Every year millions of Americans suffer with back pain, this can be caused by injury, trauma, aging or lifestyle choices. With proper rest, stretching and recovery you can manage back pain without any treatment, though many people often ignore the pain symptoms assuming they’ll go away on their own.
The spine is an integral part of your body, which not only holds up your body weight, it houses the nerves that send signals to your muscles which control nearly all your motor functions. Your spine is put under pressure the moment you wake up, and when not adequately taken care of can lead to chronic pain, nerve damage, disc herniation and more. Spinal decompression therapy has been shown to help people in pain recover.
Today we are going to go over 5 different ways decompression therapy can help maintain your spine healthy.
Pain Reduction
Most people looking to have decompression therapy are looking for ways to reduce pain in their back. Your lower back carries the bulk of your weight and compression can be made worse when sitting for long periods of time.
Inflammation is commonly the reason for pain in your back and spine. By decreasing inflammation it will also decrease the symptoms caused by herniated discs and a misaligned spine.
Herniated Discs
Herniated discs, also known as bulging discs happen when the soft tissue used to cushion and connect the vertebrae is injured, typically this is caused by constant strain, trauma or injury to the spine. Herniated discs are incredibly difficult to treat due to the body getting used to the misalignment even if it causes pain. It’s not uncommon to see discs move back to their improper position after a return visit.
Decompression therapy aids in correcting herniated discs. When the spine is being decompressed by the spinal traction, a small amount of negative pressure allows the discs to naturally return to their original position.
Prevent Surgery
Many spine problems are often solved with expensive surgery, this involves invasive procedures and high recovery times. Decompression therapy can help treat many issues that would otherwise require surgery such as:
- Herniated Disc
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Posterior Facet Syndrome
- Sciatica
There are many risks involved with spinal surgery as well as with any surgery including that it may not result in any improvement of back pain. Other common risks related with spinal surgery include:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Blood Clots
- Nerve and/or Tissue Damage
Low recovery times
After decompression therapy there is essentially no down time needed for recovery. A decompression therapy session may last anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes and when you are done you should feel some relief from your back pain, and be able to continue enjoying your day. Decompression therapy rarely has negative side effects associated with it.
Occasionally, patients report a feeling of soreness or a dull ache for a few days as the body is adjusting to the decompression. This feeling is related often to the soreness you would feel after a hard workout at the gym. In rare occasions, decompression therapy can cause muscles to spasm or the patient will sometimes feel pain go through their arms and legs.
Affordable alternative
Surgeries are risky for many of the reasons stated above, however many spinal surgeries can also cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. Which can also leave you unable to work while in recovery.
Decompression therapy has been shown to be a viable alternative to surgery. Decompression therapy has been effective in over 75% of the patients receiving it as treatment and many of them report long term pain relief and at the time of completing the program result in effective back pain management.
Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine
Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health.
Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.
We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.