Spinal Decompression Therapy - How It Works For Back Pain

Spinal Decompression Therapy – The Good, The Bad, And The Truth About Decomp

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What Is Spinal Decompression Therapy?
Spinal Decompression Therapy is a therapy that gently stretches and releases the spine utilizing a motorized traction table. The goal of this therapy is to support injured disks that are creating pain by pressing on spinal nerves.

This therapy is referring to nonsurgical spinal decompression. There is a surgical spinal decompression (laminectomy or microdiscectomy), but we are referring to the nonsurgical treatment.
spinal-disk-decompression
How Does Spinal Decompression Work?
Spinal Decompression is primarily done for disk injuries in the cervical or lumbar region of the spine. Disks in this region that are injured may press on the nerves around the spinal column, causing pain and dysfunction throughout the body. This might result in Sciatica, Neuropathy, Radiculopathy, or a host of other issues.

A patient will typically undergo a series of treatments that are designed to restore space between the vertebrate, allowing the disk to get off the nerve and provide relief.

A Spinal Decompression Table will engage in a cycling of tension/release pattern, which creates a “pumping” motion for the disk. This lowered disk pressure is designed to create an influx of healing nutrients and other substances in the disk, attempting to rehydrate and heal the injured disk.

A treatment begins with a harness that is placed around the hips (for lumbar decompression) or head (for cervical decompression), and is attached to the decompression table.

The patient will lay on the table, and over the course of a 15-30 minute treatment the motorized table will gently create and release tension, creating the tractioning motion designed to aid the injured disks.

This is what differentiates a decompression treatment from just “hanging upside down”, as some patients do on an inversion table.
What Kinds Of Doctors Use Spinal Decompression?
Spinal Decompression Tables are used by Chiropractors, Osteopaths, and Physical Therapists. It may be administered by an assistant in most states, but it must be used under the guidance of a doctor.
What Does A Spinal Decompression Treatment Feel Like?
Spinal Decompression Therapy should never hurt. During a session, a patient should feel a gentle stretching of the low back or neck (wherever the table is connected). There might be a little “tightness” after the first session,
Is It Safe To Use Spinal Decompression?
Yes. Spinal Decompression Therapy was approved in the late 90’s and has a track record of safely helping patients recover from disk injuries.

As a safety precaution, most spinal decompression tables are outfitted with an “emergency stop” button that is held by the patient over the course of the therapy. If a patient were to feel pain or just desired to stop the therapy, they could press the button and the table would immediately deactivate.
What Is The Cost Of Spinal Decompression?
Spinal decompression treatments cost $30 – $200 per session on average. Most treatment protocols go from 15 – 30 treatments, which looks like a cost range of $450 – $6,000, depending on type and severity of case.
What Will Spinal Decompression Therapy Help?
Spinal Decompression Therapy was designed to aid those suffering from disk-related injuries. Back surgery is a common, but major surgery, and there were few viable treatments that addressed disk issues prior to Spinal Decompression Therapy.

Those dealing with Sciatica pain, Neuropathy, Radiculopathy, or other spine and nerve related pain would be potential candidates for Decompression.

Those that have already had back surgery may be ineligible for nonsurgical Spinal Decompression Therapy. A full evaluation should take place before engaging in this type of treatment.
Is There Research Proving The Effectiveness Of Spinal Decompression Therapy?
cervical-spinal-decompression
Yes, see below.

1. Gose E, Naguszewski W&R: Vertebral axial Decompression for Pain associated With Herniated and Degenerated Discs or Facet syndrome: an Outcome Study. Neuro Research, (20) 3, 186-190, 1997.

A retrospective analysis of over 770 cases, many assumed to be unresponsive to previous therapies showed a 71 % good-excellent success rate with -20 treatments on the prone VAX-D traction device. All patients treated prone with 65-95 lbs. of force 3-5 times per week.

2. Eyerman, E. Simple pelvic traction gives inconsistent relief to herniated lumbar disc sufferers. Journal of Neuroimaging. Paper presented to the American Society of Neuroimaging, Orlando, Florida 2-26-98.

“Serial MRI of 20 patients treated with the decompression table shows in our study up to 90% reduction of subligamentous nucleus herniation in 10 of 14. Some rehydration occurs detected by T2 and proton density signal increase. Torn annulus repair is seen in all.”

3. Shealy, N. et al.: Decompression, Reduction, and Stabilization of the Lumbar Spine: A Cost-Effective Treatment for Lumbosacral Pain. American Journal of Pain Management Vol. 7 No. 2 April 1997

“Eighty-six percent of ruptured intervertebral disc (RID) patients achieved ‘good’ (50-89% improvement) to ‘excellent’ (90-100% improvement) results with decompression. Sciatica and back pain were relieved.” “Of the facet arthrosis patients, 75% obtained ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ results with decompression.”

4. Gundersen, B, et al.: A Clinical Trial on Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Using Vertebral Axial Distraction Delivered by a Computerized Traction Device. The Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists, Quarterly Journal of ACO, June 2004

“All but two of the patients in the study improved at least 30% or more in the first three weeks.””Utilizing the outcome measures, this form of decompression reduces symptoms and improves activities of daily living.”

5. Yochum, et al.: Treatment of an L5-S1 Extruded Disc Herniation Using a DRX-9000 Spinal Decompression Unit: A Case Report. Chiro Econ, Vol 53: Issue 2.
Spinal Decompression Therapy “…allowed imbibition and complete reduction of the visualized herniation.” “Spinal decompression therapy provided an effective means of treatment for this patient’s symptoms resulting from discal herniation (extrusion) with associated impingement of the adjacent nerve root.” “MR imaging proved to be a useful and non-invasive technique in monitoring the efficacy of decompression therapy as it applies to this case.” “Decompression of the spine proved to be superior to the other forms of conservative care when applied to our patient. The patients’ results were both subjectively favorable and objectively quantified.”
How Do I know If I Should Use Spinal Decompression?
Prior to treatment, a potential patient should undergo a thorough exam, consultation, and appropriate diagnostics. Certain pre-existing conditions may disqualify eligibility for Spinal Decompression.

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