What is spinal decompression?
Traditionally, spinal decompression is surgery performed to relieve pressure on discs. More recently, though, nonsurgical spinal decompression has come to the forefront.
During this therapy, you lie on a special table which gently cycles through traction and relaxation to isolate and relieve pressure on a specific disc in your neck or lower back. It is primarily used to treat herniated discs or sciatica. Nonsurgical spinal decompression is a relatively new therapy, but the studies did show it is quite effective to reduce pain caused by bulging or herniated disks and can even slow the progression of degenerative disc disease by helping restore blood flow to the damaged disc. Generally, twenty sessions are recommended (this sounds like a lot, but the significant reduction in long-term pain and degeneration is worth it.
The Nashville chiropractor may also recommend other forms of therapy, such as heat or cold therapy or massage. Massage will help retrain muscles that are used to compensating for the damaged disc into better and stronger patterns. They will also almost certainly prescribe exercises be done at home to improve strength and mobility. They will also properly screen you – spinal decompression therapy is not recommended for pregnant women and it is important to do X-rays to check for fractures, which could be aggravated. A good chiropractor will not sell you a therapy that does not work or is dangerous and will refer you to other professionals as needed.
If you have chronic back pain that is not responding to rest, exercise or other treatments, it is worth considering nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy. It is a painless therapy with few risks that is showing great promise for being of benefit to anyone with a herniated disc or similar problem causing pain in their back.
Batson Chiropractic Group 