Has anyone tried Spinal Decompression?

[longroadahead]

Ok, thanks for all the information.

I have an inversion table and it is hard too describe the feeling after hanging upside down. The best way is I feel stiff and don't want to bend over afterwards.

I had a feeling about spinal compression that it would be junt another good intention treatment that wouldn't work but am worried about ADR after reading there seem to be a lot of people who end up getting the disc removed. I have a list of questions for the Dr. and think I will see if a discogram could be ordered to make sure the pain is really the disc.

As far as my insurance goes while it is approved I still have not got the quote how much Out of Pocket it will be. I am sure it will be a lot of $.

[longroadahead]

I had my appointment with Genesis Spine Associates yesterday.

They reviewed my lumbar MRI with me and basically said I had disc dehydration with bulge at L5/S1 and mainly disc dehydration at L 4/5. The decompression treatment basically gently stretches and releases the spine in attempt to create a vacuum to get the disc back in place and get the surrounding blood/nutrients back into the disc so it can repair itself. Sounds good in theory.

Then got to do a treatment. First a heat pad is placed on your back to warm up the muscles and then your placed on the decompression table. Your strapped in and then you feel it pulling and releasing. Lastly, electrical stimulation of the back muscles and iced is placed on the back.

I am tempted to give this a try since my back pain is not disabling and have had less than 1 year. It doesn’t work for everyone of which this is the main issue because of the cost…

[Harrison]

Back in 2003, I found that traction of all types diminished my pain considerably, while also affording me some time that I needed to figure things out. Remember, NO ADRs were approved until later in 2004...

I first had traction from a certified PT, then learned about hanging from a chin-up bar. My brother then lended me his inversion table. That helped me all the way up until my surgery in June of 2004.

Traction is not right for everyone (it has hurt some). For others, it's a lifesaver. Good luck with your next steps.

[CharlesinCharge]

You can definitely give it a try and it is doubtful it will do any harm, although in the expose that I saw there were a couple of people that felt worse afterwards. I saw an expose on TV in which they investigated several of these "back pain cures" that you see advertised all over the Internet and TV. They looked at about 7 or 8 of them, from decompression to gravity devices (you hang upside down), to supports that go under your back and legs while you lay down, and several other things. About 90% of the people they interviewed said the treatment either did not work or gave them minimal relief, and insurance did not pay for any of them. That would be OK if the seller of these treatments were more honest, but all of them claimed that they were "guaranteed to relieve your back pain".

So, you can give it a try but bear in mind that no licensed M.D. or spine specialist would probably ever recommend or endorse that kind of treatment. My Orthopedic Surgeon told me that he put Chiropractors about 1/2 step above faith healers!! When my back first started hurting I went to a Chiropractor and not only did the treatment not help me, but he was like a car salesman he was so pushy, trying to get me to come back every week and to tell all my friends to go see him.

[longroadahead]

I understand...

Called the surgeons office today and they said my out of pocket would be just my $400 per day co-pay in the hospital and any miscellaneous expenses. I assume I would get more firm estimates as time goes on.

The Dr. uses prodisc and they would do a discogram and other such stuff before surgery. They said they are familiar with spinal decompression and it works for some and not others. My thought is ADR has worked for some and not for some as well.

I don't really know how you decide.

Here is what I am thinking... Proceed with surgery date of July or later and start decompression. If decompression works then cancel surgery and if not then have surgery.

But it seems most people have pain worst than mine and also a lot longer than I have so it seems the surgery would be premature.

They have had 3 other patients who have had the lumbar and cervical disc replaced at the same time but too me it seems like an awful lot.

[longroadahead]

Well, they wanted $4,500 for 20 spinal decompression treatments and that just for the lumbar and not for the cervical.

So, I am just using the inversion table every day. Here is what I do. Warm up back using a heating pad. Then do 10 minutes on the inversion table. I alternate between upside down and back straight again hoping to create the vacuum suction that pops the disc back in place and rehydrate the disc.

Don't know if this can be done but I am sure going to try. Have been doing every day and plan too till the end of June.

[CharlesinCharge]

I think you made the right decision not to pay them all that money, and I hope your plan with the inversion therapy works. To be honest, it all depends on how degenerated your disc is at this point. My surgeon said one of the problems with disc injuries/pain is that they have no blood supply, so no way to really heal themselves. Once the cycle of degeneration starts, it is almost impossible to stop. If you are in the very early stages, you might be able to slow it down or perhaps even stop it if you are very lucky. For most all of us on this board, by the time the pain started and we got an MRI (and later discogram), the degeneration was WAY past any chance of healing the disc.

Good luck,

[kimmers]

Longroadahead,

I tried traction in PT and it made my pain worse. This was with my L4/5 disc.
It cost then in 2007, $4,000 for the spinal decompression. I passed, especially, when the decompression in PT did not work and hurt me more.
I am curious about your insurance, if you don't want to say who they are, you can PM me and I will be mum.
A lot of people on here are fighting insurance and any proof of approval can help them perhaps.
There are many success stories with ADR. Like any surgery, IMHO, the most important thing is the skill of the surgeon with that particular surgery.

Good luck with your treatment.

[longroadahead]

I have HMO Pacificare and work for a large global company. L4/5 and L5/S1 are approved but will still have out of pocket expenses and co-pays. C5/6 has not been approved yet.

[kimmers]

I have heard that Pacificare was approving ADR.
You should have an easier time with cervical.
My hope is that all the insurance companies wake up and cover ADR.
Sounds good Longroadahead.

Kimmers