review demonstrated that 86% of the 219 patients who completed the therapy reported immediate resolution of symptoms, while 84% 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.  The cost for successful non-surgical therapy is less than a tenth of that for surgery.  

The results indicate that in treating 219 patients with MRI-documented disc herniation and degenerative disc diseases, treatment was successful as defined by: pain reduction; reduction in use of pain medications; normalization of range of motion, reflex, and gait; and recovery of sensory or motor loss.  

Dr. Sabrina Morgen offers non-surgical decompression in her office and is accepting new patients.  Patient and physician calls are welcome at (561) 964-9191.  She has been in private practice for more than 10 years.

Physicians Wellness Care, Inc.

6894 Lake Worth Road Suite 104

Lake Worth, FL 33467

(561) 964-9191

www.drmorgen.com

drmorgen@drmorgen.com

References:Gionis, MD and Groteke, DC.  Orthopedic Technology Review. Vol 5 No 6 Nov/Dec 2003

Spinal Decompression is a non-invasive, non-surgical therapy where clinical results have been effective in over 86% of patients treated.  The common problems of many back conditions are damaged discs and poor spinal muscle control.  Spinal decompression treatment addresses both of these core problems.  The Spinal decompression system creates a controlled unloading of the vertebra to decrease disc pressure thus increasing blood and nutrient exchange.  This exchange of fluids is something the damaged disc needs to help it heal from the inside out.

Which conditions respond well to Spinal Decompression?

The conditions that respond well to spinal decompression include disc herniations (both single and multilevel), disc bulging, degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome, sciatica neuritis, lumbar and cervical radiculopathy, leg pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis.

How long is the treatment program?

It depends on the complexity and extent of the rehabilitation needed, however we typically treat 3 times per week for 1 month, transitioning from passive to active treatments as the patient responds.  The treatment is administered over a reasonable time frame and the patient’s response is continually evaluated.  Further treatment may be necessary or a reduced frequency may be recommended at that time.  The rehabilitative phase may include additional spinal decompression treatments, with spinal adjustments to enhance the results.  Most patients are released from treatment after 8 weeks.

How does it work?

The gentle stretching and relaxing of the spine fosters a phenomenon called “imbibition.”  This is the way a normal disc gets nutrition.  This pumping action promotes nutrition intake into the discs, something often lost in damaged and degenerative disc conditions.  A disc with poor imbibition, fewer nutrients and hydration, is more likely to become injured and painful.  Tractioning the spine in a controlled, comfortable manner can help re-establish a more normal imbibition.  This can re-supply the disc with nutrients and blood contact that help the disc heal from the inside out.  The dramatic increase of pressure in the disc (decompression) can foster the drawing in of a bulge and help take pressure off a “pinched” spinal nerve.

Are spinal decompression treatments safe?

The spinal decompression treatments are one of the most gentle and comfortable therapies available.  The treatments utilize FDA cleared equipment with proven safety and efficacy and have never been reported to cause injury.  Most patients report a mild sense of stretch on their backs or hips, and often fall asleep during treatment sessions.

How do I see if I am a candidate for spinal decompression therapy?

You can visit USSpinecare.com our website on non-surgical spinal decompression

This article was contributed by Dr. Sabrina Moren of Physicians Wellness Care, Inc. To learn more about her Lake Worth Chiropractic center you can visit www.DrMorgen.com or visit her Lake Worth Chiropractor profile on USSpinecare.com