Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy

Spinal Decompression Table in Houston, TX | CORE Chiropractic

Back on Trac Spinal Decompression Table

What do you do if you've tried chiropractic, physical therapy, and prescription anti-inflammatories and you're still in pain? What other options are there for you? For many people, it's injections, more injections, and then spinal surgery. 

The success rate of spinal surgeries is not as great as many would want you to believe, and it still carries plenty of risks. We saw that some patients needed more when it came to caring for more severe spinal conditions. We invested in spinal decompression therapy to help our patients get relief without the need for costly and dangerous injections and surgery.

The Back on Trac non-surgical spinal decompression table was chosen based on the ease in which patients in pain can get onto the table and because the table can move the patient laterally (side to side) to more specifically open up spinal joints that are causing the nerve or disc compression.

The treatments are comfortable and pain relief is reported by most patients in just a few visits. Combined with chiropractic care, non-surgical spinal decompression therapy has had a tremendous impact on our patients experiencing sciatica, facet syndrome, lumbar radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, or bulging and herniated spinal discs.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy is Effective in Treating the Following Conditions:

Bulging or Herniated Discs

Disc problems are commonly associated with low back pain that shoots down the legs. The amount of disc bulging or herniation will determine if your condition will respond to conservative care or if surgery is recommended.

Spinal decompression has proven to be successful in treating and helping disc-related problems. Disc bulges do not show up on x-ray, an MRI would be needed to diagnosis the severity of this condition. However, we can determine if you have disc-related back pain with our examination.

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Even patients that have already had surgical decompression may still benefit from non-surgical spinal decompression therapy. It's not too late if you've already had spinal fusion as long as your surgically-fused spinal segment is stable. We recommend waiting at least 1 year post-surgery before seeking out spinal decompression therapy.

We will perform an examination and take any necessary x-rays to determine that your spinal is stable enough to receive spinal decompression therapy.

Sciatica

Sciatica is that sharp and shooting pain that can start in your back, then go into your glute muscles and down the back of your leg. This pain indicates that the sciatic nerve is being irritated or compromised due to pressure from a disc issue, a spinal misalignment, or inflammation from the hip rotator muscles. 

Spinal decompression therapy along with chiropractic care is a non-surgical and effective option in alleviating this common and very painful condition. 

Facet Syndrome

The joints at the back of the vertebra are called facet joints and they can become worn and irritated throughout your life. When the pain comes from these joints, it's referred to as Facet Syndrome. The most common treatment for this involves facet joint injections and steroids.

Spinal decompression therapy along with chiropractic care has been shown to deliver great results in dealing with this painful and frustrating condition. 

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis involves a narrowing of the openings in your spine, creating pressure on the nerves and spinal cord. While some patients may not have symptoms, others experience pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling in the lower extremities. 

If you're already been diagnosed with spinal stenosis in your lumbar spine, it's very important that you build up the strength of your spinal muscles and maintain as much mobility of the spine as possible. Chiropractic care along with spinal decompression therapy will help alleviate the pain and stiffness associated with this condition.

Left untreated, spinal stenosis can become a surgical procedure. The surgery includes removal of a portion of the thickened ligament at the back of your spine. Taking action as soon as you notice symptoms is critical in the type of results you can expect. Spinal stenosis will not go away, but you can see improvement in range of motion and severity of symptoms.

Lumbar Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy is irritation to the nerves exiting the spine, caused by "wear and tear" or degeneration of the spinal discs. The nerve irritation will cause symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness down the affected nerve root. 

Patients suffering from radiculopathy respond well to conservative care in most cases. Care includes chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression therapy, electrical stimulation, and home care stretches and exercises. Most patients will notice relief within a few weeks of starting care.

Spinal discs will continue to degenerate if untreated. Introducing mobility to the spine through the adjustment and "rehydrate" the disc. The decompression treatment allows the space to increase and take pressure off of the irritated nerve. Our decompression includes side-to-side movement, which allows us to specifically treat one side at a time, if needed.

Who Should Not Receive Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy?

We only accept those patients for care that we sincerely believe we can help. Patients with spinal fracture or tumors, aortic aneurysm, advanced osteoporosis, spinal fusions less than 1 year, unstable spinal segments, or pregnant patients in last trimester should not receive this type of therapy. That's why your first step should be to contact our office and set up a consultation. If you are a good candidate for chiropractic care and spinal decompression, we will follow up with an examination and take any necessary x-rays before proceeding.

What Research is Available on Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy? 

Below are some information provided by clinic trials and articles submitted to medical journals:

An Orthopedic Technology Review article titled "Surgical Alternatives: Spinal Decompression", showed results that 86% of the 219 patients who completed the therapy reported resolution of symptoms while 84% of patients remained pain free 90 days post treatment. Physical examination findings showed improvement in 92% of the 219 patients, and remained intact in 89% of these patients 90 days after treatment.

The Journal of Neurological Research reported that "vertebral axial [spinal] decompression was successful in 71% of the 778 cases”. The success rate varied from 73% for patients with a single herniated disc. It was 72% for people with multiple herniated discs.

The American Journal of Pain Management reported “good to excellent” relief in 86% of patients with herniated discs, with back pain and sciatica symptoms being relieved. Good to excellent results were also obtained in 75% of those with facet syndrome.

A small non-randomized study in Anesthesiology News reported of the 23 patients who responded to therapy, 52% had a pain level of zero, 91% were able to resume their normal daily activities, and 87% were either working or were retired without having back pain as the cause of retirement.

In a small study to determine the long-term effects of vertebral axial decompression, the following results were obtained: “Among 23 patients, 71% showed more than 50% reduction in pain immediately after treatment, and 86% showed a 50% or better pain reduction at four years. After four years, 52% of respondents reported a pain level of zero. Thus, pain relief not only improved but lasted. This pilot study shows great promise for long term relief and new pain management techniques.

An interesting study at the Rio Grande Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery compared the effects of 20 treatment sessions vs. 10 treatment sessions on chronic low back pain sufferers. The group receiving 20 treatments of decompression therapy reported a 76.5% with complete remission and 19.6% with partial remission of pain and disability. The second group, receiving 10 treatments of decompression therapy, reported a 42.9% rate of remission and 24.1% with partial remission. Failure rate was only 3.9% for those receiving 20 treatment sessions while it was 32.9% for those receiving only 10 sessions. Remission was defined as 90% or greater relief of pain, back to work without limitations, and abilities to carry out Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s). Partial remission was defined as persistence of some pain but ability to carry out most ADL’s and return to work with some restriction of duties, depending on the occupation. Failure rate was defined as no change in the level of pain and or/ADL.

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Patients With Serious Spinal Conditions Now Have An Alternative To Drugs, Injections, & Surgery.

Let us find out if you're a good candidate for non-surgical spinal decompression therapy. Schedule a time to speak with one of our doctors today