One of the most commonly utilized treatment modalities used in our office is called non-surgical spinal decompression therapy (SDT). This treatment modality is often used with those individuals that have been diagnosed with a bulging or herniated disc, and other times for those individuals with neck or lower back pain with radiating pain that travels into the arms or legs. It also has helped those that have conditions such as degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease, sciatica, spinal stenosis, facet joint pain and other spinal related conditions and syndromes. We often receive questions from prospective new patients asking what spinal decompression therapy is and if it could potentially be a treatment option for them. The purpose of this blog post is to learn more about spinal decompression therapy and what to expect with treatment sessions.
If you are someone that has been diagnosed with a herniated or bulging disc, or having neck or lower back pain with pain radiating into the arms or legs, spinal decompression therapy (SDT) may be a great treatment option. SDT is a non-surgical treatment option for neck and back pain that includes stretching of the spine with a manual or powered decompression table. It involves the use of a motorized table that gently stretches the spine, taking pressure off of the discs and nerves. This traction creates a negative pressure inside the discs, which allows them to rehydrate and to decompress. This can help to reduce pain, improve range of motion and to promote the healing of the discs.
During a therapy session, the spine is gently stretched, resulting in changes in force and position of the spine, relieving the spinal discs and nerves of the pressure that causes the pain. Bulged or herniated disc material is repositioned by creating a negative intradiscal pressure. Back pain or neck pain caused by stress and inflammation may be reduced, potentially preventing surgery from being required. Those suffering from chronic back or neck pain that worsens with age will find this to be of great benefit. After completing the entire course of recommended treatment, most patients will find long-term relief and effective pain management.
At the beginning of a treatment session, the doctor will instruct you to lay face up or face down on the decompression table, depending on your condition. The doctor will then fit you to a lumbar or cervical harness on the machine, and will ensure you have no discomfort caused by either the harness or positioning on the table. Once the treatment begins, a gentle pulling sensation will be felt throughout the session. There will be sensors on the computerized table that can detect when muscles are tense or resist stretching. By using these, the doctor can easily adjust the amount of pressure required to achieve the desired results. Several cycles of stretching and relaxation will be experienced during the treatment session, gradually building to a peak over time. The total time of treatment will usually range between 25-30 minutes from beginning to end.
The treatment plan, frequency, and effectiveness of spinal decompression are determined by examining patients and assessing their issues and the severity of their conditions. Decompression will produce a relatively rapid initial response, according to our own clinical findings. Within six sessions, patients who respond well to treatment will usually feel relief which can be direct pain ceasing or a centralization of pain and/or reduction of discomfort. Usually, it takes between 8-12 sessions for full relief to be achieved through this passive treatment. A “stubborn” pain syndrome may sometimes improve slowly over 15 or more treatment sessions, but this is not typical. In most cases, patients will notice enough relief after 4-6 sessions to begin active rehabilitation. The spinal decompression may be continued (pre-or post-rehabilitation) depending on the method chosen for 4-6 more sessions before being discontinued or reduced.
If you or someone you know are interested in seeing if spinal decompression therapy is a potential treatment option for you, please do not hesitate to contact our office today at (910) 392-8896. We here at Quint Chiropractic are here and ready to help you achieve a happier, healthier and higher quality of life. We look forward to hearing from or seeing you soon!