A slipped disc is an often-painful condition affecting discs between vertebrae.
Spinal decompression describes a variety of surgical and non-surgical procedures to treat pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. Pressure on the nerve roots often results from a condition called a slipped disc. Surgery is not typically necessary to treat a slipped disc. According to MayoClinic.com, only about 10 percent of people with the condition eventually need surgery.
Slipped Disc
Between each pair of vertebrae in thee spine lies a disc with a tough, fibrous exterior that encloses a jellylike nucleus. A herniated disc--colloquially known as a slipped disc--is a condition in which the fibrous layer becomes torn or damaged. That allows some of the material in the nucleus to squeeze out, pressing on nerves and/or triggering an immune response that leads to inflammation. Common symptoms are tingling, numbness and pain in the back, neck and/or arms and legs, depending on the disc's location.
Non-Surgical Decompression
Sometimes called vertebral axial decompression (VAX-D), non-surgical decompression is a procedure wherein the practitioner applies tension to, alternately, stretch and relax the affected area of the spine. Some practitioners and patients claim they've achieved good results in treating problems caused by herniated discs with VAX-D; as noted in a 2007 article in the journal "Chiropractic and Osteopathy," however, the scientific evidence to support use of VAX-D on herniated discs or other conditions is very limited. Further research may be needed to determine whether or not VAX-D is an effective treatment.
Surgical Decompression
Patients may not require surgery to treat a herniated disc. If symptoms continue to worsen, however, and non-surgical alternatives fail to produce improvement, surgery may be warranted. Laminectomy and discectomy are both common surgical decompression procedures. Laminectomy involves removal of the protruding disc and the bony arch of the spinal canal. During a discectomy, the surgeon removes the central part of the herniated disc, typically after cutting away some of the vertebrae to gain access. A microdiskectomy involves the use of a surgical microscope to permit smaller incisions and, thus, minimize disruption to surrounding bone and tissue. Microdiscectomy typically has a shorter recovery time than standard discectomy.
Complications
Like any surgical procedure, surgical decompression carries the risk of possible complications, including infection, spinal instability, spinal cord injury, deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) and spinal fluid leakage. Although spinal surgery is generally successful in ridding patients of pain and symptoms, in some cases the problem recurs or, rarely, pain even increases.
Alternatives
The most common treatment for herniated discs is conservative treatment--bed rest, pain medication and physical therapy. In most cases, back pain caused by a herniated disc improves without the need for surgery. Conservative treatment is not only less expensive than surgery, it avoids many of the risks and is often quite effective.
None of this information is intended as medical advice, however, and questions about choosing the right treatment should be addressed to a doctor.
Tags: herniated disc, herniated discs, caused herniated, need surgery, nerve roots