BTHCP 002: Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, Revolutionary Treatment for Disc Injuries

In this podcast you will learn:

1. What is it?
2. How does it work?
3. Who can it help?
4. Contra-indications

In this podcast you will learn:

1. What is Non-surgical spinal decompression
2. What is it used to treat
3. Who can it help
4. Are there any contra-indications
5. Where can I learn more

Summary

Nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy is a revolutionary, life changing technology used primarily to treat disc injuries in the neck and lower back. Clinical research has also shown spinal decompression therapy to be effective in treating facet syndrome, radiating arm pain, leg pain, degenerative disc disease and more.

This effective treatment option consists of decreasing pressure within the spinal discs through distracting and positioning the vertebra to create negative intra-discal pressure, In other words, it creates a vacuum inside the discs that are being targeted in treatment in order to alleviate pressure.

In nonsurgical spinal decompression, the vertebrae are gently separated while the patient lies comfortably on the decompression table. In addition to decreasing the intra-discal pressure, it may also induce the retraction of the herniated or bulging disc to the inside of the disc, which then can take pressure off the nearby nerve root, thecal sac, or both.

There are numerous benefits of spinal decompression which is why this treatment has grown in demand. The cycles of decompression and partial relaxation that occur microscopically in this treatment can cause results that are quite dramatic. Over a series of visits to the clinic, the torn and degenerated disc fibers under consideration can begin to heal as water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids outside the discs are diffused within.

The issue with the majority of conventional treatments offered is that not only do they not promote the healing process, typical treatments such as steroid injections and oral anti-inflammatory drugs actually hinder the body’s innate healing process.  Injections and drugs do limit swelling which can significantly decrease pain, but the cost comes with a lowered ability to actually heal.  When tissues are swollen and inflamed your body is trying to send key nutrients and specific cells such as fibroblasts to the damaged area in order to begin the repair process.  The swelling itself is often painful, which does have an important function of telling us to rest and to not continue to use the damaged tissue in stressful ways.

The better injections and anti-inflammatory drugs do in limiting the pain, the greater their side effect is in terms of shutting down the healing response.  Because spinal decompression promotes your body’s healing process, the latest research has shown it to be 80% EFFECTIVE, no matter how badly the disc is damaged.  Compare this to the fact that back surgery has a greater than 50% failure rate!

It is important to keep in mind that although spinal decompression is highly successful, 80% is not perfect.  Therefore research has shown that around 20% of people with significant damage to their discs will need surgical intervention.  However, it only makes sense to have the proper evaluation to see if one is a candidate for decompression therapy and to try that FIRST before resorting to drugs and or surgery.

To find out more about the benefits of nonsurgical spinal decompression, contact us Back to Health Chiropractic, 207-324-7098, www.bthconline.com. Due to the tremendous results we have seen with numerous patients, we are pleased to report that we have added a second decompression unit to our state of the art facility. #injureddiscsCANheal #chiropractic#drugfreepainrelief

Contra-indications

Pregnancy

Previous surgery with implanted hardware

Spinal injuries that resulted in instability

Related Links

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Spine.+2006+Jul+1%3B31(15)%3A1658-65

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8720408

www.mainedisc.com

www.bthconline.com

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39658423/ns/health-pain_center/t/back-surgery-may-backfire-patients-pain/#.WHuqb1MrK0