We’ve all been there after a long day of sitting at a desk chair – lower back pain, neck pain, sciatic pain, all-over pain. But when the pain is occurring regularly and at-home remedies aren’t helping, it’s time to visit your chiropractor. Chronic back pain like this can be treated by a non-surgical therapy called spinal decompression, a tool used at Metro Medic in New Bedford, MA each week to help patients with chronic back pains and aches.
As we age, our spine is naturally compressed by gravity pulling us down, not to mention all the things we put on our shoulders and backs over the years. This pushing down of the spine takes its wear over time, pressing out of sync the natural alignment we were born with. The discs between the vertebrae in our spine are forced out of place slowly, causing them to bulge, pinch, or simply wear down.
All of these factors contribute to chronic back and neck pain, as well as leg pain that stems from the nerves located in the lower back. Your body might have some contributing factors to the pain as well, such as degenerative disk disease or posterior facet syndrome (which is a disease of degenerated spinal joints). It is important to understand what causes your back pain so that your chiropractor or doctor can recommend the most appropriate treatment for you.
Spinal decompression is a treatment used to create more space around the spinal disks in your back. The disks are gel-like cushions that separate your bony vertebrae from each other, keeping them from painfully rubbing together. But as the cushions are pushed and pressed constantly throughout the day and over our lifetime, they begin to wear down.
Decompression therapy takes the pressure off your spinal disks by gently stretching the spine, creating negative pressure in the disks and allowing for better blood and oxygen flow so the disks can properly heal and replenish. With the negative pressure in the spinal disks, any bulging or herniated disks can retract, taking pressure off the nerves and other structural aspects of the spine.
This motorized stretching allows the spine to change position as well, overcoming years of bad posture and gravity. Changing the force of the spine and allowing for blood and nutrients to flow back to the spinal disks helps to relieve pain, with many patients expressing relief even during treatment.
This type of treatment is typically used when other treatments have failed to improve some of the following symptoms:
This list is not comprehensive, and decompression treatment is also used when other causes present themselves with back pain where the spinal disks are involved.
Knowing what to expect before your spinal decompression session is a great way to rest your nerves and feel at ease during the appointment.
You’ll first come into the office for an initial consultation and exam. The doctor will ask for a medical history and details regarding the pain you have been experiencing. It is best to be as thorough and honest as possible during this part of the process so that we can recommend the best possible treatment for you. If you are approved as a candidate for spinal decompression, your doctor will talk to you about the treatment process to take place in the next appointment.
As this treatment is non-invasive, you will be fully clothed during the therapy session, and you do not need to prepare anything beforehand. The doctor will fit you with 2 harnesses at the beginning of the treatment session. These harnesses will go around your pelvis and your midsection. You’ll then lie down on a computer-controlled table, lying either face-up or face down. The doctor will then operate the computer, tailoring the treatment to your specific needs.
The table is a padded traction device that will slowly and safely stretch out your spine. You will have a safety switch within reach if you feel the need to stop treatment at any time, and the doctor promotes an environment of open communication so you can let him know any pain you might experience right away. However, most patients use this time to relax both physically and mentally, as the treatment is safe, non-invasive, and very gentle.
You should plan for the treatment to last for about 30 to 45 minutes, and you may need to have 20 to 30 treatments spread out over 2 months, depending on the severity of the pressure in your spinal disks.
There is no downtime between spinal decompression treatments or after the process is concluded. As the treatment is completely non-invasive and gentle, you will be able to schedule activities immediately following your appointments, and continue your day in a normal fashion.
Several patients express relief after just 1 or 2 visits, while the majority of patients will report significant pain relief by week 5 or 6. The treatment can be repeated in the future, sometimes even after back surgery as a part of your physical therapy.
There are no major side effects to decompression therapy. Some patients do express a feeling of soreness after the first few sessions, compared to working out muscles after a long time of inactivity. This is due to the long stretching of muscles that aren’t accustomed to moving that way. It is very rare for a patient to complain of increased pain after decompression treatment.
If you have severe disk problems such as acute herniation, you may experience some pain during the first few sessions as the disks move away from the nerves they were pressing. Regardless of this, the majority of patients still experience at least 50% of pain relief after 4 to 5 treatment sessions.
The table used during the decompression treatment is called a traction table, which is controlled by a computer and is able to make precise movements to lengthen and stretch the spine. There are similar types of therapy out there that can also reduce pressure on the spinal disks, such as physical therapy, manipulation massage, or inversion tables. These methods have a low rate of the amount of pressure they are able to reduce, however.
Only decompression therapy has successfully proven to create negative pressure in the spinal disks, allowing more room for oxygen, blood, and nutrients to flow. Because the process is slow and gentle, the muscles that typically tighten during a back stretching movement are not triggered, allowing for a deeper stretch over an extended period of time. The disks are allowed to reposition without feeling tension or setting off the body’s automatic protective responses.
You should not experience any muscle spasms or tightening during your decompression treatment. This is why it is important to be treated by a doctor with years of experience in this type of therapy for the best results.
Spinal decompression therapy is only available to patients that are at least 18 years of age. Your doctor will be able to tell if you qualify for decompression treatment after your first initial consultation and exam. Many patients who qualify for this treatment include those with:
These candidates and more are often excellent patients for spinal decompression treatment.
Your chiropractor will be able to tell you if you are a good candidate or not for the treatment, but there are a few conditions that will disqualify you from receiving decompression therapy. These include patients that have:
Pregnant women are also disqualified from having the decompression treatment. Even if you have one of the above conditions, consult with your doctor about it so he can see if the treatment is truly not right for you, as well as suggest alternatives to help you manage your pain.
Your chiropractor might recommend some other types of treatments, to either accompany decompression therapy or to try before or after. These could include treatments such as:
These additional treatments can be applied before, during, or after the decompression treatment. You may also be encouraged to walk the day after your decompression sessions, increase your water drinking habits to half a gallon per day, and rest as well as perform specific exercises for recovery and strength.
Decompression therapy is not to be confused with decompression surgery. The therapy treatment is non-invasive and requires no previous preparation or downtime. Therapy is also pain-free and involves a computerized table that gently stretches your back to allow for negative pressure to be created in your spinal disks.
Surgery is a different matter and is seen as a last resort when treatments do not work. Your doctor may suggest surgery if your pain continues and you have bulging or ruptured disks that do not correct themselves with therapy. Surgery is also an option for bone growths or other spinal problems, often showing symptoms such as tingling, weakness, or numbness. These symptoms suggest pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, and surgery may relieve that pressure.
Decompression therapy is much gentler, safer, and more easily accessible to patients. All patients should try therapy first if their doctor recommends it. Decompression treatment is FDA-cleared and has been around for more than 10 years.
At Metro Medic, we take your aches and pains seriously and strive to help our patients live a fulfilling and pain-free life. If your back pain is regular and affecting your daily life, it’s time to get it taken care of, and gently realign your spine. Call Metro Medic of New Bedford, MA today to take the first step towards a pain-free future.
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