Spinal Decompression

You may have heard the term "slipped disc" used to describe a low back injury.  Discs do not actually "slip".  Rather, they may herniate or bulge out from between the bones.  A herniation is a displaced fragment of the center part or nucleus of the disc that is pushed through a tear in the outer layer or annulus of the disc.  Pain results when irritating substances are released from this tear and also if the fragment touches or compresses a nearby nerve.  Disc herniation has some similarities to degenerative disc disease and discs that herniate are often in an early stage of degeneration. Herniated discs are common in the low back or lumbar spine and the neck or cervical spine.

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What causes discs to herniate?

Many factors decrease the strength and resiliency of the disc and increase the risk of disc herniation.  Life style choices such as smoking, lack of regular exercise, and inadequate nutrition contribute to poor disc health.  Poor posture, daily wear and tear, injury or trauma, and incorrect lifting or twisting further stress the disc. If the disc is already weakened, it may herniate with a single movement or strain such as coughing or bending to pick up a pencil.

How do I know if I have a disc herniation?

Herniated discs are most likely to affect people between the ages of 30 and 40. Disc herniations may be present without causing pain.  The most common symptom will be pain in the area of the herniation that may radiate across the hips or into the buttocks.  You may also experience numbness or pain radiating down your leg to the ankle or foot.  If the herniation is large enough, you may notice weakness with extension of your big toe and you may be unable to walk on your toes or heels.  In severe cases of lumbar disc herniation, you may experience changes in your bowel or bladder function and may have difficulty with sexual function.

How is a disc herniation treated?

Mild to moderate disc herniations can usually be treated conservatively with stretching, exercise therapy and chiropractic care.  More advanced cases will often require some form of spinal decompression, such as traction or mechanical decompression, in conjuction with chiropractic care. 

Spinal Decompression is a modern technology that has been helping thousands of people return to a pain free life.  In particular spinal decompression has been shown to be effective with:

Herniated Discs

Disc Degeneration

Spinal Stenosis

Sciatica

Facet Syndrome

Post Surgery

The goal of spinal decompression is to relieve the pressure on the nerves by creating traction forces between the vertebrae when this happens the disc can start healing by bringing in healing nutrients.  There is an extremely high effectiveness shown with the use of spinal decompression.  The therapy is safe and painless and most people will actually fall asleep during the process.  We here at Chiropractic First take pride is delivering this affordable, safe, highly effective care.

Occasionally, a herniation may be severe enough to warrant surgical intervention.  These cases are usually reserved as a last resort when other forms of therapy have failed to relieve pain, or if there is significant compression of the spinal cord or nerves.

Read how our patient Ryan did with spinal decompression on his blog:

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Monday
8:30-11:30 AM 3:00-6:00 PM
Tuesday
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Wednesday
8:30-11:30 AM 3:00-6:00 PM
Thursday
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Friday
8:00-11:30 AM
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
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