When you visit a chiropractor and mention you have back pain, one of the treatments prescribed to you may be spinal decompression. This particular treatment, when provided by a chiropractor, is non-invasive and works with your body to promote healing. However, before you receive this treatment, you should be aware of what the process consists of, the benefits, and the risks. That way, you can make an informed decision about your chiropractic care plan at Premier Chiropractic Center in Bessemer, AL.  

 

How It’s Performed

Our chiropractor will begin the process by asking you to lay on your back. Our Dr. Glover will then connect you to a series of rigging linked to a machine. Once on, the device will gently pull half of your body downwards and the other half upwards. As a result, the vertebrae in your back separate slightly and relieve pressure on the discs. If you have a pinched nerve, the disc-and-vertebrae separation will relieve the compression. 

 

Conditions Treated With Spinal Decompression  

Spinal decompression is a modality used to help with the healing process of herniated or bulging discs. It can also reduce the pain you feel. It works in these cases by easing pressure on the spinal discs, allowing them to heal. 

This treatment can also be useful if you have a pinched nerve, which can occur when the bone presses on a nerve, resulting in symptoms like pain, numbness, weakness, burning, and tingling. The issue may arise when you overwork your back or sustain an injury to the area. 

Our chiropractor may suggest spinal decompression for patients with sciatica — symptoms that can occur anywhere along your sciatica nerve, including weakness, numbness, tingling, or burning. It stems from either compression on the nerve or damage to it. Since the sciatic nerve extends from your lower back down your legs, you can experience the symptoms anywhere along that region. Spinal decompression can help eliminate pressure on the nerve or give it space to heal without restriction. 

Another reason our practitioner may recommend spinal decompression is if you have degenerative disc disease, which occurs when your discs wear out over time and become less flexible. This condition can cause pain, along with nerve-related symptoms. Through spinal decompression, you relieve pressure on the discs to ease the pain, discomfort, and other symptoms. 

Our practitioner might also advise you to undergo spinal decompression for another reason, such as spinal stenosis. 

 

Possible Side Effects from Spinal Decompression

In general, spinal decompression is a relatively safe procedure, causing few side effects in most people. However, some patients experience pain or muscle spasms after the procedure. 

Not all patients are suitable candidates for spinal decompression. That’s why our practitioner will provide you with a thorough evaluation, including a medical history report evaluation, before administering this treatment. 

Patients who have a spinal tumor, for example, shouldn’t receive this treatment. Due to the risk of injury to a vertebra, those with osteoporosis, Paget disease, or a fractured vertebra shouldn’t receive this treatment. 

Our practitioner also advises against spinal decompression if you have a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis or recently had spinal surgery. 

We also will not suggest this treatment for pregnant women.

While spinal decompression isn’t for everyone, it does have its share of benefits for those with certain back problems. We can use it along with other chiropractic treatments as well as allopathic medical care. It’s known to cause few side effects and doesn’t require any unnatural substances entering your body or an extended downtime. 

To find back pain relief and healing, possibly with spinal decompression, contact Premier Chiropractic Center, serving Bessemer, AL, and the nearby region, by calling 205-519-4024. For your convenience, we also offer an online booking tool.