westcoast SpineCareClinic 

SPINAL DECOMPRESSION  

Spinal Decompression Therapy

In the past, a patient suffering from disc problems usually was given pain medications, instructed to refrain from physical activities, referred for physical therapy, and when they weren’t progressing they were sent for spinal surgery. Conservative chiropractic care proved very helpful in many cases, but with the addition of Spinal Decompression Therapy, we were able to add another option to the treatment of certain disc related problems.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy ( also known more simply as Spinal Decompression or SD), is proven to treat back pain and sciatica caused by bulging, herniated, and degenerative discs or facet syndrome. Even post-surgical patients have reported significant pain relief from SD treatments.

Spinal Decompression, not to be confused with traction, gently lengthens and decompresses the spine, creating negative pressures* within the discs. this reversal of pressure creates an intradiscal vacuum that not only takes pressure off of pinched nerves, but helps to reposition bulging discs and pull extruded disc material back into place. Spinal experts believe that nutrients, oxygen, and fluids are drawn into the disc to create a revitalized environment conducive to healing.

While traction, physical therapy and manipulation may reduce disc pressures to as low as +40 mm Hg ( like other pressures found in the body such as blood pressure, intradiscal pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury, mm Hg), only SD has been shown to achieve negative pressures within the spine. It has been clinically proven that SD creates negative pressures as low as -160 mmHg within the injured disc during the treatment session!

The Logarithmic Difference

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, a mechanism in the body known as the proprioceptor response. SD bypasses this response. SD bypasses this response by gently pulling on the spine and relaxing the back over an extended period of time, allowing the spine to be repositioned without tension and without setting off the “lock down” proprioceptor response.

Recently released research by the Mayo Clinic has shown that FDA cleared nonsurgical spinal decompression has an 89% success rate in relieving debilitating back pain including sciatica and herniated discs problems.

Spinal Decompression is used for the treatment of:

Disc Bulge or Herniation 
Sciatica
Neck Pain / Radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
Degenerative disc disease
A relapse or failure following surgery

- Effectiveness varies from patient to patient. 

You are not a candidate for SD if:

you are pregnant
you have sustained a recent vertebral fracture
you have any retained surgical hardware (titanium rods or fusion cages)
you suffer from severe osteoporosis
you suffer from moderate to severe scoliosis
you have rare conditions such as certain spinal infections and pelvic or
abdominal cancer

“ I tried everything for my herniated disc. After my snowboarding accident, I suffered symptoms from what MRIs showed to be two herniated discs at my L4-L5, and L5-S1 levels. I had trouble sleeping, getting out of bed, sitting or standing for any prolong periods of time. For 7 months I tried everything from medication, to physiotherapist, to chiropractic. Nothing seemed to resolve my problem. I was worried that I would have to get surgery or worst, have this pain for the rest of my life. Finally, my chiropractor referred me to Dr. Lai for Spinal Decompression Therapy. After 7 sessions I was feeling significantly better. By the 11th treatment, I had no significant symptoms. I have since strengthened my core using the SpineForce and have gotten my life back. I even went jet skiing a few weeks ago!”

Steven H.    

When Can I Expect Results?

Some patients report an immediate pain reduction after their first few treatments! With herniated and degenerated discs, the escaped nucleus pulposus may be partially retracted back into the disc after just the first few sessions, relieving a great deal of pain. However, pain reduction does not indicate full recovery, and a full recovery is essential to preventing re-injury. This may mean completing up to 20 treatment sessions