What is Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression?
It is a non-invasive therapy that utilizes the DRX9000 to gently traction the spine at specific levels with the aim of relieving pressure and pain. This form of stretching decreases the amount of pressure within the intervertebral disc creating a "vacuum effect" within the disc. This allows bulged or herniated disc material to retract reducing pressure on nerves. This also promotes accelerated healing of the disc as water, oxygen and other nutrients will diffuse into the disc.
What Conditions can Spinal Decompression Treat?
- Bulging/Herniated Discs
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Pinched/Compressed Nerves
- Sciatica
- Spinal Stenosis
- Facet Joint Arthrosis
Sciatica Pain
Sciatica refers to irritation of the sciatic nerve which is the largest nerve in the body. The nerve emerges from the lower back and travels through the buttock, hips and down the entire leg. You have a sciatic nerve on the left as well as the right however sciatica typically only affects one side at a time.
Causes of sciatica can be spinal stenosis, disc bulge, disc herniation, tight/inflamed muscles of the buttock/hip (piriformis or hamstring).
Symptoms associated with sciatica are typically sharp shooting pain that radiates down the entire leg, numbness and tingling, and even muscle weakness.
We are able to effectively treat sciatica in our office through the use of gentle chiropractic manipulations, therapeutic exercises, laser therapy or spinal decompression (DRX9000). We may use a combination of all of these modalities for the best results.
Bulging and Herniated Discs
A Disc Herniation, also known as a slipped disc or ruptured disc, occurs when the gel-like core (the nucleus pulposus) pushes through a compromised section of the disc wall. Disc Herniations are generally more significant/severe that disc bulges and some of the associated symptoms of both include:
- Pain - may be localized or radiate into the extremities if the disc material is irritating or pressing directly onto spinal nerves/spinal cord.
- Numbness or Tingling (paresthesias) - due to disc injury irritating (chemical radiculitis) or pressing directly on to spinal nerves/spinal cord.
- Muscle Weakness - the muscles associated with the compressed nerves may weaken.
- Altered Reflexes - reflexes may be under or over responsive due to nerve compression.
Causes of Disc Injuries include general wear and tear (degenerative disc disease), injury (auto accident, fall, sports injury) or repetitive strain from poor posture.
We are able to effectively treat disc injuries in our office through the use of gentle chiropractic manipulations, therapeutic exercises, laser therapy or spinal decompression (DRX9000). We may use a combination of all of these modalities for the best results.
