What Does Back Decompression Mean?

spinal stenosis

Back pain, often caused by neuralgia or nerve damage can result in spasms and often intense pain. This is because the nerves are compressed or have pressure on them, which can be as a result of a number of causes. Back decompression is one of the treatments used to alleviate back pain and take pressure off the nerves.

Herniated disks are often the cause of back pain as it puts pressure on the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and nerves. When nerves in the spine or back are compressed the problems with the disks can get even worse, causing the disk bulge to increase in size thus putting even more pressure on the back muscle nerves or the spinal nerves and their roots. This can result in intense back pain. Spasms occur to try and isolate the sore muscles, but can often result in more pain. Herniated disks are one of the causes of back pain that can be treated with back decompression. When disks have worn away or slipped so that they are no longer aligned, the back may also need to be treated with back decompression as it can cause intense pressure on the nerves. Arthritis or injury can also cause compression in what is called facet joint syndrome. This can cause inflammation in the joints and intense pain. Pinched nerves can also result in severe pain and the need for back decompression.

Back decompression can also be called vertebral decompression, spinal decompression, lumbar decompression or traction. The aim of back decompression is to relieve the pressure of whatever is causing back pain, whether it is a result of degenerated disks, herniated disks or pinched nerves.

Traction is a manual process that does not involve any type of surgery, eliminating the risks involved with back or spinal surgery. This mechanical process was first developed in 1985 by Dr. Allan Dyer. Chiropractors are normally responsible for this type of back decompression. Sometimes this can involve light spinal decompression exercises which help alleviate compressed nerves by stretching them and strengthening surrounding muscles. This can include lying on your back and doing stretches that target the spine. Sometimes equipment or special beds are used by chiropractors or physiotherapists to aid stretching.

There is also a surgical type of back decompression which involves two different methods. The first is a microdiscectomy and the second one is a lumbar laminectomy. While this involves physically making space for the nerves to heal and ease pressure, it is often the last resort in treating back pain.

Because back decompression relieves pressure on damaged nerves, it can often ease intense pain which is one of the major benefits. It also allows oxygen to flow freely through the spine and back which may have been lacking due to ischemia. Different stretching and strengthening exercises help to increase the space between disks. This also helps to realign the disks thus targeting the cause of nerve pain.

Back decompression especially involving the spine, can aid inflamed areas working the muscles, ligaments and tendons in the process as well. This helps to ease problems with disks and alleviate nerve damage or pressure. It is a form of treatment to look into if back pain and spasms affect a person on a regular occurrence. While anti-inflammatory medication or painkillers might alleviate the problem temporarily, back decompression can target the actual cause of the problem, which will help to prevent the pain from occurring again as well as aiding in the actual healing of the cause as opposed to just numbing the pain.