Chronic back pain can make even the simplest of tasks incredibly difficult and get in your way of resting comfortably at night. The good news is that there are ways of addressing back pain that do not involve needles or surgery.
At Northeast Spine and Sports Medicine of New Jersey, we successfully use spinal decompression therapy to help patients get relief from many types of back pain. This blog post will tell you more about the procedure and help you decide if it is a treatment you can explore.
What Is Spinal Decompression Therapy?
Spinal decompression therapy is a non-invasive clinical intervention for back pain that was introduced by Dr. Allan Dyer in 1991. His Vax-D decompression table remains in use today, and it's what we have in our offices at Northeast Spine and Sports Medicine. The idea behind spinal decompression therapy is to relieve pressure on the joints of the spine and the nerves located in the spinal column.
What Happens During Spinal Decompression?
During a spinal decompression treatment, the patient reclines comfortably on the Vax-D table either face up or down, depending on the condition being treated. He or she holds onto hand grips and is fitted with a pelvic harness. When the therapy begins, the practitioner slowly begins to spread the table apart, causing gentle stretching of the spine. Patients typically do not feel any pain during the procedure, and a typical treatment session last 20 to 45 minutes.
How Spinal Decompression Treatment Works
As the spine is stretched during a decompression treatment, pressure on the discs is alleviated. This helps to alleviate pain and promotes the absorption of fluid and nutrients to assist with healing. Bulging disc material that has been forced out by pressure can slip back into place, and the stretching also increases the space between the discs to take pressure off of pinched nerves.
Benefits of Spinal Decompression
There are a number of benefits to spinal decompression therapy. The treatment is:
- Pain Free. Most people do not feel any discomfort during the procedure. In fact, some enjoy the stretching sensation and find the therapy to be relaxing.
- Low Risk of Side Effects. There is no risk of serious side effects with spinal decompression therapy. Occasionally, people may experience short-lived back spasms after a treatment.
- Fast-Acting. Patients may feel markedly better after just one spinal decompression treatment.
- Convenient. A spinal decompression therapy session takes less than an hour. You'll remain fully clothed during the treatment and can usually return to work afterward.
Who Can Benefit from the Treatment?
At Northeast Spine and Sports Medicine, we have successfully used spinal decompression therapy to lessen or eliminate back pain caused by:
- Bulging discs
- Herniated discs
- Sciatica
- Spinal stenosis
To find out more about Spinal Decompression Therapy and find out if it could help you to alleviate pain, schedule an appointment for a consultation at Northeast Spine and Sports Medicine. You can request an appointment at one of our five New Jersey locations online or call us to schedule.
