What You Need to Know about Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy
If you are experiencing back pain, you may be a candidate for non-surgical spinal decompression therapy. This treatment can help relieve pressure on the discs in your spine and improve your symptoms. This blog post will discuss spinal decompression and how West Monroe Chiropractic Spine & Injury Center professionals can improve your quality of life.
What Is Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy?
Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy is a treatment option for patients suffering from herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and other spinal conditions. The goal of this treatment is to relieve pressure on the spine by gently stretching the spine. This coupled with the chiropractic adjustment can help improve symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling.
Spinal decompression therapy is typically done mechanically and supervised by a trained and credentialed chiropractor. The machine-assisted version is typically done in a clinic or outpatient setting, while the manual traction is in a physical therapy office.
Spinal decompression therapy is often used in chiropractic care to treat sciatica, degenerative disc disease, and herniated discs. It may also be effective for other conditions that cause back pain, such as facet joint syndrome and spinal stenosis.
How Does Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy Work?
Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy works by using intermittent distraction on the spine using alternating pull forces. This stretching and resting relieves pressure on the discs, cartilage and nerves. It can create a negative pressure inside the disc that can create a vacuum effect to minimize the pressure of a disc herniation on the spinal nerves and improve symptoms such as radiating pain, numbness, and tingling.
Candidates for non-surgical spinal decompression lie on a table that is connected to a traction machine. Your trained chiropractor will determine through an initial evaluation which position will be most effective and therapeutic. Specific traction tables allow for multiple treatment positions and traction patterns that are determined case-by-case as well as by patient preference. The device will slowly pull and release alleviating pressure while stretching the spine. You may be asked to wear a harness during the procedure.
What Are the Benefits of Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression?
Non-surgical spinal decompression can offer many benefits, including:
- Relief from local and radiating back pain
- Reduction in the size of herniated discs
- Improvement in nerve function
- Increased mobility
- Decreased inflammation
If you think non-surgical spinal decompression would be a good solution for your back pain, talk to your chiropractor in West Monroe to see if it’s the right treatment option.
Who Should Not Have Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy?
Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy is generally safe for most people. However, there are a few exceptions. Some patient should not have spinal decompression. Listed below are specific cases that may be contraindicated:
- Pregnancy
- Recent surgery on the spine
- Osteoporosis
- An infection in the spine
- A tumor in the back
If you have any of these conditions, talk to your doctor before having spinal decompression. They will tell you if it’s safe for you to have this treatment.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy is a great way to relieve pain and improve spinal health. If you are experiencing back pain or discomfort, talk to your doctor about whether spinal decompression therapy could help you. If you live in the West Monroe and Monroe area, check West Monroe Chiropractic Spine & Injury Center for all chiropractic care needs. Then, call us at (318) 322-2250 to make an appointment.