How Decompression Relieves Spinal Pain

Back pain is one of the main reasons for missed workdays, and it’s a leading cause of disability. Although there are many reasons your back might hurt, there’s no denying that back pain can be hard to ignore. And spinal pain isn’t limited to your back. Neck pain can be just as bothersome.

Barry Hughes, DC and Brittany Anz, DC, take spinal pain seriously. That’s why we offer numerous treatments, including chiropractic care, soft tissue therapy, decompression, and acupuncture.

In this blog, we zero in one therapy in particularly 一 decompression 一 and highlight how it relieves spinal pain.

What is Decompression and How Does it Work?

There are two kinds of decompression: surgical and non-surgical. Surgical decompression is designed to alleviate back pain by reducing pressure on your nerves by removing part of your bone or disc that is irritating your nerve. While this procedure is helpful for those with pinched nerves or spinal stenosis, surgery isn’t always right for everyone, and it’s rarely a first line of defense against back pain. Luckily, you don’t need to undergo surgery to receive the benefits of decompression.

Our team of experienced chiropractors perform non-surgical decompression here at Premier Chiropractic in Pearland, Texas. Non-surgical decompression therapy reduces the pressure and pain in your spine by gently stretching your back without the risks associated with surgery.

Non-surgical decompression isn’t a new concept. It’s based on the ideas of manual traction but with all the advantages of computer technology to control the duration and intensity of your stretching treatment.

Here’s how it works:

  • You lay fully clothed on the table while wearing two harnesses (one on your pelvis and one on your trunk)
  • The computer controls are adjusted to increase/decrease intensity, duration, and angle
  • Your spine stretches according to the computer settings

Treatments can last anywhere from 30-45 minutes. Depending on your specific needs, you may benefit from several treatments spread out over a few weeks. We review all the components of your treatment plan with you, so you always know what to expect at each step of the journey.

How Does Decompression Relieve Spinal Pain?

Decompression provides motorized traction to stretch your spine. As your spine stretches, it creates negative pressure. Negative pressure is a vacuum that draws in oxygen and nutrients into the disc to promote healing. If you have a herniated disk, the negative pressure can also cause the bulging disc to retract, which alleviates pain by taking pressure off irritated nerves.

Is Decompression Right For You?

Decompression alleviates spinal pain in your neck or lower back related to herniated discs, sciatica, and posterior facet syndrome. Whether you’re dealing with pain in your cervical spine or lumbar spine, our team at Premier Chiropractic outlines a treatment plan for you based on your diagnosis, and if decompression isn’t right for you, we recommend the treatments that are.

To learn more about decompression for spinal pain, call our Pearland, Texas, office at 281-223-1172 or book an appointment online.