Stretch Your Spine with Non-surgical Spinal Decompression

Spinal decompression therapy is a technique we prescribe often because of its ability to effectively treat lower back pain. By working to slowly stretch the spine, spinal decompression can help relieve pressure that has built up within compressed discs and vertebrae. If you’ve been on medications – or even had surgery – and haven’t had success, trying gentle spinal decompression could provide you with significant relief. Here’s what you should know about the procedure and why it works. 

Understanding Back Pain

Back pain is a common symptom of everything from pregnancy, to the flu, to injury and everything in between. ACA Today reports that one-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain each year, and that 80% of the population will experience back problems at least once in their lives. Having back pain can present in the forms of multiple symptoms, like:

• Inflammation centered in the lower back, neck, and mid-back regions
• Stiffness along the spine or muscles surrounding it 
• Pops, cracks, and other noises or sensations that happen when you move after resting
• Pain that is worse or better after resting
• Worsened pain after exercise
• Pain improved after exercise
• Spasms throughout the back that make it hard to stand, sit, or lie down
• Numbness

Back Pain Causes 

Unfortunately, since so many conditions can cause back pain, it can be hard to find out what exactly is causing the pain. For some patients, there is no clear cause. Other patients have definite issues that we can pickup easily on with different testing. Some common causes of back pain that we see here at Texas Spine & Sports Center are caused by:

• Injuries after a car accident
• Sports injuries 
• Wear and tear from activities
• Degeneration due to aging, osteoarthritis, or excess stress on the joints of the spine
• Scoliosis
• Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia 
• Nerve compression or a herniated disc 

When Should You Seek Help?

If you have back pain, it’s best to get advice from a professional. If you begin treating yourself, you could be doing more harm than good. Furthermore, actions you take now could put you at risk for back pain in the future. Many of these risk factors also irritate the back, which can cause more pain. You should try to eliminate bad habits like: 

• Poor posture, especially when sitting down
• Pushing yourself too hard in sports and exercise 
• Lifting heavy and unbalanced loads
• Using your back to lift instead of your legs
• A sedentary lifestyle that allows the major back muscles to weaken
• Untreated depression or anxiety 

Finding Relief with Spinal Decompression Therapy

Spinal decompression is one of our most prescribed treatments because of how effective it is in treating lower back pain. By slowly and gently stretching the spine, spinal decompression can relieve pent up pressure within compressed discs and vertebrae. Many patients who have tried surgery or medications without success have been able to find relief with this treatment. With relief from the pain, patients can find their normal mobility and function returns, along with their range of motion restored.

How Spinal Decompression Works 

Spinal decompression is a simple procedure. We use the DRX 9000 Spinal Decompression system, which is the most advanced decompression table to date in the industry. It has computerized sensors that measure and monitor your body’s response, which helps calibrate the force being applied to your spine. When it senses the tensing of your muscles, the force is automatically adjusted to a more gentle level to induce muscle relaxation, allowing decompression to continue as optimally as possible. 

When you come in, one of our team members will strap you to the machine with a harness, which will position your back for optimal decompression. You should feel a gradual lengthening of your spine as the discs are relieved of excess pressure. Though you might feel minor discomfort in the first few sessions, you will eventually acclimate to the treatment. However, if the discomfort becomes too much there is a safety switch for you to use to stop the session at any time. The session will last about 30 minutes, and the best part is there is no downtime or additional medication needed. Most patients come in for 20-25 sessions over a little over a month’s time to properly heal. However, the timing varies from patient to patient. 

Why Spinal Decompression Works 

Spinal decompression works by stretching and repositioning your spine, that way your body doesn’t lock down or stiffen in response to treatment. This treatment gently relieves your spine and discs from excess pressure.  

Other Treatment Options 

If spinal decompression doesn’t seem to be the right fit for you, there are plenty of other treatment options. Some potential treatment options for your pain can include:

• Electrical stimulation
• Spinal alignment therapy
• Braces or other support appliances
• Steroid shots

Call Texas Spine and Sports Therapy

If you have any kind of back pain and don’t want to rely on medication or have surgery, call our team at Texas Spine and Sports Therapy to learn about spinal decompression. To find out more about spinal decompression or any of our other treatment options, call us today at (512)-806-0015.