Are you suffering from a pinched nerve, herniated disc, or sciatica? These conditions and symptoms can pop up with spinal compression, and they can be quite unpleasant. For those in the Columbus, Ohio area suffering from spinal compression, Powell Chiropractic and Wellness offers spinal decompression therapy to resolve your condition and reduce any unpleasant symptoms.

What is Spinal Decompression?

Spinal decompression therapy offers a way to stretch the spine and relieve back/leg pain. It works best with conditions such as bulging, degenerating, or herniated disks, which can cause problems such as pinched nerves or symptoms such as sciatica, which is pain that originates in the lower back and can spread down the leg.

The spine is made of three primary components: vertebrae, discs, and the spinal cord. The discs reside between the vertebrae and ensure that the bones do not rub together but, as we age, the cartilage discs can become thinner.

The discs are composed of two components, a thicker and more rigid outer disc, and a jelly-like center. However, if pressure builds up on the disc from spinal compression, the jelly-like center can push against the outer disc, causing it to bulge, or may push through the outer disc completely. These situations can put added pressure and irritation on the nearby nerves.

Spinal decompression works by stretching the spine and taking some of this pressure off the discs and nearby nerves, which then relieves the pain you feel. In addition, spinal decompression creates negative pressure in the discs to help retract the bulging or herniated disks, essentially returning them to the formation they are supposed to be in.

What Conditions Benefit from Spinal Decompression?

Spinal decompression is an excellent non-surgical option for those with constant back pain. It can help with the following conditions:

-       sciatica pain

-       ruptured or herniated disks

-       arthritis

-       injured spinal roots

-       posterior fact syndrome

-       spinal stenosis

This is a generally safe procedure, but there are some conditions that disqualify individuals from this procedure, including pregnancy, metal spine implants, fractures, advanced osteoporosis, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Your chiropractor can help determine if you are a good fit for spinal decompression therapy.

What to Expect During Spinal Decompression Therapy

When you show up for a session of spinal decompression, you will have a harness placed around your pelvis and trunk. You will then lay down on a lumbar decompression table that utilizes motorized traction. The upper portion of the table will remain still while your chiropractor controls the lower portion, moving it and repositioning the spine. The computerized table also contains sensors that allow the chiropractor to see what muscles are beginning to tense or resist stretching, allowing the chiropractor to easily adjust the amount of pressure needed.

Spinal decompression therapy is not a painful procedure and will only cause pressure and a pulling sensation throughout the session.

For those looking for a long-term, non-surgical form of pain relief, spinal decompression is an effective solution that can help to remove pressure off the discs and nerves in the spine. If you are interested in learning about how spinal decompression can help you and your eligibility for this treatment, contact Powell Chiropractic and Wellness, located in Powell, Ohio, at (614) 505-8600 for more information.