4 Signs of a Herniated Disc in Your Neck
While many people assume that herniated discs only occur in the low back, they’re also common in the neck. Here, we look at possible signs of a herniated disc in your neck and the next steps to take.
How Non-surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy Helps to Relieve Low Back Pain
You’re tired of back pain that seems to follow your every step, but the idea of surgery isn’t appealing in the least.
It’s safe to say that you’re in the same boat as millions of other Americans — up to 80% of people will experience some form of low back pain at least once in their lives.
Here at World Medical Group dba Neuropathy & Pain Centers of Texas, our team’s goal is simple — help patients find relief from pain without resorting to surgery.
When it comes to nerve compression issues in the back, which are common causes of low back pain, we can do plenty before discussing surgery. Included in this are non-surgical spinal decompression therapies, which we review here.
When your spine can benefit from decompression
The human spine is made up of 33 vertebrae and 23 intervertebral discs that stretch from the base of the skull to the pelvis. This structure houses your central nervous system in the form of your spinal canal, which is ground zero for your peripheral nervous system. Along the length of your spine, 31 pairs of nerve roots exit the spinal canal to create a vast network of nerves in your body.
When people develop low back pain, in many cases it stems from compression of one or more of these sensitive nerve roots and fibers. Some common culprits behind nerve-related back pain include:
- Sciatica, which occurs in up to 40% of people
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Herniated disc
- Degenerative disc disease
What each of these conditions has in common is that they can irritate and compress nerve roots in your low back, which can lead to considerable local pain, as well as pain that radiates into your legs. In addition to the pain, you might also develop numbness and tingling.
How decompression can help
If we find that your low back pain is related to nerve compression, it makes sense that the goal is to relieve this compression. Surgically, this often means removing pieces of disc material (or a whole disc) and bone to create more space in your spine.
Instead of this more invasive approach, we always recommend that patients try highly effective non-surgical decompression therapies first, such as:
Traction on an inversion table
With this form of decompression therapy, we use a specialized traction table to gently stretch your spine, creating more room for your nerves.
Physical medicine
As part of our wide range of services, we offer physical medicine, which is much like physical therapy. This is a highly effective approach to low back pain, given that your back is supported by some very strong core muscle groups. By strengthening these muscle groups, we take the pressure off of your spine, as well as your nerve roots.
Chiropractic care
At the heart of chiropractic care is ensuring that the spine is in alignment, which can very much help with compression issues. Through manual manipulation, your spine is adjusted to remove blockages and better align the structure.
In many cases, we might suggest a combination of non-surgical decompression protocols for optimal relief. And the best part? There’s little to no risk or downtime with these therapies, yet they can deliver lasting pain relief.
If you’d like to explore your options for non-surgical spine decompression further, please don't hesitate to call or message one of our offices in Arlington or Fort Worth, Texas, today to schedule an evaluation.
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