Charleston Chiropractic Associates

BENEFITS OF SPINAL DECOMPRESSION

A large percentage of individuals will experience some type of back pain at some point in their lives. If you are going through the same thing, you do not need to despair. On any given day, according to published research, up to 30 percent of individuals in the U.S. live with back pain. Fortunately, effective, and long-lasting treatments exist for chronic back pain.

Charleston Chiropractic Associates, spinal decompression, back relief, local Chiro

While some specialists recommend prescription medication or invasive surgeries to provide relief from back pain, many doctors believe that a less invasive procedure, such as spinal decompression, is more effective and helpful. If you suffer from chronic back pain, you should learn more about the benefits of spinal decompression therapy.

Chronic Back Pain

This is a leading cause of missed workdays and job-related disability. Chronic back pain affects both men and women equally; however, its intensity can range from mild discomfort and pain to a sudden, sharp pain that can leave you incapacitated. It can result from trying to lift something heavy or an accident. It can also develop gradually due to age-related spinal changes. A sedentary or inactive lifestyle can also lead to low back pain.

Chronic back pain is a throbbing or pain that persists for about three months or longer. Symptoms can persist for more than a year. Spinal decompression can relieve chronic back pain. Most of the pain occurs at the lower back, which includes the five vertebrae, known as L1-L5. This region supports most of your upper body weight.

Lower back pain or discomfort is mechanical, and often happens because of the following:

  • Strains and sprains.

  • Sciatica.

  • Intervertebral disk deterioration, which is one of the most common causes of lower back pain.

  • Radiculopathy caused by injury, inflammation, and/or compression to your spinal nerve root.

  • Ruptured or herniated disks, which result from compressed intervertebral disks, causing them to rupture or bulge outward.

  • In serious conditions, lower back pain can be caused by kidney stones, endometriosis, infections, abdominal aortic aneurysms, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, tumors, and inflammatory disease of the joints. Some of the risk factors for developing back pain include weight gain, age, genetics, pregnancy, low fitness level, occupational factors, and mental health factors.

Benefits Of Spinal Decompression Therapy

After birth, infants’ vertebrae contain a little water meant to give them some cushion to ease and improve movement. As they age, however, the water or fluid starts leaking out of the joints, causing them to become less flexible and fluid. Excessive pressure on the spine can accelerate the leakage, which can lead to several health problems, such as:

  • Radiating nerve pain.

  • Neck and chronic back pain.

  • Numbness and tingling in the extremities.

  • Sciatica pain in the lower extremities.

  • Muscle weakness and atrophy.

Spinal decompression therapy gently stretches out your vertebrae to allow fluids to flow back in, thereby relieving most of the pain. The process of decompression separates your vertebrae from each other, which creates a vacuum effect within the disks. This helps draw in some of the fluid leaking out because of spinal compression.

This therapy can help restore natural function and reduce pain. It forces fluids with lots of oxygen and nutrients into the disks to facilitate the healing process. Spinal decompression is a non-invasive form of treatment and does not involve any medication. It will reduce your back pain, without leaving you in discomfort or bed-ridden for days on end. Spinal decompression is also safe for people of all ages and promotes overall well-being and healing. It is a cost-effective treatment, compared to other forms of treatment.

In addition to being harmful to your quality of life, chronic back pain is debilitating as well. If you are suffering from this problem, we encourage you to call us at (843) 225-4357. Charleston Chiropractic Associates, based in Charleston, South Carolina, takes pride in offering superior patient satisfaction, treatment, and education.