Chronic back pain and neck pain can be some of the worst kind of pain you can carry around, and many of us live with it without even knowing that it’s a problem. The Australian National Health Survey found last year that up to 90% of Australians will live with lower back pain at some point, but very few of them actually try to get it treated.
It can stop you from living life the way you want – keeping you indoors, preventing you from exercising or playing sports, and may even hold back your career. But chronic back and neck pain doesn’t have to be a condition you live with for life. With treatments like non-surgical Chiropractic spinal decompression, First Choice Chiropractic can relieve you of all that lingering pain.
What is Spinal Decompression Therapy?
Spinal decompression therapy generally works toward one key goal: stretching the spine. For a variety of reasons, an individual may find himself with a compressed spine (caused by long-term heavy lifting, injury, bad posture, or other activities that awkwardly stress the back).
This puts tension and stress on the spinal discs, or the soft cushions that sit between the spine’s individual parts (or vertebrae). The spinal discs give us the flexibility to twist and bend our spine without breaking our back, but when they become too stressed, these discs can become damaged or pushed out of place.
This leads to herniated or bulging discs, which lead to discs ending up in places where they shouldn’t be, pressing nerves and other parts of the spine that shouldn’t have any direct pressure. Pressed nerves can cause a whole range of pains throughout the body, which is why back pain is usually associated with leg pain, neck pain, arm pain, and even migraines.
Spinal decompression therapy stretches the spine back to its normal, pre-compressed length, allowing the individual discs to set back into place, which in turn takes the pressure off of the stressed adjacent nerves. A properly straightened spine also promotes the flow of nutrients and oxygen throughout the discs, engaging their inherent healing systems.
Non-surgical Spinal Decompression VS Surgical Spinal Decompression
There are two branches of spinal decompression therapy: non-surgical and surgical. Non-surgical is generally safe and drug-free, allowing the patient to undergo therapy without going under the knife.
Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy is our therapy of choice, as surgical spinal decompression is generally considered a final option when all other options have failed.
When Do I Need to Consider Spinal Decompression Therapy?
Unlike some therapies, non-surgical spinal decompression therapy can help a wide variety of patients suffering from various conditions. Patients suffering types of sciatica, lower back pain, herniated disc-related neck pain, or any other pain caused by degenerated or bulging discs in the spine, non-surgical spinal decompression therapy is an ideal treatment.
However, there are some who might be harmed by this type of therapy. These include:
- Pregnant women
- Patients who have had surgical work to the spine, including implants, artificial discs, spinal fusions, or a history of back surgery
- Patients who have damaged or broken vertebrae
- Patients with conditions that weaken the spine (osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, spinal tumour, spondylolisthesis, spinal infection, and more)
How Does Spinal Decompression Therapy Work?
Non-surgical Chiropractic spinal decompression therapy involves the use of a spinal decompression table. There are 5 key steps involved with this therapy:
- The patient is asked to lie down on a spinal decompression table, where a harness will be fitted around their pelvis and trunk. This table will perform a variety of movements that, over the course of several sessions lasting up to 8 weeks or more, will engage with their spine and promote a stretching effect
- The patient will then be referred to forms of post-treatment if necessary, which can involve massage therapy to further promote blood and nutrient flow into the previously compressed area
- It is now important that the patient is engaged in Chiropractic care to ensure that the decompression falls into a long-term adjustment for the spine. Any lingering structural misalignments will be worked out with a customised Chiropractic program
- Nutrition, diet, and supplements – these are just as important as having a good posture. The patient and their Chiropractic team will design a personalised nutritional diet moving forward
- Finally, the patient will be left with prescribed exercises to rehabilitate their posture and to strengthen the core. These can include yoga and more
Ready for Your Spinal Decompression? Need to Know More?
We understand if you need to know more about spinal decompression therapy before jumping into the deep end, which is why our team at First Choice Chiropractic is standing by, ready for your call or visit.
Call us now, and take advantage of our New Patient Chiropractic Offer! This gives you a discounted but complete session before signing on to any treatment, so you can get a closer look at the importance of Chiropractic and how it can change your life.
Book your session today!
