By Shawn Bladel, DC, Eastland Chiropractic and Wellness Center
I can remember the day like it was yesterday,” said Dave. “There I was, picking up my grandson to give him a hug, when all of a sudden, POP! I’m glad I didn’t have a hold of him yet, because I ended up falling to my knees, and couldn’t move.” Dave had herniated one of the discs in his lumbar spine. This is one of many stories we hear in our office on a weekly basis.
Up until a few years ago, if you had degenerative disc disease, including a disc bulge or herniation, your choices for care were limited to chiropractic, physical therapy, traction, or surgery. Some people have even tried an inversion table. Although many people have reported temporary relief (up to six months in some cases) from steroid injections, the symptoms were only reduced short term, and those patients generally ended up looking for answers elsewhere. If the spinal disc bulge or herniation was relatively minor, most patients responded well to chiropractic. Unfortunately, if it was a moderate to severe disc bulge, the condition generally required surgery. Most patients were understandably hesitant to consider surgery, because they heard about the cost, time off work (four to six weeks), and that there was even a phrase created called, “failed back surgery syndrome” that became a diagnosis. It wasn’t until the recent advances in technology that doctors were able to offer a third viable choice: non-surgical spinal decompression.
Non-surgical spinal decompression was developed to address the issue of chronic compression damage to the discs within our spine, specifically in the neck and lower back. When we lay down, the pressure on our spine and discs is very low. When we sit, stand, bend, or lift, this pressure on our discs increases dramatically. At any age, this pressure can cause the discs in our spine to bulge, or herniate. Spinal decompression is able to help heal this bulge or herniation, using an FDA cleared, computerized program with specific parameters, angles, and weight of pull customized for each individual patient. The best decompression tables continuously monitor spinal resistance, and adjust distraction forces accordingly, which greatly differentiates spinal decompression from other modalities, such as traction or home inversion tables. The patented technique of decompression helps to prevent muscle spasm and patient guarding. Constant activity monitoring takes place at the rate of 10,000 times per second, making adjustments not perceived by the eye as many as twenty times per second, via its fractional metering and monitoring system.
Spinal decompression treatments involve using a special pelvic harness that supports the lumbar spine during therapy. Patients are able to lie down in a relaxed position on a comfortable table, while the gentle pull creates a negative pressure within the disc during the treatment session. Patients will typically fall asleep while doing treatment, due to the calming effect of the treatment. With genuine decompression, the pressure within the disc space can actually be lowered to negative 150 mmHg, which is six times less stress than when lying down. This negative pressure on the disc causes the bulging or herniated disc material to be pulled back underneath the vertebra, and off the spinal cord or nerves they are irritating, by creating a vacuum in the disc space. Degenerative discs that have lost their height can be opened up to near normal heights, creating increased movement and decreased nerve pressure.
This technology is truly revolutionary, allowing patients with debilitating back and leg pain to obtain relief without drugs or surgery. Unfortunately, not everyone is a candidate for spinal decompression treatment. The best way to determine if you or someone you know could benefit from spinal decompression treatment would be to find a qualified decompression specialist who will, at the time of your visit, review with you your history, as well as any necessary testing, x-rays, and MRI’s, before beginning treatment.
To learn more about spinal decompression, you may contact Dr. Shawn Bladel at Eastland Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 309-662-8418, or visit them online at EastlandChiro.com. Their office is located at 2406 E. Washington Street in Bloomington. Their goal is to educate people, and create an awareness that allows everyone to make smart, informed decisions regarding their health and well-being.