Managing Low Back Pain With Spinal Decompression

Introduction

As a support structure connected to the musculoskeletal system, the spine makes sure that the body stays upright, moves, bends, sits, and twists as the body are in motion. The spine is also in an S-shaped curve encompassing the spinal cord, soft tissues, and cartilage and is protected by these components. When an individual gets injured and suffers from a back injury, the spine can become damaged, and the individual will be in pain. There are some ways to lessen the pain, and one of the ways to reduce back pain is through spinal decompression therapy. In this article, we will be looking at what low back pain is, its symptoms, and how to manage low back pain through spinal decompression therapy. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers specializing in spinal decompression therapy. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

What Is Low Back Pain?

Approximately 25–60% of individuals who experience low-back pain (LBP) will report a recurrence of pain within as little as one year. Research studies have shown that low back pain is widespread in individuals. It can result from a variety of different injuries, conditions, and diseases from muscle or tendon injury in the back. Lower back pain is the most common cause of work disability in the US, as many individuals are on disability for low back pain for six months. Usually, many individuals will not return to work due to low back pain. The pain can range from mild to severe depending on the injury that a person has endured while also making it impossible for individuals to do their daily tasks because of low back pain. Low back pain is one of the most expensive reasons for work disabilities since it has been estimated that about 2% of individuals in the workforce in the US will be compensated for back injuries yearly.

Since low back pain is common in many individuals, other research studies have found that the lower bottom part of the spine has only five vertebrae, and it does all the heavy lifting that a person does. This part of the area will experience lots of movement and stress that a person is doing, which leads to wear and tear on the lower back and, later on, injuries. Structural abnormalities such as disc degeneration or disc herniation and resultant biochemical effects such as inflammation can be the cause of disc-related pain.

The Symptoms

Research studies have found that depending on how mild or severe low back pain causes in a person, the muscles that encompass the lower back will begin to feel a burning or stabbing sensation of pain that can run down from the lower back down to the legs. Some of the factors that can cause lower back pain can be age since low back pain is common as a person gets older, physical inactivity where there are unused muscles that are weak in the back, excess body weight which puts more stress on the back, and improper lifting which is where a person uses their back instead of their legs. Some of the symptoms that can cause low back pain can progress further into chronic issues include:

• Sciatica
• Stiffness
• Posture problems
• Muscle spasms
• Numbness in one or both legs

How Spinal Decompression Works-Video

When a person suffers from low back pain, the pain symptoms can range from mild to severe as the pain travels from the lower back to the legs. The pain causes the individual to develop wear and tear on their lower back and, if it is not treated, can lead to chronic issues over time. One of the therapeutic options that can relieve their lower back pain is spinal decompression therapy. Research studies have stated that spinal decompression is a non-surgical decompression therapy that involves gentle stretching to the spine using a traction table to relieve back pain.

How To Manage Low Back Pain

Research studies have shown many ways to treat and manage low back pain. Some, if not most lower back pains can get better in a month with some home remedies. Since everybody is different and depending on what kind of back pain they have, some of the ways to manage low back pain include:

• Light activity
• Physical therapy
• Chiropractic care
• Massage
• Spinal decompression therapy

Some of these treatments can help ease the symptoms of low back pain and provide relief to many individuals suffering from back pain and help lower the inflammation in the lower back. With these low back treatments, the body will be able to recover, and the individual can continue with their wellness journey by managing their lower back pain.

Spinal Decompression Therapy

Since about 80% of adults have experienced lower back pain at some point, research studies have stated that when a person is dealing with lumbar pain due to a degenerative process and light external injuries to the spine can use spinal decompression therapy as a non-surgical treatment for lower back pain. Spinal decompression therapy can help reduce intervertebral disc pressure by supplying nutrients and oxygen through gentle spine stretching. Other research studies have found that individuals who use spinal decompression therapy for about 6-weeks will experience less stress on affected discs, a vertically expand of the intervertebral space, and restoration of disc height, as effective in reducing chronic low back pain. 

Conclusion

Many individuals have suffered from lower back pain and experienced mild to severe symptoms that can cause them to stop their everyday activities. Utilizing non-surgical therapeutic options like spinal decompression therapy can help alleviate the painful symptoms of lower back pain by gently stretching the spine using a traction machine. Spinal decompression therapy can help release the intervertebral disc’s compressed pressure and help restore the disc height on the spine. When many individuals use spinal decompression therapy as part of their treatment, they can feel relief from their lower back pain and continue their wellness journey.

References

Apfel, Christian C, et al. “Restoration of Disk Height through Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Is Associated with Decreased Discogenic Low Back Pain: A Retrospective Cohort Study.” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, BioMed Central, 8 July 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2912793/.

Chhatre, Akhil. “Lower Back Pain: What Could It Be?” Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2022, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/back-pain/lower-back-pain-what-could-it-be.

Choi, Jioun, et al. “Influences of Spinal Decompression Therapy and General Traction Therapy on the Pain, Disability, and Straight Leg Raising of Patients with Intervertebral Disc Herniation.” Journal of Physical Therapy Science, The Society of Physical Therapy Science, Feb. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4339166/.

Gay, Ralph. “All about Spinal Decompression Therapy.” Spine, Spine-Health, 24 Sept. 2013, www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/all-about-spinal-decompression-therapy.

Medical Professionals, Cleveland Clinic. “Low Back Pain: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatments.” Cleveland Clinic, 18 Jan. 2021, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7936-lower-back-pain.

Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Back Pain.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 21 Aug. 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369911.

Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Back Pain.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 21 Aug. 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20369906.

Disclaimer