Back pain, one of the most common medical conditions afflicting adults today, affects 8 out of 10 people at some point in their lives, and is said to be second only to the cough as the most common complaint for which patients seek medical care. Back pain is usually recurrent, and subsequent episodes tend to increase in severity. A common misconception is that 90% of back pain will go away on its own without treatment; however, a review published in the European Spine Journal in 2003, showed that the reported proportion of patients who still experienced pain after 12 months was 62% (range, 42-75%). There is also a large number of Americans who, after trying many standard treatments, are still left suffering with serious back pain.
Why Am I in Pain?
Often, the pain in your back or neck is due to a bulging or herniated condition of one or more of the cartilage discs located between each of the vertebrae that make up your spinal column. These discs act as spacers to keep the vertebrae apart, and as rubber bushings, providing a spinal shock absorber. They also provide a specialized surface for each vertebra to mechanically move on. This movement is necessary to nourish the discs.
As vertebrae move, they exert load pressures onto the disc. When a disc becomes over-loaded or squeezed, these extra pressures weaken the disc's outer border. Two common reasons are strenuous activities and repetitive activities. A lack of mobility or restricted spinal mobility can also lead to over-loaded or squeezed discs. As the outer border becomes weak, the inner disc gel begins to bulge beyond the outer border onto any neighboring nerves. This causes debilitating pain.
New Solutions to Disc Problems
In the past, a patient suffering from disc problems was usually given pain medication, instructed to refrain from physical activities, referred for physical therapy, and when they weren't progressing they were sent for spinal surgery. Conservative chiropractic care proved very helpful in many cases, yet there have been some cases when surgery seemed to be the only other option until now.
Thanks to the concerted efforts of a team of top physicians and medical engineers, Spinal Decompression Therapy was developed to effectively treat lower back pain and sciatica resulting from herniated or deteriorated discs. Spinal Decompression Therapy not only significantly reduces back pain in many patients, but also enables the majority of patients to return to more active lifestyles.
What is Spinal Decompression?
Spinal Decompression is a comfortable, non-surgical and drug-free therapy used primarily to treat disc injuries in the neck and low back, the most common cause of back and leg pain or neck and arm pain. If you, your friends or family members have been told to learn to live with the pain or if you have tried exercises, drugs or shots, and are still suffering, and are now being told you need surgery, then this therapy could be right for you.
Spinal Decompression is a safe, revolutionary new technology that utilizes FDA cleared, state of the art equipment to apply a distraction force to spinal structures, in a precise and graduated manner. Distraction is then offset by cycles of partial relaxation. This technique of cycling through distraction and relaxation phases, along with proper positioning, has shown the ability to gently separate the vertebrae from each other, creating a vacuum inside the targeted discs. The vacuum, or negative pressure, may induce the retraction of the disc material that has protruded or herniated, pulling it back within the normal confines of the disc, and allowing healing to occur. The cycles of decompression and partial relaxation, over a series of visits, promote the diffusion of water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids from the outside of the discs to the inside. These nutrients enable the torn and degenerated disc fibers to begin to heal.
Spinal Decompression Therapy has many years of research and practice, and has been proven effective in relieving the pain associated with bulging and herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, and even failed back surgery. Since its release, clinical studies have revealed an amazing success rate in treating lumbar disc related problems with Spinal Decompression Therapy.
How Do I Know if I am a Candidate for Spinal Decompression?
Contact our office at 760 777-4177 to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Grey Rappe, D.C. to determine if you are a candidate for Spinal Decompression Therapy. After carefully studying your case history, x-rays and exam findings, we will sit down and explain our recommended plan of action for you. After answering any questions you may have about the recommended plan, you may begin treatment and start on the road to a future free from pain!
