Through our experiences in our San Antonio  clinic, we have found that chronic back discomfort is incredibly common. Due to the failure of the typical treatment methods, a large number of people are living in constant pain needlessly.

While the most commonly-used  treatments have a high failure rate, new advancements in treatment are getting excellent results even for patients who have been suffering for many years without relief.

For a list of alternative, effective natural treatments Click here: Natural Pain Relief Alternatives

One of the most dramatic  breakthroughs we’ve seen in our San Antonio, Texas office is spinal decompression. Spinal decompression is a technologically advanced form of spinal traction that reduces spinal disc bulging, enhances disc hydration and nutrition, and mobilizes spinal joints and connective tissue. For properly-selected patients, the results are often nothing short of amazing.

Unfortunately, spinal decompression remains underutilized as a treatment for a couple of reasons. First, the early marketing for spinal decompression was often hype-filled and factually inaccurate. Although decompression is statistically the most effective treatment currently available for most serious types of back pain, the early marketing for it promoted it as a panacea for all  sufferers. Spinal decompression does enjoy an excellent success rate, but it is not effective in every patient and it is simply not appropriate for every sufferer.

Another reason that spinal decompression continues to be underutilized for treating  painful back problems is due to the usual challenges that all new health care procedures face in the United States.

The problem is that insurance companies refuse coverage for medical procedures that don’t have an established procedure code. The American Medical Association produces the codes, but won’t add a new code until a decent number of doctors are using the new procedure. Doctors won’t invest in the equipment and/or training to use the new procedure if it’s not covered by insurance (because they will have a hard time getting paid for it). This brings us back to the insurance companies not covering the new procedure because there’s no code for it. Because of this system, it usually takes several years for any new treatment to be widely used, no matter how beneficial it may be.

Due to the lack of insurance coverage for spinal decompression, many of the  patients we consult with at our san antonio spinal decompression clinic will opt to go with insurance-covered treatment methods. Unfortunately many of these continue to live in pain for years and spend thousands of dollars in insurance co-pays and deductibles on the standard back pain treatments without any lasting relief.

Many of these  sufferers finally opt for surgery looking for a cure for their symptoms. Statistically, about half of the patients who do seek a surgical treatment  discover that the surgery either does not help or makes things worse.

While spinal decompression is far from 100% successful, it does get good to excellent results for the vast majority of back pain patients. Ironically, although some patients we’ve consulted with have opted to go the surgery route because they think it will be less expensive due to it being covered by insurance, most back surgeries wind up being more expensive to the patient than spinal decompression.

What many patients fail to realize is that the co-payments for a high-priced medical procedure like back surgery will usually run several thousand dollars. Even with no insurance coverage at all, spinal decompression typically costs the patient less out of pocket than an average  surgery, and a lot less than a complicated back surgery.

In most cases, spinal decompression is statistically the most effective treatment available and in the long-run is also usually the most cost-effective treatment available.

Dr. Michael Golab, D.C. and Dr. Ronald Fielden, D.C. are the treating doctors at South Texas Non Surgical Spinal Center. Visit their website for more about spinal decompression and their San Antonio back pain treatment program.

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As anyone who suffers from repeated episodes of low back pain knows, it can really get you down! When you miss many days of work and you don’t have adequate health care, a back problem not only causes pain but it can become a financial hardship. For those who do have good health coverage, chronic low back pain can eat up your covered days. On top of that, there are numerous visits to the doctor, physical therapy sessions and not to mention medications. And, always, the specter of BACK SURGERY is looming.

There may be a solution for you.- a new treatment that you can find out about and give some consideration. It s called Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and it has brought relief to many who struggle with the misery of chronic low back pain. If any of these diagnoses or conditions apply to you, this treatment may be the answer. Have you been diagnosed with or do you suffer from:

• Low back pain
• Sciatica
• Herniated Disc
• Bulging disc
• Degenerative disc disease
• Failed low back syndrome
• Numbness and tingling in a leg
• Pain in your arm
• Neck pain
• Spinal stenosis -sometimes this condition can be helped.

The American Spinal Decompression Association believes that this treatment allows patients a 70% chance of resuming a normal lifestyle. These experts have developed a series of questions to determine if this treatment might help you:

• Do you take medications regularly for back pain?
• Does your pain limit your mobility?
• Have you had repeated injections or epidurals with little or no relief?
• Are you considering surgery?
• Do you feel comfortable with your decision about surgery?
• Have all the options that are available been discussed?
• Have you tried physical therapy or chiropractic treatment?
• Have you been away from work because of your back pains?

If you answered "yes" to one of more of these questions, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is a feasible alternative for you. Don’t disregard the benefits of this kind of treatment. As you gain more knowledge, you will be better able to make a wise decision about your care – one that makes sense to you.

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With age, comes experience, wisdom, and a long list of health complications. It’s true that a healthy way of life promotes longevity but as nature takes its toll on our bodies, we become more susceptible to illnesses. As our bones weaken and the probability of accidents increase, back problems such as spinal stenosis turn into a reality for many.

Affecting primarily the lumbar and cervical areas of the spine, spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal (which is composed of nerves and the spinal cord itself), begins to compress. The narrowing per se does not cause extreme pain, it’s the pressed nerve endings that causes discomfort. For those who suffer from lumbar spinal stenosis, they tend to experience pain and/or numbness in their back and legs. With cervical spinal stenosis cases, the symptoms are generally more severe. This pain can occur in their arms, legs and even cause imbalance.

Spinal stenosis is a medical condition that attacks people who have weak bone structure that is why this illness is common to older patients. As we age, the bones begin to lose its calcium component and the cushion that protects the area. As a result, it becomes more challenging to walk long distances as your agility is impaired. While some are born with it, women who are over 50 tend to be primary targets. If you are suffering from painful spinal stenosis, it is recommended that you look at all of your options. Surgery is considered as a last resort especially with older patients. Nonetheless, there are many beneficial treatments which are non-invasive in nature that could reduce some of the pain.

Spinal decompression therapy, for example, is one treatment that is pain-free. It requires the patient to lay on a table hooked up to a harness and receive pressure to their spine. This pressure actually creates a vacuum effect, tugging the discs apart, allowing them to gain flexibility and stretch out. By decompressing this area, vital nutrients and blood supply re-enter, which allows the spine to heal. The result allows greater mobility and the likelihood of pain and muscle spasms are minimized. Though people with herniated discs often experience a full recovery, those with spinal stenosis may only feel less pain, given that their bones are already degenerating. Nevertheless, this makes a lot of difference. Most patients have to receive 4-5 sessions per week for a minimum of twenty sessions.

In addition to spinal decompression therapy, those with spinal stenosis can also benefit from exercise. Your flexibility determines the treatment available to you — many would advise Pilates, Yoga or a physical therapy-centered treatment. Exercises that focus on your back pain are important in the healing process. If you are still experiencing pain and discomfort, you may ask your doctor and seek advice on medications. Cortisone shots give temporary relief in muscle spasms. Regardless of what you choose, there are many methods to tackle spinal stenosis. If we could reduce just some of the pain in our lives, living into our 100 s would certainly be a walk in the park.

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