The shock absorbers of the spine, discs sit between pairs of vertebrae, spacing the joints as well as providing a cushion against the forces your spine bears as a part of daily living.
Disc herniation occurs when the tougher outer shell of the disc cracks or ruptures, allowing the gel-like inner nucleus to escape. Displaced tissue can irritate or compress nerve tissue, causing various pain symptoms.
At Active Care Chiropractic & Rehabilitation with offices in Lafayette Hill, the Main Line, East Falls, Elkins Park, Manayunk, and Hatfield, Pennsylvania, we often recommend decompression therapy as a treatment for herniated discs. This form of motorized traction provides a range of benefits to aid your recovery. In today’s blog, we’ll take a deeper look at this modality and when to consider it for your herniated disc condition.
Nonsurgical spinal decompression uses a dedicated table to perform controlled stretching of the spine. In a prone position, this takes pressure off of spinal discs, temporarily expanding the space between vertebrae, which aids recovery after a herniation.
Most cases of herniated discs resolve themselves, but it can be a lengthy process, lasting for months, impacting your comfort, mobility, and quality of life in the meantime. Controlling symptoms and speeding recovery are two ways chiropractic care and decompression treatments can help.
Since herniated discs often resolve on their own, you may wonder when it’s time to consider spinal decompression. Some of the more common times to consider treatment include:
Spinal decompression is an intermediate-level treatment, useful for stubborn conditions that don’t warrant a surgical approach.
You’ll gain the most effective improvements when your condition includes:
Our team will fully assess your health history and spine condition, including diagnostic imaging when warranted.
A typical decompression therapy session includes being comfortably placed on the table and run through gentle cycles of traction and relaxation, based on your condition and tolerance. Usually, decompression is part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may also include chiropractic adjustments, other manual therapies, physical therapy, exercise training, and lifestyle recommendations for self care.
Book your herniated disc consultation with Active Care Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, online or by phone, today.
