Dr. Timothy Kremchek explains why non-surgical spinal decompression should be tried before surgery
Channel: Accu-SPINA® for IDD Therapy®
Date: 2019-09-25

Dr. Timothy Kremchek, Orthopaedic Surgeon at Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, discusses the reasons to use Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression/IDD Therapy before trying other, more invasive options, for pain stemming from the spine.

Athletes past and present seek medical attention for back injuries, knee injuries, and more. They seek the counsel of Dr. Timothy Kremchek, regarded as one of the top orthopedic surgeons in sports medicine .Dr. Kremchek is the medical director and chief orthopedic physician for Cincinnati's professional baseball franchise and works with other sports franchises ranging from minor league baseball to soccer. 

Dr. Kremchek knows firsthand the risks back surgery presents. He says:
 
"I've had back surgery. I had back surgery when I was a young resident in orthopedic surgery and my back has been a problem ever since because of the surgery. It's something that I wish I could have turned back. I wish I would have had a spinal decompressor back then - it would have worked. I didn't and so now I'm paying for it for the rest of my life." 

Dr. Kremchek suggests exhausting every alternative possible before opting for back surgery. 

"With back surgery the risks are enormous. Things that go wrong and then and potentially can go wrong with back surgery are enormous and are lifelong.  Anything that you can do non-operatively has got to be your first choice, second choice and again multiple choices after that."

Spinal decompression stops the disc from protruding onto the spinal cord and the nerve roots, therefore it removes a lot of the pressure a spasms of the musculature in the lower back.  It increases a range of motion decreases the pain and hence increases your function to do whatever you want to do