When you’re having problems with your spine, one of your alternatives is a spinal decompression process. But some people tend to be confused about the nuts and bolts of this type of treatment and what it represents. Let’s break it down a little bit in this blog post to focus on how you can get relief for various kinds of spinal problems with decompression.
Surgical and Nonsurgical Decompression
First of all, we’re talking about two different things. There’s surgical decompression, where surgeons actually go in and change the anatomy and curvature of the spine. Then there is nonsurgical decompression, which is much less invasive and involves a lot less recovery. The non-surgical method has to do with changing the equation of pressure on the spine and being able to relieve any problems related to excessive pressure.
Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
Non Surgical spinal decompression can be an option to treat things like sciatica and herniated disc problems. The same type of treatment can also help deal with things like worn joints and trapped nerves. The idea, again, is to lighten the load on pressurized areas.
In nonsurgical spinal decompression, the doctors basically manipulate the spine with a type of harness and a computerized system. It may be combined with other types of home care, such as hot/cold applications.
The basic idea is to alleviate pressure on the spine from problems like herniated or slipped disc. The way one doctor described it to us recently is that the spine is “a clothesline that’s being used as a flagpole” – where the pressure becomes too great, where the core muscles aren’t supporting the spine correctly, you can have chronic issues that can get worse if they remain untreated. Think about a situation where there’s no place for a disc to go – the pressure grows, and with it, the discomfort and symptoms.
Surgical Methods
In particular cases, doctors may actually use surgical spinal decompression to get rid of bony growths, or trim a particular spinal disc. Different surgical interventions have their own impact and related benefits and disadvantages: it’s important to consult a qualified medical professional to understand whether you are a good candidate for a particular surgery.
Get your own personal exam from the Spinal Science center, and make your way toward a brighter future for your back. Or take a look around the web site to get more of an understanding of how to treat chronic back pain and other spinal symptoms. Decompression is by no means the only technique available: we do subluxations and many other kinds of routine work on the spine, to help our patients feel better, and enjoy a better quality of life. Check in and get good continual care from an office that has your best interests at heart.