Spinal Decompression For Back Pain: What You Need To Know

There are many things a chiropractor can do to help you with severe lower back pain. Among the most effective forms of treatment is spinal decompression. It is a relatively new form of therapy that is non-invasive, which means that no form of surgery has to be performed in order to see results from spinal decompression therapy. It is highly recommended you discuss the matter with your chiropractor to see if spinal decompression is a treatment that will work well for whatever particular ailment you happen to be suffering from. Throughout the course of this brief guide, you will learn a few facts about spinal decompression, such as how it works or whether or not it is right for you.

What Is Spinal Decompression?

Spinal decompression is a process that involves using a machine to stretch the spine in order to relieve various forms of back or leg pain. This is a nonsurgical form of therapy that can be performed by a chiropractor.

There are surgical forms of decompression, such as laminectopy and microdiscectomy, but due to the radical difference between these forms of decompression and non-invasive forms of decompression, the former shall not be discussed throughout the course of this article. Essentially, decompression is an effective way to rid one self of lower back, neck and occasionally, leg pain.

How Does It Work?

This should be the first question you ask a chiropractor regarding how spinal decompression works. Essentially, a device that services the body by utilizing spinal decompression is basically just a technologically advanced version of a form of therapy that chiropractors have been using for years, called traction. Traction and decompression can work in various ways, but they mainly operate by attempting to reposition a slipped, herniated or bulging disc in the body or by creating lower pressure in the disc that will attempt to revitalize the disc and speed up the healing process.

Who Is A Good Candidate?

This is a conversation that is best reserved for your chiropractor him- or herself, but in general, there are several candidates who make for good choices for decompression therapy. For those of you suffering from extreme lower back pain, sciatica (leg pain), or neck pain that has been caused by a herniated, bulging or otherwise degenerated disc, take into consideration that you might be a good candidate for decompression therapy.

There are several individuals who would fall outside of the purview of decompression therapy, including pregnant women, patients with failed back surgeries, and those patients who have had spinal fusion performed in the past.

What Results Does It Offer?

Decompression therapy can be a very effective form of therapy for a number of patients. Although for some individuals, results may vary, the basic theory of spinal decompression therapy states that the herniated, bulging or otherwise problematic disc will be "soothed". This is to say that the disc will be set on a path to recovery by the techniques used by the chiropractor. Thankfully, these advances have generally been quite effective.

Those patients with a history of hand numbness or numbness in the lower extremities may find that their treatment with decompression with be much less effective than those who do not deal with such issues.

Decompression has proven to be a rather effective form of treatment for slipped discs and other problems that are related to spinal, neck and even leg pain. Is it right for you? After reading this article, it is highly recommended that you discuss the matter with your chiropractor. He or she will be able to set you on the right path towards discovering a speedy treatment for the pains you have experienced.