What To Know About Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy is a computer-aided technology that has revolutionized the treatment of chronic low back and neck pain; commonly occurring due to herniated, slipped, or degenerated discs. It is most commonly used for the treatment of Sciatica (leg pain).
Decompression can be done in two ways; surgically or non-surgically. Surgical Spinal Decompression includes Laminectomy and Microdiscectomy (ectomy- a suffix meaning: removal of). In simple terms, Non - Spinal Decompression (NSSD) therapy is a safe and effective alternative to surgical decompression for back pain relief.
Something About Spinal Decompression Therapy
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy (NSSDT) is a revolutionary, computerized therapy that dynamically stretches the spine gently; resulting in the healing of the intervertebral disc, this dynamic stretching causes the disc to rehydrate and reduce the inflammation and pressure within the disc space, this in turn takes pressure off of the nerves that are causing the pain.
NSSDT which promotes the repositioning of the disc over time allowing the herniated disc material to be reabsorbed into the disc space. It helps reduce pain and inflammation in the Lumbar and Cervical spine and can prevent unnecessary or unwanted surgery. NSSDT is a great alternative as well as a benefit for those suffering from chronic Cervical and Lumbar spine pain that worsens over time.
As people age, the discs that sit between the bones (vertebra) dehydrate and as a result, the spine compresses and there is less protection and shock absorption between each vertebra. The gentle dynamic stretching of NSSDT therapy allows the spinal discs to rehydrate and reduce the spinal distress. This leads to improved blood flow to the injured area which promotes an increase in proper nutrients and hydration to enter the disc and remove harmful toxins within the injured area.
In NSSDT, the spine is dynamically stretched and relaxed intermittently using the accurate calculations of the computer program to generate just the right amount of tension to achieve optimal results.
Your individualized NSSDT program may also include other adjunctive treatment options to help accelerate the results of the therapy such as:
Cold therapy
Electrostimulation
Success Rates Of Spinal Decompression Therapy
Reviews of recent popular medical studies and journals reveals that the clinical results of NSSDT have been effective in over 80% of the people receiving this treatment protocol. Patients find long-term relief and more effective management of their pain upon completion of the entire course of treatment.
The American Journal of Pain Management reported "good to excellent relief" in 86% of patients with a herniated disc, bulged discs and sciatica pain, allowing those individuals to experience a better quality of life.
RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH NON- SURGICAL SPINAL DECOMPRESSION
Just like any other procedure, NSSDT comes with its own set of risk factors despite being a minimally invasive procedure.
To avoid these risks, the chiropractic physician may ask the patient to undergo multiple screening tests including a physical exam, MRI, CT or X-Rays to determine if NSSDT treatments will be beneficial for the individual patient.
NSSDT should not be used in the following individuals
For pregnant women because of the risk of pressure on the abdomen
For patients who have spinal instability, such as severe osteoporosis or degeneration of the spine
For patients who have had prior spinal surgery with implantation of screws, metal plates, or similar hardware unless the bone is fused
For patients with severe nerve damage
For patients with metastatic cancer (cancer that has spread to the bones)
For patients with Grade 3 and 4 Spondylolisthesis
For patients with a history of aortic aneurysm
For patients suffering from disc space infections
What Are The Pros Of Spinal Decompression Therapy?
NSSDT is gaining popularity worldwide as a great addition to chiropractic care in rehabilitating difficult spinal problems. Considering this, it is not surprising to realize that combining chiropractic care and NSSDT produces incredible results on multiple levels.
Physiological Benefits
Increases the blood flow into the disc
Promotes nutrition in the disc
Decreases the intradiscal pressure
Reduces compression and pinching of nerves
Promotes disc rehydration
Prevents the advancement of the herniation
Physical Benefits
Reduces pain
Increases activities of daily living
Improves spinal mobility
Prevents guarding of muscles
Assists in improving your core strength
Improves joint flexibility
Boosts the immune system
Prevents new injuries
Lowers body stress levels
Other benefits obtained from NSSDT include the following:
Spinal decompression makes the spine less susceptible to degeneration and breakdown
It is a non-invasive procedure that requires no medication
Can provide quick results; many patients report pain relief after their first session
This procedure has a quicker recovery time in comparison to spinal surgery.
Spinal decompression provides natural pain relief by reducing pressure on the spine, discs and joints. Pain is eliminated by addressing the cause of the problem, thus allowing healing to occur naturally.
The patients recieving NSSDT do not have to worry about addictive painkillers or side effects from medications.
Compared to surgery, NSSDT is an extremely safe option.
There is no risk of reactions to anesthesia or infections
The Cons Of Spinal Decompression Therapy?
Most patients do not experience any major side effects. The most commonly reported side effect of NSSDT is a dull, achy soreness for the first week or two as the body becomes accustomed to being stretched and decompressed. In Spinal decompression, the muscles are stretched in a lengthening direction which the body is not used to.
Rarely, NSSDT has been reported to cause:
Muscle spasms
Shooting pains down the arm and leg
The drawbacks of NSSDT can include the following:
Lasting relief may not happen until the entire treatment plan is completed, which may take six to eight weeks
NSSDT therapy may get costly because the equipment is expensive and insurance companies do not cover the cost of this treatment
This treatment protocol can be time-consuming. The protocol may require as many as four visits per week to achieve your goal.
Every individual heals differently. These procedures do offer certain risks, you should be aware that there is a possiblity that you may not achieve the results you seek. Please be aware that your pain may resurface after a certain period of time. There is a small possiblity that we may not be able to address the root cause of the problem.
EMERGENCY PROTOCOL
To avoid any discomfort, the system has emergency stop switches for both; the patient and the operator. These switches terminate the treatment immediately if the patient experiences any increase in pain or any sort of discomfort during the treatment.
Apart from the sessions, the Spinal Decompression Therapy Program involves guiding the patient through multiple other ways to facilitate pain loss which helps the patient cover the road to pain-free life much faster. The most common of these include dietary supplements (multivitamins), increased water intake, healthy exercise, etc.
Overall, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy is considered safe, effective and comfortable. So much so, that the patients usually sleep through the session.
