What Is Spinal Decompression?
Spinal Decompression is a type of treatment therapy that is non-invasive and the recovery time is generally swift and painless. The goals of spinal decompression are to alleviate back pain help encourage the body to heal itself after sustaining an injury to the spine. This type of pain management can be done drug-free and uses a decompression table to help release pressure in the spinal column.
What Is a Decompression Table?
The decompression table is the mode of treatment in spinal decompression where it gently applies pressure to the affected area in order to strengthen the spine. This type of gentle pull and release of pressure is said to relieve pain and also encourage the flow of blood and nutrients into surrounding joints and soft tissues. Increased blood flow encourages oxygen to flow into these areas and infuse the healing process of the tissues and discs inside the spinal column.
When you are receiving treatment on a decompression table, your body will be gently positioned into a place where the affected discs and soft tissues are moved back into proper alignment and allowed to experience healing in that position. It is rare to experience pain during this treatment because of the slow and gentle movements, and the stretching of the back muscles can also provide a healing feeling in itself.
How Does Spinal Decompression Help with Spinal Stenosis?
Treating spinal stenosis with spinal decompression therapy is a non-invasive approach that a doctor may recommend before moving on to more invasive and costly procedures. You will either lay face down or face up on the table, depending on the area of injury, and the doctor will operate the table via computer. Because of its effectiveness in pain reduction for a variety of back and neck pain and its relative lack of complications, spinal decompression therapy can help those suffering from spinal stenosis by gently manipulating the spinal column to alleviate pressure on the narrowed areas, encouraging the spine to strengthen and heal.
Can the Type of Treatment Affect my Settlement?
Because the symptoms of spinal stenosis are similar to other types of back and neck pain, an accurate diagnosis is extremely important, especially when a settlement is involved. You will want to seek treatment from a spine doctor who is well-versed in treating spinal stenosis and who will utilize the best diagnostic tools and develop an appropriate individualized treatment plan for you.
X-rays are common diagnostic imaging tools for an initial review of symptoms in order to look at the spine and identify areas of injury. However, in order to diagnose spinal stenosis, your doctor will need to use an MRI, an advanced diagnostic imaging tool that will provide a 3D picture of not only the bones in the spine but also the surrounding tissues and nerves. This will allow your doctor to identify particular discs and nerves being stressed or pinched by the narrowing of the spinal column and proceed with treatment accordingly.
A more conservative approach to treatment of the spine is generally preferred in order to best preserve your quality of life after sustaining a spinal injury. A treatment like spinal decompression therapy is non-invasive, is a technique used on patients of all ages, and is FDA approved. The procedure itself is also short and does not require a recovery time that would impact your day to day activities. A commitment to quality, comprehensive care from your doctors at AICA Orthopedics means our doctors will never jump to the riskiest treatment and will always strive to provide you with treatment options that get you back on your feet and pain-free.
