Those suffering from back and neck pain associated with slipped or bulging discs may find relief in spinal decompression therapy.
As one of the first chiropractors in Vancouver to offer this innovative treatment, I've had a chance to observe its beneficial effects on many patients with back and neck pain.
A herniated disc is a displaced piece of the center part or nucleus of the disc that is pushed through a tear in the outer layers. Pain results when irritating substances are released from this tear and also if the jelly portion touches or compresses a nearby nerve. Herniation has some similarities to degenerative disc disease and discs that herniate are often in an early stage of degeneration, which is why immediate treatment is critical to the long-term health of a patient.
Lifestyle habits such as smoking, lack of regular exercise and inadequate nutrition can all contribute to poor disc health. Poor posture, daily wear and tear, injury or trauma, and incorrect lifting or twisting further stress the discs. Discs that are already weakened are extremely susceptible to damage. An injured disc could herniate with a single movement or strain such as coughing or even bending to pick up a pencil.
Spinal decompression therapy is estimated to have a greater than 90 percent success rate and research shows that patients can significantly reduce their back pain after 20 treatments. Most patients make a full recovery and can resume the same hobbies or activities they enjoyed before their disc injury.
Spinal decompression therapy involves specialized technology that is so advanced and precise that the machine allows me to target the specific disc that's affected, alleviating pressure. The duration of the therapy session is approximately 25 minutes, with patients receiving a series of 20-25 sessions over a period of seven to eight weeks.
For more information about the use of spinal decompression in Vancouver, visit
http://www.VancouverSpineAndDiscCentre.ca/ or watch a video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sovOAe7R8Y