Spinal decompression therapy relieves pressure on the spine by gently stretching it. Unlike manual stretching or traction therapy, non-surgical spinal decompression creates negative pressure on your spine and provides targeted decompression.
The chiropractor uses advanced medical equipment including a spinal decompression table that has sensors linked to a computer-aided system to perform this procedure. The equipment is designed to adjust the pull force to prevent muscle resistance against the external stretch of the spine. The adjustable bed also allows the spine to stretch at multiple angles and can be used to target your upper or lower back.
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorder Journal published a study that established that non-surgical spinal decompression promotes retraction or repositioning of the bulging or herniated disc and is associated with increasing the height of the herniated disc.
Spinal decompression further aids in natural healing by encouraging the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the herniated disc. Treating the herniated disc responsible for triggering your sciatica helps provide effective and long-term pain relief.
Numerous studies and clinical trials endorse the safety and efficacy of non-surgical spinal decompression for the treatment of underlying conditions including herniated disc, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and provide immediate as well as long-term pain relief.
Spinal decompression therapy can be performed on almost anyone regardless of their age and can help you get relief from your sciatica naturally. Your chiropractor will determine the number of sessions required for an effective treatment of your sciatica based on a thorough physical examination, medical history, the underlying cause of your sciatica, and your pain index. Each session is only 30-60 minutes long and requires no additional recovery time.
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a term commonly used to refer to the pain caused due to the compression, irritation, or inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
Sciatica is experienced as lower back pain and pain radiating down the back of the legs. People who have sciatica may also experience muscle weakness, numbness, tingling, or a shock-like sensation. Sciatica is generally experienced on one side of the body only. Certain activities like twisting, coughing, sneezing, prolonged periods of inactivity, or bending often worsens the pain.
What Causes Sciatica?
A bulging or herniated disc is one of the leading causes of sciatica. Our spine consists of 23 spinal discs that act as shock absorbers for the spine during body movement. Each spinal disc consists of a soft inner core of a jelly-like substance and a thick outer layer.
Wear and tear of the spinal discs due to aging, degenerative disc disease, repetitive physical activities like lifting and bending that causes undue stress on the spine, obesity, and poor posture are some of the factors that can cause the thick outer layer of the spinal disc to crack causing the soft inner core to leak leading to the formation of a bulging or herniated or slipped disc.
When a herniated disc in the lower back region compresses, pinches, or irritates one or more of the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve, it triggers sciatica.
A spinal bone spur, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), and spondylolisthesis (slipping or dislocation of the spinal vertebrae) in the lower part of the spine are some of the lesser-known causes of sciatica.
How to treat sciatica?
Most cases of sciatica resolve themselves in few days to a couple of weeks with rest and home care treatment like hot/cold packs and over-the-counter prescription pain medications.
Sciatica pain that persists for more than three months is referred to as chronic sciatica. There are multiple treatment options for resolving chronic sciatica including prescription medications, steroid injection shots, physical therapy, spinal manipulation, non-surgical spinal decompression therapy, and surgery.
Prescription medications or steroid injection shots only provide symptomatic and temporary relief from the pain as they do not treat the underlying condition that triggers your sciatica.
Surgery is usually not recommended for sciatica unless you experience a medical emergency or sudden, worsening pain, or lose control of your bowel or bladder.
Spinal decompression is an ideal choice to treat sciatica
If you have failed to get relief from your sciatica through medication or steroid shots, spinal decompression is worth a try and may effectively treat the underlying cause that triggers your sciatica pain.
Looking to learn more? Think this treatment is for you? Contact our office today for your consultation with our expert team.