Groundbreaking solution for chronic back and neck pain

BY DR. VIKAS PURI

75% to 85% of the population will experience some form of back pain during their lifetime. 50% of all patients who suffer from an episode of low back pain will have a recurrent episode within one year.

Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. It is also the number one cause of disability in persons under age 45. After 45, it is the third leading cause of disability.

If you’ve been living with persistent neck, back, or sciatic nerve pain caused by herniated or degenerative spinal discs, you don’t have to take medication or resort to surgery to find lasting relief.

Spinal decompression therapy, a groundbreaking treatment that involves the meticulous mechanical stretching of your spine, is a gentle, nonsurgical way to instantly relieve disc-related pressure, stimulate blood flow through your spine, and promote long-term healing.

Here’s how spinal decompression works and what you can expect during treatment.

Spinal decompression is performed on a specialized traction table with the aid of advanced computer technology. It operates under the same basic principles chiropractors have been using for decades to stretch the spine and provide effective pain relief.

The therapy works by slowly, steadily, and gently stretching your spinal column to alleviate abnormal pressure on the discs that sit between your vertebrae. Using an exceptionally precise stretching action, it creates a negative pressure inside your discs that causes them to retract. This creates a reverse vacuum that helps draw protruding disc material back into place.

Spinal decompression also promotes increased blood flow to your spinal discs that encourages nutrient-rich fluids and oxygen to flow inside, where they promote cell renewal, tissue repair, and long-term healing.

The main goal of spinal decompression therapy is to provide immediate pain relief and promote an optimal healing environment for several spinal disc conditions, such as:

Bulging discs
Spinal discs that have been pushed outside of their usual space in the spinal canal can put pressure on nearby nerves, causing localized pain or pain in other areas of your body. Left untreated, a bulging disc is likely to eventually rupture.

Herniated discs
Spinal discs that crack and leak some of their soft interior gel have ruptured, or herniated. The gel from a herniated disc can irritate nearby nerves and may even cause a burning sensation that radiates from your lower back into your legs.

Degenerative discs
Discs that are affected by age-related degeneration may have low fluid or tears in their tough outer shell. They may also lead to the development of painful bone spurs that impinge on your spinal nerves.

Spinal decompression therapy is done on a motorized table. The upper half of the table remains fixed, while the lower half moves when it’s activated by a highly specialized computer. Your personal treatment protocol is based on a variety of factors, ranging from your body weight and spinal condition to the duration of your symptoms and your level of sensitivity.

To treat a disc problem that’s affecting your lower back, a harness is fitted comfortably around your hips and attached at the other end to the table, near your feet. After activating the table, the lower portion gently slides back and forth, slowly lengthening your spine and alleviating pressure.

During this slow, gentle treatment, you’ll feel your spine being alternately stretched and relaxed. Because the computer system continuously monitors your spinal resistance as well as any involuntary “guarding” response your body may have, it’s able to adjust the force as needed to keep you relaxed and help prevent muscle spasms.

A single spinal decompression session lasts for about 30 minutes, and the average treatment protocol consists of 12-20 sessions spaced over the course of 4-8 weeks.

Although you may experience significant pain relief after your first couple of sessions, most people can expect to obtain long-lasting pain relief once they complete their prescribed treatment cycle.