Decompression in Depth
There are important reasons why Spinal Decompression Therapy is considered breakthrough treatment. It is both non-invasive and non-surgical. No drugs are involved.
The bottom line is, the principle of Spinal Decompression Therapy is to achieve decompression of the spine. Clinical studies have shown that decompression of the intervertebral discs (that is, unloading due to distraction and positioning of those discs), actually decreases intradiscal pressure. The therapy decreases pressure inside the discs and that, in turn, allows healing fluids, nutrients and oxygen back into the discs. This reduction in pressure allows bulging or herniated discs to retract, and it often relieves pressure on the nerve roots. Re-introducing nutrients into the disc can reverse degeneration and allow healing to take place. Decompression is highly effective in the management of degenerated and bulging discs, particularly when other treatments have failed. This therapy is not aimed at symptoms as is the case in other treatments. Rather, it offers a natural and lasting healing of the disc.
The typical decompression patient does not lose time from work. Research also shows that on a pain scale of 1-10 (10 being intense) patients frequently report less than 2 after four weeks of treatment.
Conventional Treatment Options
There are many treatment options for back pain. Some work, some do not. One commonly prescribed treatment for low back pain is bed rest. However, this treatment continues to exert pressure on the discs and grossly slows or prevents the healing process. Other treatment options include:
• Medications: Some drugs lead to prolonged use and they tend to cover up the underlying problem with a wide variety of damaging side effects.
• Chiropractic / Physical Therapy: Effective up to a point; effectiveness begins to diminish as the degree of disc damage and degeneration increases.
• Epidural injections: Invasive and in most cases, results are only temporary, lasting from a few days to a few months.
• Surgery: According to the 2002 Johns Hopkins White Paper on Low Back Pain and Osteoporosis * by John P. Kostulk, M.D. and Simeon Margolis, M.D., PhD. surgery "is not the treatment of choice for most people with back pain." The report goes on to say “fewer than 5% of people with back pain are good candidates for surgery”. "Surgery ought to be used when all other measures have been explored and if it appears that there is a strong probability that it will improve the condition." Although there have been advancements in spinal surgery, outcomes can be unpredictable. Failed-back surgery/post-operative pain syndrome is a troubling reality from surgical intervention. Less than 1 out of 4 disc surgeries are successful after 5 years and there is increased risk that additional surgery will be needed (17-20%). Other risks that also need to be considered include the side effects from anesthesia, infection, bleeding, nerve disruption and instability of the spinal column.
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