What Happens During a Spinal Decompression?

Back pain is one of the most common reasons American adults visit the hospital. It can occur due to bad posture or injuries. It can often become so intense that you cannot operate or do any of your daily duties. It makes it difficult to think and even work at all. Several treatments are available to treat it, some invasive and others noninvasive. One of the most efficient noninvasive treatments is spinal decompression. 

Spinal decompression is quite an old technique and concept. Since its inception, it has seen several changes and innovations that make it an ideal, safe, and effective treatment. There are two primary forms of spinal decompression: surgical and nonsurgical. 

What Is Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression?

Nonsurgical spinal decompression is a treatment that involves stretching the spine slowly and gently. The doctor uses a unique motor that uses traction to pull on your spine to relieve back pain. The traction force changes the forces acting on your spine to a normal position. You can have the procedure with your clothes on. 

How Does Spinal Decompression Work?

The traction motor that pulls your spine is attached to a computer that controls the amount of pressure to use. When the motor pulls on your spine, it creates negative pressure in your spinal disks. The negative pressure causes herniated disks to retract into the spine. This reduces the stress the herniated disks exert on the tissues and nerves.

What Conditions Does Spinal Decompression Treat?

Spinal decompression works best for most spinal issues that you may be experiencing. The most common conditions practitioners treat using spinal decompression are:
 

• Bulging cushions between disks or bulging disks.
• Degenerative disks caused by worn-out cushions between vertebrae.
• Herniated disks.
• Compressed or pinched nerves that cause tingling, numbness, or pain.
• Damage caused to your sciatica.
• Spinal stenosis. The narrowing of spinal spaces causes it due to herniated or bulging disks.

What Happens in a Spinal Decompression Session?

Preparation

When you go for the procedure, the health care provider will lead you into the room where they have the table. They will put harnesses on your trunk and pelvis. These are the ones the motor will pull on to stretch your spine. They will then ask you to lie down on the table, either face up or down. 

The Procedure

The health care provider will adjust the computer settings according to your needs. The doctor will then start the treatment by adjusting the pressure once in a while. They will do this for about 30 to 45 minutes. You will feel as if you are being stretched out while the procedure goes on. If you feel discomfort or pain during the procedure, you should notify the health care provider.
 

You will need about 28 treatments over two months for the therapy to be efficient. The health care professional may include other modalities in your treatment. These modalities help improve the efficiency of the treatment. 

Who Is Not a Candidate for Spinal Decompression?

Despite spinal decompression being a safe treatment, it is not for everybody. If you fall into the following categories, spinal decompression is not for you.

• If you have a fracture.
• If you have a tumor.
• If you have advanced osteoporosis.
• If you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
• If you have metallic spinal implants.

For more on what happens during a spinal decompression, visit Greater Nashville Health Institute at our office in Gallatin, Tennessee. Call (615) 583-4006​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ to book an appointment today.