What
Causes low back pain?
If
I undergo Spinal Decompression treatment, how long does it take to see results?
How long does it take to complete Spinal Decompression treatment?
Do
I qualify for Spinal Decompression Treatment?
Are there any side effects to the treatment?
What
is Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)?
Is
Low Level Laser Therapy well documented?
What
are the physiological effects of Laser Therapy?
What
are the contraindications for Laser Therapy?
What
conditions can LLLT treat?
What
are the advantages of Laser Therapy over other forms of therapy?
Does
it have to be a laser?
How
deep into tissue can a laser penetrate?
What
causes low back pain?
Low back pain can be caused by a number of factors from injuries
to the effects of aging.The spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae,
which are made of bone. Between each vertebra are soft discs with
a ligamentous outer layer. These discs function as shock absorbers
to protect the vertebra and the spinal cord. Many of the problems
that cause back pain are the result of herniation and degeneration
of the intervertebral disc. Degeneration is a process where wear
and tear causes deterioration of the disc. Herniations, or bulging
of the disc are protrusions from the disc that press on surrounding
nerves, causing pain or numbness.
If
I undergo Spinal Decompression treatment, how long does it take to see results?
Most patients report a reduction in pain after the first few sessions.
Typically, significant improvement is obtained by the second week
of treatment.
How
long does it take to complete Spinal Decompression treatment?
Sessions times are between 30-45 minutes, daily for 5 weeks. Though,
the number of sessions may vary depending upon the severity of
the condition.
Do
I qualify for Spinal Decompression treatment?
Since I began using Spinal Decompression spinal disc decompression unit,
I’have been inundated with questions from both doctors and
patients as to which cases it will best help. Obviously proper
patient selection is essential to favorable outcomes, so let me
explain to you of the Inclusion and Exclusion criteria so you
may make the right decision since not everyone qualifies for Spinal Decompression treatment.
Inclusion
Criteria:
- Pain
due to herniated and bulging lumbar discs that is more than
four weeks old
-
Recurrent pain from a failed back surgery that is more than
six months old.
- Persistent
pain from degenerated disc not responding to four weeks of
therapy.
- Patients
available for four weeks of treatment protocol.
- Patient
at least 18 years of age.
Exclusion
Criteria:
- Appliances
such as pedicle screws and rods
- Pregnancy
- Prior
lumbar fusion less than six months old
- Metastatic
cancer
- Severe
osteoporosis
- Spondylolisthesis
(unstable)
- Compression
fracture of lumbar spine below L-1 (recent).
- Pars
defect
- Pathologic
aortic aneurysm.
- Pelvic
or abdominal cancer
- Disc
space infections
- Severe
peripheral neuropathy
- Hemiplegia,
paraplegia, or cognitive dysfunction.
Are
there any side effects to the treatment?
Most patients do not experience any side effects. Though, there
have been some mild cases of muscle spasm for a short period of
time.
What
is Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)?
LLLT is the term commonly used
to describe the bio-stimulating effects of laser light. LLLT stimulates
the body's natural immune and pain controlling responses. Laser
light has the ability to penetrate the skin surface and increase
cellular activity without damaging any tissue.
Is
Low Level Laser Therapy well documented?
Yes.
There are thousands of published studies demonstrating the positive
effects of laser therapy. There are more than 100 double blind
positive studies showing the clinical efficacy of LLLT. These
studies range from wound healing to musculoskeletal conditions.
What
are the physiological effects of Laser Therapy?
· Increased
cellular metabolism, increased ATP production, increased cell
growth.
· Proliferation of; fibroblasts, macrophages, endothelial
cells, mast cells, and more
· Anti-inflammatory action - reducing swelling caused
by bruising or the inflammation of joints.
· Increased vascular activity.
· Pain relief as a result of increased endorphin
release.
What
are the contraindications for Laser Therapy?
Pregnancy,
patients with tumors, patients with pacemakers, patients with
labile epilepsy.
What
conditions can LLLT treat?
o
Chronic back and neck pain
o Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
o Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI)
o Frozen Shoulder
o Plantar Fasciitis
o Post Herpetic Neuralgia
o Brachial Neuralgia
Acute and Chronic Joint Problems
o Ligament and tendon injuries
o Rheumatoid Arthritis
o Osteoarthritis
o Chrondomalacial Patella
Soft Tissue Injuries
o Sprains and Strains
o Hematomas
o Tendonitis, Tenosynovitis
o Capsulitis
o Bursitis
o Myofascial Trigger Points, AhShi Points, & Deep APs
Skin Conditions
o Herpes
o Wound Healing
o Apthous Ulcers
o Leg Ulcers
o Burns
o Dermatitis
o Acne
o Superficial AP Stimulation and Tonification
o Cosmetic
o Acute Epididymitis
What
are the advantages of Laser Therapy over other forms of therapy?
Laser
Therapy has been shown to offer exceptional pain relieving and
healing effects in comparison to various electrotherapeutic devices.
It provides a practitioner a universal method of treating muscle,
tendon, ligament, connective tissue, and skin tissue with one
piece of equipment. Most of all, it provides the clinic with a
noninvasive, drug-free treatment option.
Does
it have to be a laser?
Some
manufacturers produce devices with super luminous diodes (SLD)
or simple light emitting diodes (LED). Monochromatic non-coherent
light can be helpful for superficial wound healing, however, numerous
studies have shown that lasers are far more effective due to their
unique properties. Many super luminous & light emitting diode
products are usually very low powered (typically 5mW-15mW), much
of this energy is scattered, therefore requiring longer treatment
times.
How
deep into tissue can a laser penetrate?
The
depth of penetration of laser light depends on the light's wavelength,
the power output, and the type of driver (pulsed or continuous
mode) but also the treatment technique used (scanning or contact).
The higher the wavelength the deeper the penetration, however,
with wavelengths greater than 930nm water within the tissue absorbs
light and penetration is reduced. There is no exact limit with
respect to the penetration of light. Light gets weaker the further
it gets from the surface it penetrates.
