What is Spinal Decompression?

Spinal Decompression (also known as LCD Spinal Care or simply, SD) is a proven NON-SURGICAL treatment for severe neck and low back pain, involving herniated or bulging discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis, degenerative discs and even post-surgical failed back syndrome.

How does Spinal Decompression work?

Over a series of relaxing treatment sessions, patients can experience powerful pain reduction and healing. Spinal Decompression, not to be confused with traction, gently lengthens and decompresses the spine, creating negative pressures within the discs. This reversal of pressure creates an intradiscal vacuum that not only takes pressure off of pinched nerves, but helps to reposition bulging discs and pull extruded disc material back into place. Spinal experts believe that nutrients, oxygen and fluids are drawn into the disc to create a revitalized environment conducive to healing.

What areas of the spine can be treated with spinal decompression?

Spinal Decompression technology is available for the neck (cervical) and lower back (lumbar) regions of the spine.

What is causing my back pain?

While only a trained health care professional can accurately diagnose and recommend appropriate treatment, a basic understanding of common causes of back pain and how non-surgical Spinal Decompression works to alleviate them can help you in making a more informed decision regarding your treatment options. Below you will find explanations of some of the causes.

Am I a candidate for Spinal Decompression?

Prior to treatment, we will perform a thorough evaluation to determine if you are a candidate. Your health history, x-rays, and MRI/CT scans are carefully reviewed. If you are a candidate for therapy, an individual treatment program of care is created for your specific needs. It is important to complete your treatment plan – and thus the full healing process- even if you start to feel improvement early on. It is not uncommon to experience a significant reduction in pain early in your treatments.

What is the recommended program of care for Spinal Decompression?

While each individual treatment plan will vary, the treatment protocol is usually between 20 to 25 visits in a 6 to 8 week time frame.

What can I expect during the session?

At the beginning of each session, you are fitted with a comfortable harness designed to offer optimal decompression. You are fully dressed and the doctor assures you are properly positioned for comfort, safety and effectiveness. The computer is programmed in accordance with your specific treatment plan and your session begins. Additionally, you are in complete control and can shut down the treatment at any time - for any reason. During each session, you experience multiple cycles of distraction and relaxation, which take between 10 to 30 minutes to complete. The equipment is designed to apply precisely-controlled tension along the axis of your spinal column, creating decompression of the intervertebral discs. The process is fully automated and administered by a computer, which in turn is monitored by the doctor. Your treatment sessions are typically both comfortable and relaxing. Many patients actually fall asleep!

What is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Degenerative Disc Disease is a state of deterioration due to cumulative trauma, poor posture, poor dietary and exercise habits and aging when the spinal bones are not properly aligned. As discs degenerate they become more prone to failure from physical stress, which may tear disc fibers and result in more complications, such as osteoarthritis, disc bulging, disc herniation and stenosis. Many spine experts conclude that the vacuum of negative pressure created within the disc by non-surgical spinal decompression helps the disc to attract moisture from surrounding tissue, re hydrating and revitalizing thinning and torn degenerated discs.

What is a Herniated or Bulging disc?

Discs are located between each vertebra and provide flexibility and shock absorption for the spine. The thick, fibrous outer disc wall, known as the annulus fibrosus, surrounds a jelly-like center, called the nucleus pulposus. Discs undergo tremendous amounts of stress, which can sometimes lead to a bulging disc, a weakening of the disc wall that causes the disc to bulge out and press painfully on surrounding nerves. A herniated disc occurs when the pressure within the disc becomes too great, tearing through the disc wall (annulus fibrosus), allowing a portion of the jelly-like center to protrude. The escaped nucleus pulposus may then impinge painfully on nerve roots or cause inflammation, leading to numbness, tingling and/or muscle weakness.

What is Spinal Stenosis?

Stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal due to the encroachment of disc material, bony growths and even supporting ligaments that squeeze and irritate the spinal cord and/or extending nerve roots. This can lead to pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms, hands, fingers, buttocks, legs or feet. The benefits that many Stenosis patients derive from Spinal Decompression may be due to its regenerative effect on herniated and degenerative discs that often accompany Stenosis. Spinal Stenosis, which may be found in conjunction with any of the other conditions mentioned here, is commonly a contributing cause for sciatic symptoms.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is the sensation of pain, tingling, or numbness in the buttocks legs and/or feet produced by an irritation of the sciatic nerve. Multiple nerve roots extend from the spinal cord between the vertebrae and join to form the sciatic nerve, which branches as it descends into the buttocks and down each leg to the ankles and feet. The primary causes of sciatica are herniated, bulging, or degenerative discs, which induce pressure on the spinal nerve roots.

Is traction the same as Spinal Decompression?

Spinal decompression is a form of traction, but not all traction is spinal decompression! True Spinal Decompression results when negative pressure is produced within the disc material resulting in a “vacuum” effect. This is the technology of Spinal Decompression that creates the desired results. This occurs when the force is applied in a gradual manner with a precise amount of pressure. While simple traction does not produce this effect, it often results in muscle guarding and spasm. Spinal Decompression bypasses this response by gently cycling the patient through a series of gentle pulls, holds and releases over an extended period of time. Precise computer controlled transitions between each phase can make for an experience so relaxing the patient often falls asleep. It is when the muscles deeply relax and are pulled without resistance that the discs can effectively experience the benefits of the vacuum effect from negative pressure. It is truly an amazing technology.

Why should I consider Spinal Decompression instead of surgery?

While back surgery may be the only solution for some severe and chronic back problems, many health care professionals feel strongly that every non-invasive option should be explored before turning to surgery. Although advances in surgery have made many procedures less invasive and more effective than in the past, surgery does come with inherent risks. With high failure rates and lengthy recovery time, it only makes sense to consider all of your options before making a decision about surgery. Studies have shown failure rates as high as 50%. In addition, even if the surgery initially brings relief, many patients will require future surgeries due to added stress to adjacent areas.

I already had surgery, but I am still in pain, am I a candidate for Spinal Decompression?

Post-surgical patients have experienced fantastic therapeutic results from non-surgical spinal decompression. However, those patients with spinal surgical hardware, such as brackets, plates and screws are not candidates for Spinal Decompression, but may well be Chiropractic candidates. Either way, if you have had surgery with unsatisfactory results or have suffered a relapse, call us Toll Free at 1-800-518-5197 for a complimentary consultation to determine the best option for you.

Why should I consider Spinal Decompression instead of medication?

Medication may provide temporary relief, but it is important to understand that pain is your body telling you something is wrong. If you simply ignore your body's cry for help, your injuries are likely to worsen over time. Prolonged use of medication also requires stronger doses, an increased risk of addiction, and may also result in side effects such as liver, kidney or gastrointestinal damage, fatigue and depression. Spinal Decompression targets the problem, not just the symptoms and avoids unnecessary side effects.

Are there studies, research or publications showing the effectiveness of Spinal Decompression?

Clinical studies have shown Decompression Therapy to be extremely effective in treating back pain. Many have demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of this powerful treatment option and new research is being discovered all the time.

Click here for a summary of nearly 50 Spinal Decompression studies...

For a FREE report on Spinal Decompression call us Toll Free 1-800-518-5197
recorded message by Dr. Dennis Cronk