Frequently Asked Questions

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 Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Decompression …

What is spinal decompression therapy?

Spinal decompression therapy is an effective spinal rehabilitation program for chronic and severe conditions of the spine, primarily the low back.  Back pain is often caused by a build-up of pressure inside of your spinal discs, which can cause bulging or rupturing of the internal jelly-like disc material. The bulging or spilled out disc material is what often puts pressure on the nerves of the spine causing pain which can travel down the legs and into the toes.  This pressure can also cause numbness, tingling, muscle pain and spasms, as well as dysfunction of the bladder and bowels.  Spinal decompression treatment works by using a computerized mechanical system to reverse the high amounts of pressure inside the discs causing pressure on the nerves.  When undergoing spinal decompression, negative pressure is placed on the spinal column, and the spaces between your spinal vertebrae become larger, creating a vacuum space which causes healing fluids to return to the damaged disc area, and draws displaced disc material back into place.  Once the pressure on the disc is relieved, the disc goes to work healing itself and resolving the cause of nerve irritation.  Decompression also helps strengthen the ligament bonds that hold disc material into place, which helps prevent future recurrence of disc herniation problems.  We have found that once a disc has healed through spinal decompression, it is up to twice as strong as normal disc material, making it unlikely a problem will reoccur at that same disc level.

Does it work?

Spinal decompression does work for the vast majority of patients who qualify for the procedure.Of patients that we see who have severe low back pain, approximately 75% of them are good candidates for spinal decompression.Of patients who begin treatment, over 80% of them will see results from spinal decompression, ranging from a general decrease in pain and increase in mobility, to a complete recovery in which a patient is totally pain free and able to return to virtually any activity they desire.  If you have severe low back or neck pain, chances are very good that spinal decompression can help you.

Will this help everyone with back pain?

As much as we would love to help everyone feel better and resume pain free lives, not everyone will benefit from spinal decompression.  Certain people, such as those who are pregnant, those who have rods in their spine and those who are severely obese will likely not be candidates for the procedure.  Others who have recent spinal fractures, surgical fusion or metallic hardware, surgically repaired aneurysms, infections of the spine, or moderate to severe osteoporosis are also not likely to be candidates. Sometimes other conditions exist which will prevent a patient from being a good candidate, and this determination is made by the doctor after thoroughly examining you and reviewing results of any appropriate tests.  Also, in approximately 14% of cases, spinal decompression will be unsuccessful in relieving the pain.  The good news is, while we can’t help everybody, spinal decompression is showing much higher success rates in rehabilitating severe and chronic back and neck pain cases than long-term drugs, physical therapy, injections, traditional chiropractic, acupuncture, massage and most surgical procedures, so chances are very good that spinal decompression can help you.

What conditions is spinal decompression therapy good for?

Spinal decompression is FDA approved for treatment of multiple types of disc conditions including bulging discs, herniated discs, degenerated discs, ruptured and protruding disks of the lumbar and cervical spine, joint arthrosis, facet syndrome, stenosis, sciatica, and spondylolisthesis.

Can spinal decompression treat my whole back?

We have been using spinal decompression therapy here in Champaign for little more than three years to treat degenerative conditions of the lower back or lumbar spine.  We have recently added the capacity to use the same breakthrough technology to treat degenerative conditions of the neck or cervical spine.  Combining both abilities, we now have the ability to treat the whole lumbar spine, the whole cervical spine and most of the thoracic spine or middle back.  So if you suffer from degenerative changes in any level of your spine, odds are excellent that we can treat your condition safely and non-invasively right here in our office.  Call 217-239-PAIN (7246) today to reserve your appointment and see if spinal decompression could be the answer you've been looking for to treat, reduce or even permanently resolve your back pain.

How do I know if it will help me?

The only way to know for sure if you are a candidate for spinal decompression therapy is to visit and be evaluated by a highly trained doctor that specializes in this procedure.  Through intensive levels of ongoing training, as well as through experience, a spinal decompression doctor can determine just who the best candidates for spinal decompression are.  There are currently only a few types of spinal decompression tables approved for treating the above listed conditions.  At this time, these include the Health Star Elite, DRX-9000, ATX, AccuSpine, Lordex and Spine Med.  Gossett Clinic offers spinal decompression with the Health Star Elite table supported by the SpinalAid franchise support system and the 30 years experience Dr. Gossett has had in managing low back and neck pain.  SpinalAid provides the necessary training to the doctors and provides patient information materials in order to educate and successfully treat the greatest number of people possible.  When seeking spinal decompression care, be sure you are consulting a spinal decompression specialist with an FDA approved spinal decompression table rather than a general physician with a traditional traction table because the research demonstrates that not all traction is the same.  To find out if you are a candidate for spinal decompression and you are located in Central Illinois, contact us at 217-239-PAIN (7246) to set up a complimentary consultation and preliminary examination.  To find a spinal decompression doctor in your area, visit www.spinalaid.com and search for a doctor by zip code or call 1-800-4-LOWBACK

Why doesn’t my regular doctor know about this?

Non-surgical spinal decompression is a relatively new medical procedure, and word is slowly getting out about its safety and effectiveness in treating previously difficult to resolve chronic and severe back pain cases.  Because this procedure is so new, most doctors still don’t know about it and how it can benefit their patients.  Out of 465,000 physicians trained to treat lower back problems, only 2,500 currently offer spinal decompression as an option to their patients. This number is growing as the benefits of spinal decompression make themselves apparent.  If your doctor has not yet heard about spinal decompression therapy and how it can be used to successfully treat disc problems, please have them contact us at 217-239-PAIN (7246), and we would be happy to provide them with informational materials and published case studies so they can help other people like you.

Why should I choose spinal decompression over long-term drugs or surgery?

Spinal decompression therapy is an ideal alternative to long-term drug usage and is a practical step to take prior to surgery.  Long-term drug therapies have been shown to be of limited effectiveness in treating conditions of the spine.  Drugs can relieve symptoms temporarily, however often lose effectiveness over time, necessitating frequent switches between medications.  Drugs also often have the risk of unpleasant and hazardous side effects, which make them undesirable for long-term use in managing chronic pain.  Drugs also often do not correct the cause of the pain, so spinal degeneration and a worsening of the condition results over time.  Spinal surgery is limited in effectiveness and also involves a great deal of risk, including the risks of paralysis and death.  In some cases, surgery is necessary to correct a spinal problem, however it is reported that in many cases, surgery is unsuccessful in resolving the pain.  Back surgery also tends to weaken the spine by causing damage to the ligaments and connective tissues and causing the formation of scars.  Spinal decompression is different because it treats the cause of many types of back and neck pain, relieving the pressure on the spinal nerves and stimulating the natural healing processes of the body to correct the problem at its source.  In fact, in Canada, which has a nationalized health system, all patients with back pain must utilize spinal decompression before surgery is considered for coverage, unless the patient has a contraindication.  This is because when the cause of the pain is treated, the necessity for drugs and surgery to manage the symptoms disappears.  As a result, the Canadian Health System is saving hundreds of thousands of health dollars every week.  Furthermore, spinal decompression is safe, without the associated side effects of drugs or the risks and recovery time of surgery.  Also, spinal decompression is a long-term solution, as it heals the cause of the problem and also strengthens the ligaments of the spine with Type-IV collagen, which is stronger than the original tissue.  For further explanation and an animated demonstration about Type-IV collagen and how it develops through spinal decompression, visit www.spinalaid.com. Because of the benefits of strengthening the spinal tissues, spinal decompression therapy can even help prevent the recurrence of future disc injury to the discs that were treated.  Also, even if spinal decompression is not successful in resolving the cause of your particular pain, surgery remains an option.  The reverse, however, is not necessarily true, as back surgery decreases the likelihood that you can be a candidate for decompression.  By now you can see that it makes sense to try spinal decompression before exploring the surgical options, or to see if you are a candidate for spinal decompression prior to considering further surgeries.

How is spinal decompression different than traction therapy?

Spinal decompression is more effective than traditional traction therapy because of the technology employed.  Spinal decompression tables are able to effectively isolate individual discs for treatment, as well as to treat multiple discs at a time by changing the angle of the table.  Decompression tables also employ a computer program that allows for the relaxation of the muscles along the spine, allowing for effective creation of inter-disc negative pressure, which draws displaced disc material back into place and stimulates the formation of Type-IV Collagen.  Traditional traction tables are unable to overcome the problem of reflex muscle tension which happens at a weight load of 35-50 lbs.  Reflex muscle tension occurs when your muscles tense up and refuse to allow further movement of the spine.  This reaction of your body is designed to prevent further injury to you, however, it actually prevents your spine from healing when it is faced with traditional traction methods. Spinal decompression utilizes a gentle and steady computerized cycle of stretching and relaxing, starting at 50 lbs and gradually increasing to half of the patient’s body weight.  The stretch-relax cycle is what allows for overcoming the body’s natural tendency to tense up and also helps eliminate developed scar tissue, and stimulates your body's natural healing to take place.

Is it safe?

Yes, spinal decompression is safe.  In fact, this procedure is non-invasive as well.  Spinal decompression doctors are highly trained in the correct setup and proper utilization procedures in order to ensure maximum safety, comfort and effectiveness of the therapy.  In the more than three years that we have been treating patients with this procedure,  there have not yet been any reported negative outcomes.   Furthermore, you don't even need to remove your clothing when undergoing treatment, making this a safe and comfortable procedure for even those most squeamish about medical treatments.   In fact, there will never be a needle, drug or knife of any kind involved in your treatment.

Does it hurt?

Spinal decompression is described by most patients as painless.  Many patients fall asleep during treatment.  Other patients report an endorphin rush or “runner’s high” while going through their treatment.  About a third of patients report immediate reduction in pain and a sense of relieved pressure in the back, while another third experience this during the latter part of their treatment.  The remaining third of patients require post-decompression rehabilitation to fully resolve their pain, and you will work closely with Dr. Gossett in order to determine if rehabilitation is a necessary part of treatment for you. Every patient is different, but most of them agree that this treatment is quite comfortable to experience.

What is spinal decompression treatment like?

When you undergo spinal decompression treatment, you can first expect to come in for a consultation.  During your initial consultation, the doctor will want to examine your medical files, including all Xrays, MRIs, films and reports you may have had performed.  You will also answer an exhaustive health questionnaire and the doctor will perform a preliminary exam in order to determine if you are a qualified candidate.  If you are a qualified candidate, the doctor will arrange for an initial treatment to familiarize you with the procedure and our staff, possibly even on your first visit. Prior to your next visit, the doctor will develop a treatment plan based on your unique needs and condition, as well as prepare all necessary financial arrangements for you.  Once you agree to the treatment plan and make payment arrangements, you will begin treatment.  Your treatment will consist of first heat therapy to relax the muscles and soften the ligament scar tissue and prepare your spine for decompression.  The decompression treatment follows, whereby the doctor properly sets you up to the table, making all the necessary adjustments and selecting the computerized program that is right for you.  Once your decompression session is over, you are typically given electrostim therapy along with ice therapy to help reduce pain, inflammation and muscle tension followed by immediate placement of a firm lower-spine or neck support brace before standing erect.  This schedule of treatment is typically one hour per visit followed 3 times per week to ensure maximum benefit.  The doctor also prescribes a tens unit and ice pack for electrostim treatments at home.  You will also be provided with necessary orthopedic and nutritional support to allow normal positional healing with elasticity in your spine.

How long does it take?

The typical spinal decompression patient must undergo 20-30 treatment sessions over the course of 6-9 weeks in order to achieve maximum treatment effectiveness and pain relief.  Once the initial decompression therapy is completed, it is often recommended that the patient undergo a rehabilitation program in order to restore full range of motion and flexibility to the spine as well as to strengthen core muscles in order to maximize function and prevent future re-injury.

When will I start to feel better?

Some patients begin to feel better during their very first session.  Others require several weeks worth of treatment before they begin to feel the pain relief.  When you start to feel better depends on the severity and cause of your particular pain.  The most typical result is that patients slowly and gradually start to feel better over the course of time.  The pain relief is cumulative, meaning the longer you go through the therapy, the better you feel, with maximum pain relief usually achieved by the end of the treatment plan.  Some patients must complete a rehabilitation program after spinal decompression in order to attain maximum relief and functionality.

Will I have to keep coming back for treatment?

When you choose to undergo spinal decompression treatment, you as the patient must commit to completing the full 20-30 treatment plan in order to achieve maximum results.  Patients who miss sessions or don’t complete the program unsurprisingly do not achieve the results that they desire.  As a patient, it is also your responsibility to follow the doctor’s instructions about restricting strenuous activities, wearing your back or neck brace to maintain the decompression in between sessions and also to follow the recommended home therapy and nutrition program.  Once your decompression treatment plan is completed, it is often recommended patients return for the rehabilitation program, which maximizes flexibility, strengthens your spine and core muscles as well as gives you the proper skills to avoid re-injuring your spine in the future.

Nutrition - Do I have to?

In a word?  No.  If you are not comfortable following a nutritional program, we can not force you, however, we know that chronic pain depletes your body's supply of nutrients, especially those related to producing seratonin (often known as the "feel good" neurotransmitter).  When your body is depleted of seratonin, you experience symptoms of depression.  In fact, depression is clinically defined as a lack of seratonin and that is why Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's) are used medically in treating depression.  Replenishing your body's nutrients in a highly absorbable and consistent way will allow you to produce more of your own seratonin, which will help relieve any depression symptoms you may be experiencing and help you feel better faster.  Relieving depression symptoms also often results in the reduced perception of physical pain as well, helping you to break the cycle of feeling worse because you feel bad on top of being in physical pain.  If you have been in pain for 90 or more days, replenishing your body's supply of nutrients is even more vital because your body has been in a state of chronic stress and depletion.  When recovering from long term chronic pain, nutritional support is especially crucial and can take a period of 90 - 120 days before your body's stores of nutrients and neurotransmitter production begin to return to normal. This is because the depletion of vital nutrients didn't happen overnight, and replenishing them takes time.  To help start you on the road to replenishing your body with necessary vital nutrients, we provide you with your first month's supply of our personal favorite whole nutrition supplements as part of your treatment program.  We take them ourselves, and we recommend them to our patients because of the results they provide.  Please visit our nutrition page for more information about these supplements, or to place an order.  

What about the rehabilitation program – is it necessary?

The rehabilitation program is not necessary for every patient, however, in some cases, the doctor knows that you will achieve the greatest results and minimize your risk of re-injury in the future by adding the spinal rehabilitation program after your decompression treatment is completed.  Many times, especially when you have suffered with long term back pain, the muscles, tendons and ligaments of your back or neck have learned to move or not move in certain ways in order to protect the injury to your spine.  Even when the problem has been corrected through spinal decompression, the muscle, tendon and ligament behavior remains, and can cause limited mobility, discomfort, pain or can even lead to future difficulties.  These soft tissue problems are corrected through rehabilitation, which restores full range of motion, relieves any residual discomfort and strengthens your entire spine and core area in order to maximize flexibility and prevent future injuries to your back.  After all your decompression sessions are completed, a re-examination will be performed and the doctor will discuss with you any rehabilitation program that may be necessary or will release you from care if rehabilitation is not needed in your particular case.

What does rehabilitation involve?

Post spinal decompression rehabilitation involves a number of treatments and activities designed to address any remaining muscle, ligament, tendon, joint and disc issues that may remain in your spine.  Moist heat and diathermy is utilized in order to release muscle tension and soften ligament scar tissue.  Patients then utilize wobble seat and wobble board active exercise to help restore normal motion to spinal joints that may be stiff.  Wobble seat and wobble board exercises help increase muscle, tendon and ligament strength, increase oxygen and nutrient flow into the spinal joints and discs, and increase the rate that toxins and waste products are eliminated, speeding healing time and increasing total spine functionality.  During the wobble seat and wobble board activities, the patient is taken through several active stretching, balancing and coordination exercises in order to restore balance, full range of motion and eliminate any remaining muscle, ligament or tendon pain, tension and dysfunction.  Finally, rehabilitation wraps up with a relaxing session of intersegmental traction on our specialized intersegmental traction table.  This unit has a rolling mechanism that moves up and down the spine to establish normal segmental movement of each spinal vertebrae and also produces a massaging action on the muscles along the spine.  The rehabilitation program typically lasts from 4-6 weeks with 2-3 sessions per week required in order to reestablish full range of motion and pain-free function.  Equipment and training for continuing to keep your spine healthy and maintain your spinal decompression results is also available in our office for home use.  We may also recommend you follow up at a fitness center to maximize your muscle strength and cardiovascular health.

How long do results of spinal decompression last?

Results from spinal decompression are permanent, because spinal decompression helps your body heal the source of your pain.  We have found that discs healed with spinal decompression are actually stronger than the original discs, thus helping to prevent future injuries to the treated disc area.  Provided you don’t experience an injury to another area of your spine leading to a new herniation, bulge or other problem, patients can expect long term pain relief and a resumption of normal life activities.

Can I bring my spouse/friend/family member with me?

We actually encourage you to bring a spouse, friend or family member with you to your spinal decompression consultation and treatment plan review because we want to ensure that you are comfortable, you have all the information you need and you understand just what it is you are committing to.  We find that many people aren’t comfortable making this decision completely on their own, and we strongly encourage you to engage your support system in order to make your decision as well as get the best results possible by assisting you in the at-home component of your treatment.  Also, if you happen to know anyone else who is suffering from the chronic or severe back pain problems, please bring them with you.  We are happy to provide them with all the information they need in a complimentary consultation to determine if this procedure is appropriate for them, as well.

How much does spinal decompression treatment cost?

Spinal decompression therapy is highly affordable.  Long-term drug therapy sometimes costs hundreds of dollars a month for the prescriptions, plus the costs of doctors visits and additional costs associated with treating side effects.  Unfortunately, drugs do not address the cause of the back pain problem, so these costs are ongoing, indefinite and may even lead to further degeneration of the spine which can necessitate future more invasive procedures such as injections, epidurals or even surgery.  Spinal surgery is incredibly expensive, costing on average anywhere from $40,000 - $80,000 for hospitalization, equipment, anesthesia and the surgery itself, as well as other associated medical and administrative costs.  Even with the typical 80% that is covered by insurance, you are still left with more than $16,000 in medical bills in the worst cases, plus there is typically a lengthy recovery period in which you aren’t able to work, thus drastically affecting your income.  Spinal decompression costs considerably less than even the co-pay on most surgeries, and the expense is not a repeating indefinite long-term expense like drugs.  Not only that, with spinal decompression you don’t miss out on work the way you need to with surgery.  The exact cost of treatment is different for each patient based on the patient’s individual needs and their customized treatment plan.  The doctor will go over with you all of your costs prior to beginning treatment, so you can be sure there are no surprise bills or expenses, and if ever we do run into an additional expense, we will let you know beforehand, so you are never unexpectedly financially burdened.  We also offer significant pre-payment discounts for those who are able to pay the program up front, as well as providing financing options to allow you to break the cost of your treatment into affordable monthly payments.  We are happy to work with you in order to get you the treatment you need at a cost that is affordable to you.

Is spinal decompression covered by insurance?

Spinal decompression is considered an elective procedure, and as such is not covered by the majority of insurance providers, though this is slowly changing.  Some insurance providers, after seeing the benefits their customers are receiving from the treatment as well as noticing the significant cost savings to themselves, are electing to cover spinal decompression therapy.  As previously mentioned, in Canada, national insurance requires patients to undergo spinal decompression prior to surgery unless they have a contra-indication.  As more people benefit from this procedure and the cost savings and effectiveness become more apparent, we anticipate more insurance providers will begin covering this procedure here in the US.  We will check with your insurance company to determine if it is indeed covered for you.  Even if spinal decompression is not covered by your insurance, many of the other associated rehabilitation services included in your treatment may be covered, so insurance may still be of some assistance in paying for your treatment.  For those who have questions regarding their insurance benefits, we encourage you to bring your insurance information to the initial consultation. When we go over your treatment plan with you, we will discuss your insurance and how it may be utilized to keep your costs as low as possible while getting you the help you need.

What about the cost of rehabilitation?

The cost of rehabilitation is not covered in your spinal decompression plan because not everyone needs rehabilitation therapy.  The good news is, most rehabilitation is usually covered by insurance.  The doctor will discuss with you if a rehabilitation treatment program is recommended, how much it costs and what is covered by your insurance in the event that you need the rehabilitation to correct any remaining issues once your spinal decompression therapy is completed.  We will make sure that if you need rehabilitation, your treatment is convenient for you, affordable for you and maximizes the results that you have achieved with your spinal decompression therapy.

Do you have more information available?

We know you are an intelligent person who wants to make the most informed decision possible regarding your health care.   We have a wealth of information available regarding spinal decompression in order to help you make the best choice possible for you.  We offer free informational CD-ROMs and DVDs, as well as brochures, articles, testimonials and pamphlets.  You are also welcome to visit www.SpinalAid.com for a consultation via the Virtual Doctor, as well as more information regarding decompression care, patient testimonials from the network of SpinalAid doctors, online demonstrations to explain the science behind spinal decompression and any other information you may need.  We are also here to answer your questions during our business hours, and there is a convenient webform where you may submit your questions and concerns online.  Please contact us at 217-239-PAIN (7246) with any questions you may have, to make your appointment or to request more information, or you can reach us via email at GossettClinic@gmail.com.

How soon can I start?

Our schedule is filling up quickly, however; we keep at least two appointments available for new patients each week.  Sometimes, we may even have a same day appointment available, to help you get started as soon as possible.  Call 217-239-PAIN (7246) right now to find out when our soonest available appointment is and grab it before someone else does!

How do I get started?

The first thing you need to do to get started is to set up an appointment for your free consultation and preliminary exam.  You will need to bring in your medical records, including any Xrays, MRIs, Cat Scans, reports or films you may have had done, and our office staff will be happy to assist you in requesting those records prior to your visit.  You will also need to fill out the New Patient Forms, either when you arrive for your consultation, or you can save yourself some time and download the forms to fill out in the convenience of your own home prior to coming in.

Call 217-239-PAIN (7246) RIGHT NOW and schedule your free initial appointment today! 

 

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