Spinal Decompression
Many patients suffer from lower back pain, sciatica, stenosis, neck pain, and pain down the arm. Often, these conditions are caused by disc problems, such as disc herniations, disc bulges, and disc degeneration. The disc can be viewed as a jelly donut, where the jelly on the inside is called the nucleus pulposus and the donut would be the outer layers, called the annular fibrosis.
Disc Herniations – occurs from trauma or repetitive stress over time. It involves a tear in the outer layers of the disc (the donut), which allows the nucleus pulposus (the jelly) to leak out and protrude past the outer layers of the disc. This commonly causes pain and can compress nerves, such as the sciatic nerve or the nerves down the arm.
Disc Bulges – typically occurs from wear and tear over time. This is like squishing the donut causing it to bulge out, although the jelly stays inside. Disc bulges are common and may contribute to pain, although they are not always symptomatic.
Disc Degeneration – this happens over time where the disc degenerates and thins out from wear and tear, repetitive stress, and age.
Although disc herniations, disc bulges, and disc degeneration are all different, they can occur at the same time within the same disc.
What Causes These Disc Problems?
A critical factor that underlies all these conditions is a breakdown in a process called disc imbibition. Imbibition is the process by which the discs absorb nutrients and fluids and get rid of waste through diffusion. Disc imbibition works through a pumping action that absorbs fluids when distracted and expels fluid when compressed. The disc has a very poor blood supply, so it must exchange fluids, nutrients, and waste through imbibition. Optimal spinal alignment is essential to allow proper imbibition to function normally. If the spine is out alignment and restricted, disc imbibition cannot provide needed nutrients to the disc, and the disc will “dry’ out and begin to weaken and degenerate. This may lead to disc bulges and disc herniations. This is where spinal decompression is very effective for treating these conditions.
How Does Spinal Decompression Help the Disc?
Spinal decompression is a safe, non-surgical, non-invasive treatment that can relieve pain and dysfunction caused by disc herniations, disc bulges, and disc degeneration. Spinal decompression works by gently stretching the spine to create a negative pressure in the disc, encouraging retraction of the herniated or bulging disc. It also helps to slow down disc degeneration. It essentially helps to restore the pumping action of the disc to promote exchange of fluid, nutrients, and waste products for optimal disc healing and repair.
Spinal decompression is very effective for conditions such as:
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Sciatica
- Pain down the arm
- Chronic back and neck pain
- Stenosis
At Ponte Vedra Beach Chiropractic, our advanced spinal decompression tables can be used for lower back or neck problems. We can administer the treatment in different positions to most effectively treat the condition to achieve the best results. Most lumbar disc herniations and disc bulges respond better to spinal decompression treatment with the patient lying on their stomach (prone). Receiving spinal decompression for the lumbar spine while lying on your stomach is unique to our spinal decompression tables as most decompression tables only allow spinal decompression while lying on your back (supine). Our advanced spinal decompression tables allow the patient to receive the treatment in the position that is most effective and most comfortable for the patient. This can be lying on your stomach, back, inverted, on your side, with legs in different positions and with vibration. Many patients have avoided the need for surgery and invasive injections by finding relief and results with our advanced spinal decompression system.
If you have been suffering with chronic pain from disc issues or stenosis, spinal decompression may be the solution you need. Contact us today to schedule your consultation to see how we can help!