The Stance Spine Clinic

Q: WHAT TO EXPECT?

Expect relief, reduction in symptoms, and increased confidence after each session. Please follow the treatment protocols and implement the advice of consultants in daily life to see positive and long-lasting results. Musculoskeletal pain is one of the major healthcare concerns across the world, because of the recurrent nature of pain. The majority of musculoskeletal pain responds favourably if correct diagnosis and proper understanding of the problem is done timely, but sometimes it becomes a chronic pain and will take time to recover. With proper care and completing the prescribed course of treatment will help the patients in the long term and also speed up the process of recovery.

we are an integrated pain management clinic where the best of intervention medicine and manual medicine treatments.

Q: IS THERE ANY PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR THIS PAIN, AS IT KEEPS COMING BACK. I HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF TREATMENT AND STILL HAVING ON AND OFF PAIN. HOW MUCH TIME IT WILL TAKE FOR ME TO BE COMPLETELY NORMAL. IS THERE ANY PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR THIS PAIN? WHAT IS AN INTEGRATED APPROACH AND WHY IS IT BETTER THAN OTHER ISOLATED TREATMENTS?

The above-mentioned questions are most frequent in the chronic group of patients and will certainly need special consideration and detailed response. As mentioned above, musculoskeletal pain is one of the major healthcare concerns across the world, because of the recurrent nature of pain, as it comes back. We provides comprehensive pain management with scientific assessment protocols that help you at every stage of your fight against chronic pain. The approach to treat chronic patients is very different and it has been designed to cover a majority of patients suffering from types of spine problems, joints, and musculoskeletal problems, often not suitable for standalone practices. Therefore, intervention medicine and manual treatments are integrated treatment approach gives the patients a one-stop solution.

Commonly, poorly-controlled pain can lead to anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, and loss of sleep. A proper discussion about the changes happening due to the treatment inside the body and giving time to the treatment to be effective is one of the key factors in recovery.

We suggest following the advice of the doctors and take into account all possible measures to help reduce your pain and gain confidence. Our understanding of chronic pain has helped many chronic patients over the years in reducing their recurrence of pain, reduction in intensity, and frequency of the pain.

Q: WHAT IS INTERVENTION MEDICINE APPROACH AND WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF IT?

Intervention Medicine is a branch of Pain Management that utilizes specific pain relief agents at the target site causing pain and discomfort. It relieves pressure on the nerves and reduces the pain and inflammation. Some problems are sensitive to exercises and strengthening, or manual treatments and therefore, they need special care before starting the manual medicine treatments. The intervention medicine approach provides much relief from the intense pain, reduces swelling and inflammation and makes the patients fit into manual medicine protocols for structural correction and maintenance exercises protocols.

Q: HOW DOES JOINT MANIPULATION HELP IN THE TREATMENT OF SPINE AND JOINT PAIN?

Joint Manipulation is a centuries-old technique and also a well-established treatment procedure which in recent times has a limited but specific role in treating musculoskeletal conditions. During this technique, a High-Velocity Low Amplitude Force is applied at the joint. During this procedure, the patients can experience a “POP sound or “Crack” from the joint. Medical research has shown to benefit musculoskeletal conditions and reduce pain. At our clinic we provide spinal and joint manipulation as one of the treatment forms of Osteopathic Manual Medicine and other Manual Treatment.

This is called by various names under different practices as HVLT-5 in Osteopathy Manipulation, Grade V Mobilization (Maitland Manipulation), or Subluxation Adjustment in Chiropractic Manual Therapy.

This technique has been extensively practiced by Osteopaths, Chiropractors, and Manipulative Physical Therapist. The effect of the treatment can vary from a very short term to long term relief. Sometimes relief lasts longer and requires frequent visits to the practitioners for maintenance, but there are many conditions where these techniques are not suitable for some group of patients, or many sensitive patients feel uncomfortable, or may not adapt to these techniques.

In an integrated approach along with modern intervention medicine, these techniques are altered to suit the patients’ condition and tolerance level, hence it is clinically more effective and safe, rather than having the patients undergo a limited form of correction in every session.

Q: WHAT IS DIGITAL SPINE ANALYSIS AND HOW IT CAN HELP?

Revolutionary technology from NASA used for both diagnostic and therapeutic spine treatment. In short, it is a very precise digital and computerized spine evaluation with integrated software for analysis and interpretation of the muscle and bones of the spine and a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Computerized data and clinical interpretation before and after the treatment provide a much better prognosis and helps in determining the exact nature of treatment without compromising other structures by isolating the affected area, which is much safer in contrast to higher velocity techniques, especially in sensitive patients. Periodic digital spine analysis also makes sure that preventive care is optimized and helps prevent any future problems of the spine. This is a pain-free procedure and can be taken by anyone, as it is safe and has various protocols for all variety of patients, otherwise deemed sensitive for general manual/manipulation treatments.

Digital Spine Analysis, Functional Evaluation, Mechanical Analysis, and Consultation is provided in the first session. After the first session, the patients may experience marginal or marked improvement. In some acute cases, a mild local flare-up can be expected which mostly resolves with ice application. For proper understanding and prognosis, the patients are advised to take a minimum of 5-10 sessions to observe changes in the behavioral pattern of pain and functionality.

Q: I HAVE BEEN ADVISED SURGERY, WILL THIS TREATMENT WORK?

Typically, surgery is advised on a lot of factors. Typically, the doctors generally suggest trying conservative measures and other non-surgical treatment options to stabilize the patients' condition. If the patient’s condition does not stabilize, the pain keeps recurring or the patient’s pain tolerance level is very low, psychological state of the patient like anxiety, unresponsive nature of pain, and serious condition like fracture of the spine, infection of the spine are some of the factors that the patients are referred for the second opinion for surgical treatments.

Q: WILL SURGERY CURE OR SOLVE MY PROBLEMS PERMANENTLY?

Spinal surgery is the last option as mentioned earlier, and sometimes it is an urgent treatment option if the patient’s condition has not become stabilized to other forms of treatment. Only 10% of the population needs surgery. We definitely will recommend surgery if the patient is not going to benefit from any conservative approach, or if we expect the conditions to deteriorate any further after the treatment.

Surgery reduces the direct pressure on the disc and reduces symptom very effectively, but does not correct the problem that lead to the current state in the spine. It is very likely that another segment of the spine might get affected in the future, if the spine alignment is not taken care of pre and postoperatively. Like any other treatment option, surgery has also its limitations and does not guarantee a permanent solution if poorly maintained. Some report suggests that patients still do feel pain some discomfort even after surgery, and some new vertebral malposition can cause disc injuries at other segments of the spine. Good lifestyle modification, precautions, exercises, and periodic evaluation with your surgeon leads to and good functional recovery.

Q: WHAT IS THE DURATION OF OVERALL TREATMENT AND TIME SPENT DURING EACH SESSION?

The symptoms and the prognosis of the treatment determine the duration of the treatment. Initially, alternate day sessions are provided and slowly weaned off depending on the improvement of the patients. On average, it would initially need 2-3 weeks of treatment regular treatment sessions, done on an alternate day or twice a week. Every session will last around 10 minutes to 45 minutes depending on the condition of the patient on that particular day of the treatment and prognosis. Later the patients scheduled for maintenance programs, which are either twice or thrice a month, or once every month. Slowly the duration of maintenance is increased as per the patient’s requirement and advised for periodic evaluation and assessment to prevent recurrences.

Q: CAN I GET A DISCOUNT ON MY TREATMENT IF MY PAIN IS TAKING A LONG TIME TO RESPOND?

We strongly advise treatment sessions as per the requirements depending upon initial evaluation and treatment. Our treatment plans are designed keeping in mind our philosophy of Minimum Treatment and Maximum Recovery. Therefore, it is advisable to complete the initial sessions as per the advice, as that will determine future maintenance program. Due to any reason, if the patient cannot come for regular sessions, he/she can avail treatment as and when required, but if the treatment frequency is very less, then no plan/package will be shared with them and they can pay per session wise. When a patient chooses to start the treatment, they are advised to pay for the treatment sessions before beginning of the treatment, as this plan is designed to help them in scheduling fixed time slots for the treatment session, hassle-free accounting to save time, and also it is more economical for longer treatment sessions.

"Our approach has not only simplified the treatments but it also actively involves the patients to recover by our very simplified, yet very dynamic treatment protocols."