If so, you will be thrilled to know about a safe, non-surgical procedure called spinal decompression.  Research shows that spinal decompression is 87% effective at reducing or eliminating lower back pain due to disc bulges/herniations.

Spinal decompression is an effective way to treat neck and low back pain. Bulging discs, herniated discsdegenerative disc diseasepinched nervessciatica, and arm or leg pain can often be attributed to the spine putting pressure on the discs. These spinal discs can be likened to a jelly doughnut. If pressure is applied to the front of the doughnut, the jelly filled center moves to the back. Pain is caused when the compressed disc puts pressure on an adjacent nerve.

Poor posturerepetitive stress, and acute injury can all cause the vertebrae to compress the discs. The discs can also become brittle or crack and the nucleus, or jelly center, can again leak or bulge putting pressure on nearby nerves. The problem is often perpetuated because the compressed disc restricts the flow of nutrients which it needs to heal itself.

Damaged intervertebral discs seldom heal on their own because they remain under constant pressure, even with mild daily activities.  And rest doesn’t help.  It is widely accepted that the ideal method to improve disc health is to decompress, or reduce the intradiscal pressures of the damaged disc.

The beauty of spinal decompression is that it allows the discs to return to their proper position and reduces damage to them. This gentle traction of the spine creates a vacuum inside the targeted vertebral discs, allowing them to return to their proper position and permitting the necessary oxygenated blood to heal the damaged tissue. It happens only microscopically each time, but cumulatively, the results are quite dramatic.

Even patients who have had failed back surgeries have found success with spinal decompression. Spinal decompression is enhanced even further by the use of our Class IV Laser Therapy which penetrates deeply into the damaged tissue and speeds recovery time.

“I suffered with low back pain for a number of years.  My family doctor prescribed medication for the pain and although it helped, I didn’t want to take it every day. I looked into surgery but I would be out of work for a month or two. My sister told me she had had good luck with Dr. Wagner so, as a last resort, I came in for a consultation. Dr. Wagner pinpointed the problem and showed me what was going on.  It was a herniated disk. Within 7 sessions, he actually fixed my back and literally gave me my life back.”        –John T.

Because it is so comfortable, most patients enjoy the treatment. In fact, the most effective decompression treatments should not produce pain. For low back treatment, the patient lies on his/her back or stomach on the decompression table. A set of padded straps are secured around the waist and in some cases, another set around the lower chest. For neck treatment, the patient lies comfortably on his/her back with a pair of soft rubber pads behind the neck. Then mild traction is applied. The traction is a gentle intermittent pulling sensation which most patients find very relaxing while their spine feels better and better.