Spinal Decompression Therapy Alleviates Wear & Tear Herniated Discs

Introduction

For keeping the body upright and on the move, the spine plays an essential role in allowing the body to do these ordinary functions. The S-shaped curve enables the body to rotate from side to side, bend back and forth, and twist without feeling discomfort. The spine is enveloped with ligaments, nerve roots, spinal discs, and soft muscle tissues originating from the spinal column; these components protect the spinal cord from being injured. When the back suffers from unforeseen circumstances or starts to naturally age, the spinal discs in the spine will lose their structure, causing them to shrink and become herniated, depending on how severe the pain is. Fortunately, there are treatments available for herniated discs. Today’s article will focus on wear and tear herniation on the spine, how it affects the back, and how decompression therapy can help herniation. Referring patients to qualified and skilled providers who specialize in spinal decompression therapy. We guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is essential for asking insightful 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 or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

What Is Wear & Tear Herniation?

Have you been experiencing pain shooting from your lower back to your feet? Does it hurt when you are doing daily activities like walking or running? Have you been experiencing muscle stiffness in your lower back or your neck? You might be suffering from a disc herniation from wear and tear from your spine. Research studies have defined that herniation on the spine happens when the spinal discs between the spinal joint columns are damaged. Natural wear and tear on the spine when the muscles have been overworked due to heavy lifting or when the outer layer of the spinal discs starts to crack under pressure, letting the inner layers protrude out of alignment of the spine and press on the nerve roots that are connected to the spine.

Additional information has provided that disc herniation is usually associated with DDD or disc degeneration disease and contributes to low back pain. When a herniated disc starts to affect the spinal column and press on the spinal nerve roots extending all over to work with the back muscles providing motor and sensory function for the body to move, it increases the inflammatory pathways to cause radiating pain to the body. Wear and tear herniation also causes the inner walls of the spinal disc to become weak due to dehydration when the outer layer is cracked. Research studies have also mentioned that the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine are susceptible to disc herniation due to spinal pathologies that affect the spine itself. Spinal pathologies can include RA (rheumatoid arthritis), fractures, osteoporosis, and infections associated with herniated discs that can cause significant issues on the back and make a person in more pain than they already are. 

How Does It Affect The Back?

Disc herniation is associated with low back pain, but other spinal issues that cause disc herniation will affect the back even more, when it is not treated. When disc herniation starts to affect the spine, it affects the back, especially the lower back. Research studies have shown the spinal disc in the spine begins to protrude out, inflammation and nerve compression begin to affect the lower back, causing lumbar radicular pain. Other research studies have shown that lumbar disc herniation causes changes in disc height in the spine while shrinking the dural sac. This causes the spinal joints to rub against each other. At the same time, the herniated disc protrudes to compress the spinal nerve roots, thus sending sudden, throbbing pain all over the back, making the individual miserable.

Spinal Decompression Therapy For Herniated Disc-Video

Have you been experiencing aches and pains along your lower back? How about throbbing pain along your sciatic nerve? Does your neck or back feel stiff after suffering from an injury? These are all signs of low back pain associated with disc herniation, and spinal decompression can help alleviate these symptoms. Spinal decompression, as shown in the video above, helps many individuals suffering from low back herniation associated with low back pain. Many decompression machines help suffering individuals with a lumbar disc herniation through gentle pulling on the spine to restore the disc space and take pressure off the surrounding nerves. Decompression helps rehydrate the spinal disc’s outer layer and allows the substances to repair the outer layers. Spinal decompression therapy has many beneficial factors as part of a person’s wellness treatment. This link will explain how spinal decompression offers impressive comfort for many people who suffer from wear and tear herniation.

How Decompression Therapy Can Help Wear & Tear Herniation

With lumbar disc herniation affecting the lower back, many treatments are available for restoring the spine from herniated discs. Research studies have provided that non-invasive spinal decompression is very effective for many miserable individuals from herniation on their spine. Spinal decompression allows the affected herniated discs to be reabsorbed back into the spine, allowing the spinal disc height to increase. This type of therapy allows the herniated disc to be taken off the compressed roots and reduces pain signals from affecting the lower half of the body. Additional research studies have found that decompression allows the negative pressure to pull the herniated discs back to the spine and is safe for individuals suffering from lumbar pain. The main goal of decompression therapy is to provide relief to suffering individuals by alleviating spinal and low back issues from their backs. 

Conclusion

Overall, disc herniation is caused by natural wear and tear of the spine due to overusing the back muscles in the body. When this happens, the herniated discs are compressing the nerves causing low back pain and spinal issues, causing radiating pain to travel all over the body. Treatments like spinal decompression allow the herniated discs to be pulled back into the spine gently and take the irritating pressure off the nerve roots. When people start to take care of their spine’s health through decompression, they will feel so much better in the long run.

References

Al Qaraghli, Mustafa I, and Orlando De Jesus. “Lumbar Disc Herniation – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 30 Aug. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560878/.

Dydyk, Alexander M, et al. “Disc Herniation – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 18 Jan. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/.

Kjaer, Per, et al. “Progression of Lumbar Disc Herniations over an Eight-Year Period in a Group of Adult Danes from the General Population–a Longitudinal MRI Study Using Quantitative Measures.” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, BioMed Central, 15 Jan. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4714478/.

N;, Demirel A;Yorubulut M;Ergun. “Regression of Lumbar Disc Herniation by Physiotherapy. Does Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy Make a Difference? Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.” Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 22 Sept. 2017, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28505956/.

Oh, Hyunju, et al. “Effects of the Flexion-Distraction Technique and Drop Technique on Straight Leg Raising Angle and Intervertebral Disc Height of Patients with an Intervertebral Disc Herniation.” Journal of Physical Therapy Science, The Society of Physical Therapy Science, Aug. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6698474/.

Yang, Hao, et al. “Low Back Pain Associated with Lumbar Disc Herniation: Role of Moderately Degenerative Disc and Annulus Fibrous Tears.” International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, e-Century Publishing Corporation, 15 Feb. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4402739/.

Zielinska, Nicol, et al. “Risk Factors of Intervertebral Disc Pathology-a Point of View Formerly and Today-A Review.” Journal of Clinical Medicine, MDPI, 21 Jan. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7865549/.

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