SPINAL DECOMPRESSION IS THE NEW TREATMENT FOR BULGING, HERNIATED, OR DEGENERATIVE DISC DISORDERS

How Does Spinal Decompression Work?

At our clinic in Coeur d Alene, we utilize the DOC Decompression system for our spinal decompression treatments. DOC Decompression is currently one of the most sophisticated, true three-dimensional decompression system on the market to treat chronic neck and back pain.
The DOC Decompression system, and other systems like it, work by slowly lengthening and decompressing the spine. These movements cause negative pressures within the disc. This type of pressure then creates an intradiscal vacuum that helps to reposition bulging discs and protruding disc material back into place. Ultimately, the goal is to realign the spinal discs, allow nutrients and oxygen to flow back into damaged or injured discs, take pressure off any pinched nerves that have been affected, and relieve the patient’s pain.

What to Expect from a Spinal Decompression Session

During your first visit, one of our medical professionals will conduct a physical exam. In some cases, we might recommend an X-ray or MRI to better understand your condition and pinpoint the exact areas of damage. After we review our findings, we will determine if DOC Decompression is the most suitable course of action or if another form of therapy will work better for your condition.

What are the Treatments like?

At the beginning of each session, you will be comfortably fitted with a harness designed to achieve optimal decompression of the low back or neck. During a session of spinal decompression you will notice a slow lengthening of your spine as your discs are gradually decompressed and relieved of pressure. The treatment process is safe and relaxing. While some patients with extensively injured discs have reported mild discomfort during the first few treatment sessions, their discomfort subsides upon subsequent visits. A patient safety switch provides an extra safety feature, allowing you to stop at any point should you feel discomfort. Each treatment session lasts approximately 30 minutes. Individual patient results may vary.

What is the Typical Treatment Protocol?

A typical spinal decompression treatment protocol consists of about 20-30 sessions over six to eight weeks. Some conditions require fewer visits; some require more. Many patients report relief from their pain and other symptoms during the first few treatment sessions, and most experience dramatic pain relief after completion of their prescribed treatment program.
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The DOC Decompression system also has an integrated computer system that is capable of sensing the patient’s guarding reflex. What this means is that the system is responsive to the patient’s limitations and tension, gently pulling and relaxing on the spine only when needed. The table is also adjustable to target different segments of the spine.

How does Spinal Decompression help Sciatica?

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression slowly lengthens and decompresses the spine, creating negative pressures within the discs. This reversal of pressure creates a vacuum inside the discs that helps to reposition bulging discs and draw extruded disc material back into place, taking pressure off pinched nerves. Spinal experts believe that nutrients, oxygen, and fluids are drawn into the disc to create a revitalized environment conducive to healing.

How does Spinal Decompression help a Herniated Disc?

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression slowly lengthens and decompresses the spine, creating negative pressures within the discs. This reversal of pressure creates a vacuum inside the discs that helps to reposition bulging discs and draw extruded disc material back into place, taking pressure off pinched nerves. Spinal experts believe that nutrients, oxygen, and fluids are drawn into the disc to create a revitalized environment conducive to healing.

How does Spinal Decompression help Degenerating Discs?

While lying comfortably on the spinal decompression table, gentle specialized traction forces are applied until decompression is achieved. Decompression produces a negative pressure inside the discs that acts like a vacuum. This negative pressure produces an influx of fluid and minerals which helps the discs to heal. Then with the addition of specific nutrients and minerals through supplements, the influx helps the discs to heal, become more flexible, more hydrated and even taller.

As disc bulges or herniations are drawn in, or as the discs begin to regenerate, pressure is taken off of the nerves and surrounding structures relieving the patient of pain and decreasing inflammation.

How is Stenosis Treated?

Typically, spinal stenosis is treated with conservative non-surgical therapies. One important therapy is exercise. Keeping the muscles of the hip, back, and legs stretched and strengthened allows for improved stability and will improve walking. Medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) also may be appropriate and helpful in pain relief. Cortisone injections into the area around the spinal cord, may provide temporary relief to people suffering from this disorder however, steroid shots do come with risks.

Under severe and rare circumstances, surgery to correct this disorder may be appropriate. A popular surgery is a laminectomy where they remove the lamina of the vertebra and remove the build-up of bone spurs or increased bone mass in the spinal canal. This can free up space for the nerves and the spinal cord. However, the risks versus rewards should always be assessed and all conservative options should be exhausted first.

If Spinal Stenosis is caused or exacerbated by a herniated or bulging disc then Spinal Decompression may be very effective. Spinal Decompression creates a negative pressure inside of the discs which helps draw in herniations and bulges. Once these are drawn in the pressure is taken off of the nerves and the pain, numbness and tingling will subside.

Consult your physician to determine which therapy will benefit your diagnosis the most.

Why Is Spinal Decompression Different from Traction, Physical Therapy, and Chiropractic Manipulation?

While traction, physical therapy, and manipulation may reduce disc pressures to as low as 40 mm Hg, only spinal decompression has been shown to achieve negative pressures within the spine. It has been clinically proven that spinal decompression creates negative pressures as low as -110 mm Hg3 within the injured disc during the treatment session. Normally, pulls exerted on the spine trigger sensory receptors in the back to tighten the muscles surrounding the vertebrae and discs in an effort to protect them from injury. Spinal Decompression bypasses this response by slowly pulling on the spine and relaxing the back over an extended period of time, allowing the spine to be repositioned without tension and without causing spasm and muscle guarding. It is important for patients to make sure that they are treated on a high quality true spinal decompression table by a physician with years of experience and not an imitation spinal decompression table.

Links to research:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20615252
http://www.naturalpainsolutionsportland.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/13_hospital_management.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5388346
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4339166
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1887522/#:~:text=The%20authors%20state%2086%25%20of,compared%20to%2050%25%20for%20traction
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpts/22/4/22_4_345/_article
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18226650