You've probably seen the newspaper ads that "hype"
Spinal Decompression Therapy asking you to call some unknown doctor's office
in order to receive a free report in the mail. We do not believe anyone
should have to do that!
Our website will give you the complete facts about
Spinal Decompression Therapy including published
studies and actual case studies from our
office that support its effectiveness.
And we will also tell you the approximate treatment
cost. We do that so you will be better able to make an informed decision
about what you should do for your condition and because our fees are a fraction
of what some other clinics charge.
If you need any additional information, please
call our office at 444-DISC and ask to speak to either one of us. That's
right, we'll talk to you personally in order to help you make the right
decision.
THANKS FOR
VISITING!
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
What is Spinal Decompression Therapy?
Spinal
decompression therapy has a high success rate for pain associated with herniated
or bulging discs...even after failed surgery. It is a non-surgical,
traction based outcome for the relief of back and leg pain or neck and arm
pain. During this procedure, by cycling through distraction and relaxation
phases and by proper positioning, a spinal disc can be placed under negative
pressure, causing a vacuum effect within it.
How does this negative pressure affect an injured
disc?
During spinal
decompression therapy, a negative pressure is created within the disc.
Because of that negative pressure, disc material that has protruded
or herniated can be pulled back within the normal confines of the disc, and
permit healing to occur.
What
system is used for this purpose and are the doctors certified in spinal
decompression therapy?
After a significant
amount of research, the Austin Chiropractic Center chose the
Triton®
DTS system manufactured by
the Chattanooga Group, the premier manufacturer of physical medicine equipment.
More importantly, our two systems - yes, we have TWO complete
systems to avoid patient wait times - have the brand new computerized head
which is the most sophisticated and technologically advanced unit in the
world. No office - and we do mean NO OFFICE - has more "state of the art"
spinal decompression systems.
In fact, the new
Triton®
head is so revolutionary that
it won the Australian Design Award in the "Medical and Scientific" category.
It is also the system that the University of Texas purchased for the
treatment of its world-class athletes. We also selected the
Triton®
DTS systems due to their ability
to treat discs in both the neck and the low back.
In regard to clinical
skills, both Dr. Edwards and Dr. Vaughn have completed the Kennedy Decompression
Technique course work and passed the qualifying examination to achieve the
status of "Certified
Practitioner" in spinal decompression therapy.
How
is Spinal Decompression Therapy different from regular
traction?
The award winning
Triton®
computer is the key. It controls
the variations in the traction pull allowing for spinal decompression and
eliminating muscle guarding that is typical in conventional traction devices.
The preprogrammed patterns for ramping up and down the amount of axial
distraction allows for higher levels of spinal decompression and disc
rehydration.
Who
can benefit from Spinal Decompression
Therapy?
Anyone who
has back pain or neck pain caused in whole or in part by a damaged disc may
be helped by spinal decompression therapy. These conditions include herniated,
protruding or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, sciatica or radiculopathy (pinched
nerves).
Are
there medical studies that document the effectiveness of Spinal Decompression
Therapy?
Yes!
One study documented by MRI up
to 90% reduction
of disc herniations in 10 of 14 cases and other studies reported that the
majority of ruptured disc patients achieved "good" to "excellent" results
after spinal decompression therapy.
Click
here if you would like to review the studies yourself or
click here to read case studies on actual patients
from our office.
The February 2007
issue of "To Your Health" Magazine features an article about spinal
decompression therapy authored by one of our doctors, James Edwards. In
the article, Dr. Edwards discusses the safety and effectiveness of this
non-surgical treatment for spinal disc herniations.
Are
there conditions where Spinal Decompression Therapy is not indicated?
Spinal
decompression therapy is not recommended for pregnant women, patients who
have severe osteoporosis, severe obesity or severe nerve damage.
Spinal surgery
with instrumentation (screws, metal plates or “cages”) is also
contraindicated. However, spinal decompression therapy after bone fusion
or non-fusion surgery, can be performed.
Are
the sessions painful, how many will be needed and what is the
cost?
In almost all
cases, the treatments are completely painless. In fact, some patients
fall asleep during the spinal decompression session.
The number of
sessions needed and your specific treatment plan will be determined by the
doctor after your examination.
Our customary fee
for each spinal decompression session is only $75 which means the total cost
will be a small fraction of the $5,000+ amounts that some other doctors are
charging.
If your insurance
company covers spinal decompression therapy, reimbursement varies but your
out-of-pocket expense for all needed services could be as little as your
co-payment.
If not covered
by insurance, we offer CareCredit that will allow you to make 6
monthly payments with no interest. To apply for financing online
and get instant approval in advance, just go to
CareCredit.com.
.
.
.
Do
most patients receive therapy and rehabilitative exercises in addition to
Spinal Decompression Therapy?
To reduce
inflammation and assist the healing process, supporting structures are treated
with passive therapies (ice/heat/muscle stimulation), chiropractic adjustments
(as indicated) and/or active rehabilitation in order to strengthen the
spinal musculature.
How
do I get started?
.
We want to
make it easy for you to learn if you are a candidate for spinal decompression
therapy. Just call our office to arrange a consultation with one of our doctors.
Please remember
to bring any MRI reports so the doctor can review them and best advise you
about your treatment options.
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only by individuals currently under the active care of our clinic. These
individuals, however, should first obtain the permission of our doctors prior
to implementing any information, resources or tools contained
herein.
Individuals who are not currently or have not previously been under the active
care of our doctors are also welcome to view the contents of our web site.
However, we strongly recommend against utilizing any of the information contained
herein unless prior approval from our doctors or another licensed health
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No individuals, including those under our active care, should use the
information, resources or tools contained within to self-diagnose or self-treat
any health-related condition. Diagnosis and treatment of all health conditions
should only be performed by a licensed health care professional.
to 90% reduction
of disc herniations in 10 of 14 cases and other studies reported that the
majority of ruptured disc patients achieved "good" to "excellent" results
after spinal decompression therapy. 
