Dr. Richard Obedian On Why You Need Cervical Decompression

Dr. Richard Obedian, M.D., F.A.A.O.S, understands that back and neck pain can impact a person’s quality of life.  It can make it more difficult for people to complete daily tasks and participate in activities that they enjoy.  As a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery, he has treated patients suffering from a wide variety of conditions.  Sometimes people experience problems due to normal wear and tear or degeneration, and other times it is due to injury.  A common procedure for alleviating neck pain is cervical decompression.

Why the Spine is so Important

The spine is a main source of stability in the body.  It is made up of 33 vertebrae divided into four main sections, explains Dr. Richard Obedian.

1. Cervical Spine – Contains seven vertebrae that make up the neck.  It starts at the base of the skull.
2. Thoracic Spine – Contains 12 vertebrae that make up the upper portion of the back.  The ribs attach here.
3. Lumbar Spine – Contains five vertebrae that make up the lower portion of the back.
4. Sacrum – Contains five vertebrae that are fused together and form part of the pelvis.  Below the sacrum are four very small vertebrae that form the coccyx, or tailbone.

In between the vertebrae are intervertebral discs made of cartilage that help to absorb shock, cushion the spine, and facilitate movement.  Sometimes these discs and vertebrae become damaged and cause pain and discomfort.

Why is cervical decompression performed?

The spinal cord passes through the center of the vertebrae along the entire length of the spine.  Changes to the vertebrae, discs, and tissue, whether due to disease or injury, can cause the nerves to become compressed.  These changes can also cause a narrowing of the spinal canal which puts pressure on the spinal cord.  These conditions can result in neck pain and weakness or tingling in the arms and legs.  Generally conservative treatment methods are tried first, notes Dr. Richard Obedian, but if they are not effective, surgery is another option.

Cervical decompression surgery is either performed through the front of the neck (anteriorly) or through the back of the neck (posteriorly).  The surgeon will determine the type of procedure performed based on the individual patient’s condition.  The goal is to reduce pressure on the nerves while still maintaining stability in the neck and vertebrae.  Typically the tissue or disc that is causing the pressure is removed so that there is more room for the spinal cord and nerve tissue.

When undergoing posterior cervical decompression there are several types of procedures that the surgeon can choose from.  It depends on where the compression occurs and what is causing it.

• Foraminotomy: the opening through which nerves pass through is enlarged.
• Laminotomy: the opening at the back of the vertebra is widened to provide more space for the spinal cord and nerves.
• Laminectomy: rather than making a larger hole in the lamina, either part or all of it is removed in order to reduce pressure on the spinal cord.
• Facetectomy: the joint that connects the vertebrae is removed.
• Laminoplasty: the lamina is surgically reshaped and hinged to allow for more room for the spinal cord to pass through.

In anterior cervical decompression, the following two procedures are common:

• Corpectomy: the parts of the vertebrae causing the narrowing of the spinal canal are removed.
• Microdiscectomy: a portion of the bone covering the nerve root, as well as any fragments of material under the root, are removed.

When portions of the bone and discs are removed it can cause instability in the spine, explains Dr. Richard Obedian.  The way that it moves is altered.  Because the discs provide support between the vertebrae, without them, the vertebrae could collapse or rub together.  Following cervical decompression, cervical fusion is sometimes necessary.

Cervical fusion involves bonding segments of the bone together so that they no longer move independently and are a single unit.  The surgeon may need to take bone from another part of the body and graft it onto the cervical vertebrae.  They may also use a combination of other devices such as wires, cables, plates, screws, or rods.  This helps to provide further stability and allow the bones to heal correctly.  It keeps the vertebrae in the correct location with the proper amount of space between them.

Once the pressure on the spinal cord and nerves is relieved, patients often have a decrease in symptoms.  Their pain is typically reduced and their mobility increases.  The spinal cord and nerves are able to pass through the spinal canal without disruption.  Though surgery cannot reverse the damage done to nerves, it can help to prevent further injury from occurring and provide symptom relief.

It can take several weeks for full recovery from surgery and requires gentle rehabilitation to return to safe, healthy movement.  Patients can get back to doing the things they enjoy.  Dr. Richard Obedian encourages people who are suffering from neck or back pain to talk to their physician about treatment options.

PS- THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.

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Are sit-ups bad for you?

Most weight watchers are constantly trying to get strong, flat abs. They try weight loss pills, quick fix surgeries, costly gym equipment, and long exercise routines which often include crunches and sit-ups. For years, healthcare experts have been discouraging people from taking short cuts to get flat, toned abs. The answer according to them is to get off the couch, exercise and work off those extra kilos as you mind what you eat. Is this the ideal solution to get rid of the flab around your tum? Not entirely true say experts.

Sit-ups can hurt your spine
According to a Prof.,  his studies have demonstrated that repeated bending of the spine, when we do crunches, can damage spinal discs over time. Also, expensive gym equipment are nothing but unnecessary fads. and adds, “Exercises on a wobbly ball and similar devices won’t target the right range of muscles effectively.” Recent research suggests that many devices that claim to work your core muscles fall well short of their promise. In one recent study, researchers measured the degree to which core muscles were activated using a variety of equipment. The results showed that some, including sliding ‘core boards’ (which slide from side to side or back and forth to target the midriff) offered no greater benefit than traditional crunches and sit-ups. In fact some common core exercises, even those not involving equipment, are downright risky, adds  saying, “Instructors who tell people to ‘engage their core’ before they perform exercises are asking for trouble.”

He adds, “There was this theory that by ‘engaging’ the core you would target the deeply embedded transversus abdominus muscle, a thin band that holds the guts in. We now know that the practice leads to people squeezing their abdominal muscles, leaving the back unstable. It’s completely wrong and the reason so many people get hurt when they exercise.” Old-fashioned crunches and sit-ups are also not the recommended route to a stronger middle. “If these are all you do, the results are not only likely to be superficial but can overload the spine in a dangerous way,”.

Pros and cons of using gym accessories “Gym equipment helps increase intensity and gives you variety and variation, however, you can workout on your core muscles without them.”   “Gym accessories provide assistance and improve the range of stretch and contraction. However, they can give you bad spasms in your back if done in the wrong angle and can even cause a lower lumber injury.”

Most weight watchers are constantly trying to get strong, flat abs. They try weight loss pills, quick fix surgeries, costly gym equipment, and long exercise routines which often include crunches and sit-ups. For years, healthcare experts have been discouraging people from taking short cuts to get flat, toned abs. The answer according to them is to get off the couch, exercise and work off those extra kilos as you mind what you eat. Is this the ideal solution to get rid of the flab around your tum? Not entirely true say experts.

Try this at home
Yoga expert  recommends these asanas to help you tuck that tummy in.

Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana (revolved head to knee pose): Sit with legs stretched out in front. Fold the left leg at the knee, keeping the right leg stretched out. Reach out your right hand to grasp the right big towards the right knee, lifting the left hand overhead, to pass it over the left ear and reaching for the right hand. Hold for 10-15 seconds, with normal breathing.

Release  to repeat for the opposite side. Benefits: It tones the spinal nerves, relieving stress. It’s used in therapy for  depression. Also, removes love handles, and abdominal fat. Tones inner  arms, hips and legs.

Setubandhasana (bound bridge pose): Lie on your back and fold legs at the knees. Keep feet flat, close to the hips. Stretch arms to hold your ankles. If that is not possible, then place hands flat on the ground as close to your ankles as possible. Inhale and exhale. Inhaling, raise your hips up ensuring your chin is firmly locked between the collarbones. Hold for a count of five to 10 initially. Exhale, dropping hips gently back to ground. Repeat thrice.