Back pain can and is one of the most disabling and uncomfortable conditions affecting people all over the world. The prevalence of chronic back pain, especially low back pain has risen significantly in recent years.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), over 80 percent of the population will experience an episode of back pain at some point during their lives. Low back pain in particular, is the second most common cause of disability for adults in the United States. It is also a common reason for missed work days, approximately 149 million days of work are lost, which is costly in terms of productivity and dollars – estimated to be a loss of 100-200 billion dollars a year.
Back pain happens to many people for various reasons. Luckily, there are treatments out there to help people who are suffering from acute and chronic back pain due to age, degenerative conditions, sprains and strains, wear and tear, and sports and work-related injuries.
In particular, there is one non-invasive treatment out there that treats numerous back injuries and conditions, that eliminates the need to undergo major back surgery. This treatment is called spinal decompression.
When the spine becomes injured, it often becomes compressed and pressure builds up in the spinal column causing chronic pain, stiffness, and immobility. In other words, when discs start to break down (degenerate), movement in your vertebrae decreases and the discs become dehydrated. As they dehydrate, the spaces between your vertebrae narrow at the area where the nerves exit. This disc narrowing can cause nerve compression and pain. Additionally, as the discs in your spine dehydrate and start to tear, the edges of the discs can bulge. This bulging can lead to a disc herniation, creating neck or back pain and, in addition, numbness and weakness in the arms and legs.
Research has shown that spinal decompression treatment has produced numerous success stories for relieving pain without needing surgery.
What is Spinal Decompression?
Spinal decompression, also known as nonsurgical decompression therapy, involves the process of alleviating pressure that is built up over time inside the discs of the back, which as mentioned before, are located between each vertebra within the spinal column. This pressure is often caused by common issues and injuries such as bad posture or degenerative conditions. Pressure is relieved during this treatment, so nutrients and oxygen are directed to once again flow into the discs.
By using precision computerized technology, the spinal decompression procedure utilizes traction and decompression therapy, a type of targeted therapy, which aims to treat the exact areas in need, in this case the spinal discs. It is done to help people with chronic and severe pain, promoting optimal healing for bulging, degenerating, or herniated discs.
Each spinal decompression session lasts about 30 to 45 minutes long, depending on the severity and is recommended to be done around 15 to 30 times over a six-week period. This procedure opens each pressure filled disc and allows for necessary oxygen and nutrients to flow into the injured area, which relieves pain.
With a vacuum like device on a decompression or traction table, spinal decompression cycles through distraction and relaxation phases and by proper positioning, a spinal disc can be isolated and placed under negative pressure, causing a vacuum effect within the disc. This vacuum method created within the disc sucks out the pressure built up, taking pressure off the nerves, relieving pain and numbness. Spinal decompression therapy helps create better blood flow and circulation within the spine, stimulating this healing response. Spinal decompression therapy is effective at treating the following chronic pain injuries affecting the back and spine:
· Bulging disk
· Herniated disk
· Degenerative disk disease
· Sciatica
· Spinal stenosis
· Back pain
· Neck pain
· Damage from failed back surgeries
Chronic pain of the neck or back can alter every aspect your life, having a substantial impact on your quality of life. Therefore, if you’re dealing with chronic pain from these types of injuries or conditions, then spinal decompression might be the right choice for you.
You may be a candidate for spinal decompression for the reasons above, but everyone is different. For those with back pain, doctors will generally utilize methods of physical therapy and steroid injections before resorting to surgery, which can cause risks and a potentially long recovery period.
If you have chronic back pain that prevents you from living the life you want to live, and are searching for relief, then it’s time to consider the benefits and potential value of spinal decompression therapy.
Decompression therapy from your chiropractor can provide an alternative that delivers lower costs, fewer risks, and a greatly reduced recovery time when compared with a surgical procedure. Spinal decompression is beneficial for the following reasons:
1. It’s effective
2. It’s safe
3. It’s painless
4. It’s cost effective compared to surgery
5. Fewer side effects and risks than surgery
The Brooks Clinic will work with you to determine if spinal decompression is a viable treatment options for your type of pain and your goals for recovery. To learn more about spinal decompression therapy, and if it may be right for you, call The Brooks Clinic at (405) 400-0877 or schedule an appointment online.
