How Spinal Decompression Helps in Chronic Back Pain?
When it comes to treating chronic back pain, spinal decompression stands among the most effective therapies. In fact, spinal decompression has emerged as a popular, non-invasive solution against back pain. If you want to understand how spinal decompression helps in chronic back pain, you have landed on the right page.
Here, we have tried to explain the process of spinal decompression and discussed how this treatment could be more than helpful. So, without any further ado, let’s dive in!
What is Spinal Decompression Treatment?
To put it simply, spinal decompression is a type of non-surgical treatment that lowers pressure on both the spinal discs and nerves. In most cases, seated spinal decompression is administered while using specialized equipment.
A skilled practitioner can also perform spinal decompression manually using different chiropractic techniques. Practitioners try to create negative pressure within the intervertebral discs. This promotes better nutrient flow, reducing pain by relieving pressure on nerves.
How Spinal Decompression Therapy Works?
This procedure involves spinal manipulation through various techniques and hands-on movements by a chiropractor. It’s an effective treatment for optimal decompression of the spine. By using a decompression machine, it’s possible to lengthen the spine and relieve pressure on spinal discs.
Placing the discs back into their natural place can reduce inflammation and swelling. Usually, each session could last about 30 minutes, and most patients require 20 to 25 sessions. The whole process takes about 4 to 6 weeks to complete.
However, the frequency of prescribed therapy might vary depending on the specific condition of a patient. For instance, mild spinal issues require fewer sessions. On the contrary, the severity of the disorder could require more sessions.
Performing Spinal Decompression Therapy
While performing spinal decompression therapy, practitioners secure the patient to a decompression table. This allows for separating and gently stretching the spine. The practitioner suggests the movements of the patient depending on the condition of the spine.
Hence, it would be possible to personalize the decompression process for each patient. By stretching the spine, a vacuum is created around the herniated disc. As a result, the pressure is released from the nerves.
The negative pressure improves the blood flow and brings necessary nutrients to the affected area. This not only rehydrates the disc but also reduces inflammation.
Through regular sessions, it’s possible to get the discs back to their original location. This is how spinal decompression helps in chronic back pain.
The process of spinal decompression is performed on a specialized table, which is designed to ensure controlled stretching of the spine. Here’s how the decompression treatment is performed:
Positioning: The patient is asked to lie down on the table. Harnesses are used to secure the patient. These harnesses are wrapped around the upper body and the pelvis area.
Controlled Traction: Through careful decompression of the spine, the compressed areas are gently stretched. This helps retract the herniated or bulging discs.
Duration: Each session usually lasts 30-45 minutes and is usually repeated two to three times a week.
What to Consider While Offering Spinal Decompression Treatment?
Here are the major factors that practitioners keep in mind when performing spinal decompression:
Understanding How Spine Works
Millions of people are affected by back pain every year. This condition limits the mobility of a person and lowers the overall quality of life. To know how spinal decompression helps in chronic back pain, it’s imperative to understand the anatomy of a human spine.
Our vertebral column consists of various nerve roots and vertebral discs. These discs serve as shock absorbers and offer necessary cushioning to the vertebrae. When the discs are dislocated or herniated, they cause surrounding nerves to compress.
This tends to be the major cause of chronic back pain. To avoid further damage to the nerves, it’s necessary to bring back the spine to its natural position.
Choosing the Right Candidates for Treatment
When it comes to spinal decompression, this process isn’t suitable for every patient. For instance, patients with conditions like fractures, osteoporosis, tumors, or infections aren’t the right candidates for decompression treatment.
Therefore, it’s recommended that the patient’s condition first be evaluated by a healthcare professional. So, the spinal decompression should only be administered if the practitioner suggests that the treatment is appropriate.
Below are the most common conditions that respond well to spinal decompression therapy:
- Sciatica
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
Preparation for Treatment
Suitable patients are first prepared for the treatment. This usually involves the following steps:
Consultation: During this stage, necessary data about the patient’s medical history is gathered. This helps better understand the patient’s symptoms and actual causes.
MRIs or X-rays: Imaging tests help assess the condition of a patient’s spine and identify the source of pain.
Setting Treatment Goals: This is one of the most essential aspects that ensures the best possible outcomes. It also allows practitioners to create a customized plan for a particular patient.
Post-Treatment Care
In most cases, patients experience immediate relief. However, to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the treatment, patients are advised to follow a post-treatment plan:
Rest: It’s necessary to offer sufficient time to the body for fast recovery. So, the patient is advised to take rest after every session.
Physical Therapy: This is highly recommended, as this kind of therapy can improve flexibility and enhance the strength of back muscles.
Pain Management: To address the residual discomfort (if any), the patient is advised to use ice or other pain relief methods.
Carefully Monitoring the Progress
Through regular follow-up and monitoring, practitioners can easily track the effectiveness of ongoing treatment. Depending on the pace of recovery, some adjustments can be made to the upcoming sessions.
Is Spinal Decompression Safe?
Now when you understand how spinal decompression helps in chronic back pain, it’s time to know whether this therapy is safe or not. Usually, spinal decompression is safe if done by qualified and experienced practitioners. As suggested above, this treatment isn’t suitable for everyone. Hence, when administered to a patient after careful evaluation, spinal decompression can be as safe as any other chronic back pain therapy.
The most common side effect of this treatment is mild muscle soreness, which won’t bother after a couple of sessions. Unlike oral medications, this therapy doesn’t administer the pain but treats the true causes of spinal decompression. As a result, your body heals naturally, and you will feel a noticeable relief from back pain.
Key Benefits of Spinal Decompression Treatment
Non-surgical spinal decompression comes with a wide range of other benefits. A few of them include:
- Treats and Prevents Chronic Back Pain
- Helps Cure Failed Back Surgeries
- Offers Long-lasting Results
Treats and Prevents Chronic Back Pain
Chronic back pain could be the result of a spinal injury that was left unattended. During this scenario, it’s imperative to seek the required treatment for the issue. This allows the body to heal and relieves pain.
When patients are timely treated with spinal decompression therapy, it enhances the chances of healing from the injury. So, the chances of suffering from chronic back pain are diminished. If back pain is caused by conditions like a degenerative disc or arthritis, spinal decompression could also reduce stiffness and relieve pain.
Helps Cure Failed Back Surgeries
In case of a failed back surgery, complete spinal decompression therapy can help reduce the pain. However, this treatment couldn’t be viable for patients with back surgeries where hardware has been installed.
There are numerous reasons for the failure of back surgery. However, irrespective of the real cause of such failure, spinal stretching could offer long-term relief. Many patients opt for this therapy after being disappointed by other options like back surgery.
As a holistic treatment, spine decompression therapy can treat problems that surgeons or medical practitioners don’t identify. This process can also heal the pain caused by back surgery. At Thrive Health Systems, we offer professional body decompression in Colorado Springs.
Offers Long-lasting Results
According to some studies, spinal decompression therapy could offer relief from chronic back pain for the years to come. On the other hand, patients with degenerative conditions also prefer this therapy and visit a spine decompression facility for “booster” sessions.
In addition, some patients also choose spinal decompression therapy to analyze the positive effects of this treatment. If they find it effective, patients opt for a regular treatment plan. This treatment ensures long-lasting relief from chronic back pain.
Some people try spine decompression by hanging, which could aggravate the condition if not done correctly. Besides, this type of technique won’t address the underlying issue of compressed spine.
Final Thoughts
We hope to have offered you a clear and simple explanation of how spinal decompression helps in chronic back pain. In most cases, spine decompression works irrespective of the severity of the issue. Here at Thrive Health Systems, we rely on a non-invasive and drug-free treatment for back pain.
Each patient receives a comprehensive and in-depth evaluation by our seasoned chiropractor. With our years of experience, we are convinced that spinal decompression therapy is highly effective in treating chronic back pain.
For professional spinal decompression in Colorado Springs, feel free to contact us today!
