In this study published in the American Journal of Pain Management, it was concluded that spinal decompression provided at least 50-89% and up to 90-100% pain improvement to patients suffering from ruptured intervertebral disc. Non-surgical spinal decompression is a type of motorized traction that can help relieve back pain. Spinal decompression works by gently stretching the spine. That changes the strength and position of the spine.
This change removes pressure from the spinal discs, which are gel-like pads between the bones of the spine, by creating negative pressure on the disc. As a result, protruding or herniated discs can retract, reducing pressure from nerves and other structures in the spine. This, in turn, helps promote the movement of water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids to the discs so that they can heal. Surgical Cases May Have a High Success Rate in Pain Relief.
Surgery May Not Fix All Degenerative Problems. Spinal decompression gently helps protruding or herniated discs return to their correct locations for long-term relief. Over time, decompression therapy can help the discs stay in place instead of continuing to migrate out of their intended points. The most common side effect is dull, aching pain for the first week or two as the body becomes accustomed to stretching and decompressing.
Before booking back surgery or deciding you're doomed to lifelong low back pain, consider spinal decompression therapy. In non-surgical spinal decompression therapy, the spine is intermittently stretched and relaxed in a controlled manner. If a patient has had more than 3 laminectomies, the success rate of spinal decompression will decrease. If a patient has undergone surgical fusion with rods or screws or any type of hardware, patients may not qualify for spinal decompression.
There is very limited evidence in the scientific literature to support the effectiveness of non-surgical spinal decompression therapy. Spinal decompression stretches the muscles in a direction of elongation that the body is generally not used to. With the precise computer-controlled tension of spinal decompression, proper disc levels are gently and painlessly distracted to achieve negative pressure inside the disc. A typical spinal decompression treatment protocol consists of about 12 to 20 sessions over four to six weeks.
Even when physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, pain pills, and injections have failed, most patients continue to receive drastic pain relief within 4 to 6 weeks of spinal decompression. Patients with fractured vertebrae, tumors, or a history of aneurysms may also want to avoid spinal decompression therapy and should consult it instead for other treatment options. The EvidenceA Growing Number of Studies Demonstrate the Efficacy of Spinal Decompression Therapy. Therefore, we affirm that decompression therapy should be considered first, before the patient undergoes a surgical procedure that permanently alters the anatomy and function of the affected lumbar spine segment.
Adults with low back pain usually go to Northeast Spine and Sports Medicine for decompression therapy after other doctors have recommended a spinal fusion, discectomy, or laminectomy. While you can request decompression therapy at any time your doctor deems appropriate, this non-surgical procedure is often the last effort of patients who have not achieved the results they want from other treatments. .
