A person’s upper body is mainly supported by the spine. The adult spine is composed of approximately 24 bones or vertebrae piled on top of each other, from the bottom of the skull to the pelvis. Located between each vertebra is a soft, gel-like cushion, called an intervertebral or spinal disc. These flat, round discs act like shock absorbers by helping to absorb pressure and prevent bones from rubbing against each other.
These spinal discs can deteriorate and get damaged overtime due to aging or a physical accident. When the spinal discs are compromised, a person will start suffering from severe back pain since the pressure will be placed on the spinal cord or nerves. Symptoms of spinal disc injury or damage usually include numbness and sudden shocks of sharp pains near the site of the damaged disc or down the lower extremities of the legs or arms.
Spinal Decompression Therapy
Patients who have been suffering from chronic back and neck pain, sciatica, pain on the lower and upper extremities, numbness and tingling due to a damaged disc can be treated and can gain relief through spinal decompression New York City residents should know that this is a non-surgical and non-invasive procedure that slowly and gently stretches the spine and effectively takes the pressure off compressed discs and vertebrae.
During the procedure, a negative pressure is produced within the disc and surrounding tissues. The disc material that is injured or has protruded or herniated can be pulled back within the normal confines of the disc and allow healing to happen due to this negative pressure. Spinal decompression also boosts the oxygen and blood flow in the affected areas of the spine. It alsohelps remove waste products of injury from the affected discs, joints, and nerves.
Spinal decompression therapy is also recommended for patients who have spinal stenosis and radiculopathy or pinched nerves.
A typical decompression therapy takes about one hour. The frequency of treatment would be ascertained by your doctor, but in general, it is usually performed three to five times each week for 15 to 20 sessions.
Although this treatment is non-invasive and non-surgical, not everyone can undergo this type of therapy. Spinal decompression therapy is not recommended for pregnant women, patients with severe osteoporosis, severe obesity, and severe nerve damage. Patients over 80 years old will also not be advised to undergo this therapy.
Before making the decision to undergo decompression therapy, it is crucial to ascertain that the pain you are suffering from is indeed caused by damaged spinal discs. Consult your doctor and undertake the necessary physical and medical tests first to find out if spinal decompression therapy would be a recommended mode of treatment for you.
