Spinal Decompression Treatment
At Hellenbrand Rabideaux Chiropractic, we’re dedicated to providing treatment options to get our patients feeling their best. Our spinal decompression treatment is a service that is perfect for patients suffering from disc disease, bulging discs, herniated discs, or sciatica.
What is Spinal Decompression?
Spinal decompression is a therapeutic treatment that relieves pressure on spinal discs and nerves by creating space in the spinal column. This approach can help alleviate pain, relieve pressure being placed on nerves being compressed, and reduce inflammation.
Spinal decompression can be done surgically and non-surgically. The first non-surgical spinal decompression table was built in 1987, and decompression tables became FDA cleared in 1996.
Here at HRC, we provide a non-surgical option for spinal decompression.
“Spinal decompression is a great tool to help our patients suffering from disc issues,” said Dr. Nick Hellenbrand. “Alleviating the pressure on the disc can help our patients live more comfortably, and even help avoid back surgery.”
How Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Works
Imagine you’re holding an inflated balloon between your hands. If you start to press your hands together, the balloon compresses. This balloon is like your disc. When compressed, it creates pain, discomfort, inflammation, and other disc issues.
Now, imagine you remove some of the pressure between your hands, allowing the balloon to go back to its original shape. This is the goal of decompression.
At HRC, we have a specialized decompression table that uses computer technology to target segments of your spine. It will then use varying degrees of force to create space for the affected discs in your spine, much like removing the pressure on the balloon to allow it to go back to its usual shape.
Decompression creates what is called negative pressure, or a vacuum-like effect, inside the disc, drawing in water and oxygen to promote disc health. The negative pressure decreases the pressure that was pushing your disc material out of its normal position and shape and acts like a vacuum to pull that disc material back into place.
What are the Benefits of Spinal Decompression
Spinal decompression has several key benefits:
Pain relief and reduced inflammation
For many, treating pain means reaching for the ibuprofen or aspirin, but those meds only mask the symptoms. Spinal decompression treats the root cause of the pain, reducing the pressure on your discs and nerves and facilitates the flow of essential nutrients and oxygen, promoting healing and reducing inflammation.
Improved mobility and flexibility
When your discs aren’t functioning properly, neither is the rest of you. Decompression will reduce the stiffness you feel as a result of compressed discs by improving blood flow to your joints and allowing for greater range of motion. As a result, patients often find daily activities and physical exercise more comfortable and enjoyable.
Enhanced overall spinal health
Spinal decompression not only supports pain relief and mobility, but also fosters long-term spinal health, helping to maintain a balanced and well-functioning musculoskeletal system.
Potential to avoid surgery
Spinal decompression can help patients avoid surgery by effectively addressing underlying spinal issues through non-invasive methods. By relieving pressure on the discs and nerves, this therapy can alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and promote healing without the need for invasive procedures.
Who Can Benefit from Spinal Decompression?
Patients with Herniated or Bulging Discs
Those with disc-related issues can benefit from pressure relief.
Patients with Chronic Back Pain
Individuals suffering from long-term back pain not responding to conservative treatments.
Patients with Sciatica
Patients with sciatic nerve pain caused by spinal issues may find relief.
Patients with Spinal Stenosis
Those with narrowing of the spinal canal can experience improved symptoms.
Patients with Degenerative Disc Disease
Individuals with age-related disc changes might seek non-invasive options.
Patients Experiencing Post-Surgical Pain
Patients looking for relief from persistent pain after previous back surgeries.
What Causes Disc Issues?
If our discs are like a jelly-filled donut, a healthy disc is the one fresh out of the bakery. A bulging disc occurs when the donut is compressed and flattened, and a herniated disc is if the donut is compressed and the jelly in the middle starts to leak out. If we imagine this happening in our spine, it’s easy to see why this causes such pain and discomfort.
But what causes it?
“Stress from life activities, poor posture, traumatic injuries, and the aging process can all be to blame for disc issues like bulging or herniated discs, disc disease, and sciatica,” said Dr. Sara Rabideaux. “These stresses put pressure on the discs that act as shock absorbers in the spine.”
As the disc wears down it can lose its height, bulge, herniate, or undergo degeneration. Age and pressure on the disc wears down the outer fibrous ring of the disc which contains the inner gel like filling.
If that disc puts pressure on the nerves around it, it can cause pain and numbness in the arms or legs.
What Else Can I Do to Support My Spinal Health?
In addition to spinal decompression, here are more options to support your spinal health:
Regular Chiropractic Adjustments
Regular adjustments will keep your spine in alignment and promote overall wellness.
Stretch Regularly
Stretching will improve your flexibility, reduce tension, improve your blood flow, and more. Read our blog on stretching to learn more benefits and watch our videos for some great stretches!
Take Your Supplements
Here are two supplements in particular that will help support your spinal health:
- Collagen - the outer ring of your disc is made up of type 1 and type 2 collagen, so a collagen supplement containing these two types will support your disc health
- Omega 3 - helps with inflammation
Strength Training
Strength training can improve your stability, help with injury prevention, and improve your bone density.
Watch Your Posture
Poor posture puts stress on your spine, creating back and neck pain. Good posture, on the other hand, can help you improve your breathing and core strength and even prevent fatigue.
Spinal decompression offers a non-invasive, effective solution for patients with disc disease, herniated or bulging discs, sciatica, and other spinal conditions. Through the gentle stretching of the spine, it can relieve pressure on compressed discs and nerves, promoting healing, reducing pain, and improving mobility. At HRC, we’re dedicated to providing personalized, holistic care that addresses the root cause of your pain.
If you’re looking for a safe, drug-free option to improve your spinal health, contact us today at 608-849-5550 or [email protected] for a consultation!