Spinal Decompression

The intervertebral discs are found between each vertebra in the human spine. They function to: (1) “absorb shock” from everyday wear and tear, (2) allow movement of our spinal column, and (3) separate the vertebra, providing space for nerves and circulation. Healthy discs have a firm, outer portion made up of cartilage, and a soft, jelly-like inner portion consisting primarily of water. Trauma, repetitive stress, and age can cause our discs to lose their elasticity and flexibility as the cartilage becomes weak and brittle, and the jelly-like center loses its water content. This creates a process called degenerative disc disease, which can cause low back pain and leg pain.

Traditional treatment includes pain killers such as: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID’s), Chiropractic Therapy, Physical Therapy, or Surgery (in extremely severe cases). NSAID’s have an inherent risk of Gastrointestinal (“stomach and intestines”) disorders such as ulcers, GI hemorrhage, and intestinal perforation. Other medications such as Vioxx, Bextra, and Celebrex have been linked to serious adverse effects such as heart attacks, stroke, and heart failure. Spinal surgery, too, has risks and complications such as a hematoma, neurologic complications, adjacent segment degeneration, infection, and hardware/instrument related issues. Surgical fusions can lead to a loss of range of motion, further pain, further degeneration, and a condition known as failed back surgery/post-operative pain syndrome.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is the application of distractive forces on the spine in a graduated manner, enlarging the space around the nerves and discs. Patients are fitted with a unique chest and pelvis harness designed to isolate treatment to the targeted disc and facet joint. Specific protocols are used to provide distraction forces to relieve pressures on structures that may be causing low back pain. These decompression protocols create negative pressure within the disc, allowing the herniated and bulging disc to return to a more normal position.

Traction is a concept that has been around for centuries as an attempt to relieve compressed joints and other musculoskeletal structures. Traditional traction, as most commonly seen in today’s rehab facilities, many times fails because it can often trigger a nocioceptive splinting response (muscle spasm and guarding) that resists the desired change in the disc. Furthermore, traction disperses the distractive forces between the majority of the spinal segments, thus reducing the actual amount of isolated distraction needed to create the necessary negative pressure within the targeted disc.

Genuine decompression uses gradual and calculated increases of distractive forces to spinal structures, followed by cycles of partial relaxation. In this way, true decompression may prevent muscle spasm and splinting, allowing reduction in the intradiscal pressure to about 150 mmHg. As a result, the damaged disc can be re-hydrated with nutrients and oxygen through a process called imbibition.

The ABS and Triton Systems (this is what we use at Johnson Chiropractic) are designed to provide static, intermittent, and cycling distractive forces to relieve pressure on structures that may be causing low back and/or neck pain. Specific inclusion criteria include: chronic low back and/or neck pain, disc herniation, disc bulge, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), acute lumbosacral sprain/strain, facet syndrome, and some failed back or neck surgeries/post surgical pain. The system should additionally be utilized for patients with low back and/or neck pain, with or without radiculopathy, who have failed conventional therapy (Chiropractic and/or Physical therapy) and who are considering surgery. Surgery should only be considered following a reasonable trial period of Decompression therapy protocols.

Patients with the following problems or symptoms are usually excluded from using Spinal Decompression Therapy: pregnancy, prior lumbar surgical fusion, infection, osteomyelitis, meningitis, spondylolisthesis, pars defect, neoplasm/metastatic cancer, severe osteoporosis, aortic aneurysm, severe peripheral neuropathy, cauda equine syndrome, hemiplegia, paraplegia, or cognitive dysfunction.

Most patients are scheduled for 15–20 minute treatment sessions over a 1 to 1½ month period. On the average, 20–30 treatments (depending on the type, severity, and chronicity of the condition) are required for optimal results. Clinical studies have reported that between 89% of patients reported relief of low back and/or neck pain after decompression therapy, with many patients experiencing noticeable relief after 3–6 visits.