“I did great with Spinal Decompression. What can I do to make sure my spinal disc problem doesn’t come back?”
Before I started this blog I would say that I received this question very rarely. I believe the main reason for this is that we devote a great deal of time teaching our patients just what they need to do to stay healthy for the long-term. In fact, we often discuss this exact subject during the Spinal Decompression consultation.
Why Maintenance Exercises Are Important Following Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
During the consultation I do a complete review of the MRI images with the patient with an emphasis on identifying the source of the disc problem. Spinal Decompression is a powerfully effective treatment for spinal disc problems like Disc Bulges, Herniated Disc, Disc Extrusions, Degenerative Disc Disease and Sciatica. However, as with any other treatment, if the source of the original problem is not addressed then the issue could return in the future. MRIs are fantastic tools for identifying some of the most common causes that patients with spinal disc problems face.
Good Curves and Bad Curves
One of the most common problems that we will see on the MRI of a patient with a degenerative spinal disc is a decreased spinal curve. Normally the neck and low back curve should be shaped like the letter-C (when viewed from the side). The curve (called cervical lordosis or lumbar lordosis) acts like a spring that absorbs shock. The constant bouncing motion that such a ‘spring’ allows is also vitally important in spinal disc respiration – the exchange of fluid depleted of oxygen and nutrients with fluid rich in such nutrients. When the curve is lost the ‘spring’ becomes a ‘jack-hammer’ and tends to force the fluid out of the bottommost disc first (called L5/S1) followed by the other discs higher in the spine. This is why the majority of patients with spinal disc problems have a disc bulge or herniated disc at L5/S1 more than any other disc of the spine. Combining comprehensive spinal rehabilitation with the Spinal Decompression is key to returning this critical spinal curve to normal.
How to Maintain Your Great Spinal Decompression Results
Once a Spinal Decompression patent has completed his or her treatment the job of correcting this spinal lordosis (if no rehabilitation was done along with the Spinal Decompression Therapy) or maintaining the curvature (if spinal rehab was performed along with the Spinal Decompression treatment) begins. The best self-treatment for accomplishing this is a home exercise called ‘prolonged loading of the lumbar spine in extension’ – otherwise called McKenzie extension or the McKenzie protocol. The McKenzie protocol is a form of treatment that is best delivered by a trained professional, but can be implemented as a self-care exercise in healthy individuals. In other words, only do this AFTER you have fixed the underlying disc degeneration with Spinal Decompression. It is performed by lying face down on a firm surface (carpeted or tile floor). Beware: the bed is too soft to perform this. Place your hands on the ground at the level of your shoulders and about shoulder-width apart. Push up as if performing a push-up, BUT do not allow you pelvis to lift off the ground. Instead, the lower back will arch backwards. Be sure to keep your lower back and buttock muscles relaxed. Hold this position for about 10 seconds and repeat the entire procedure 10 times. It is best to perform this twice per day – once in the morning when you wake up and again in the evening before you go to bed.
Ideally, this should be performed every day to prevent a future recurrence of a Disc Bulge, Herniated Disc, Disc Extrusion or Degenerative Disc Disease. Even without this daily exercise the results of Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression are long-lasting, but why not make a 4-minute per day investment to make sure the results are permanent!
Remember: A back stretch a day keeps the spine surgeon away!
