Have you ever experienced a shooting pain that travels down your leg? Believe it or not, this pain can be related to a disc in your low back. If you have ever experienced this issue, you know it can be painful and debilitating. Luckily there is a treatment that can help ease your pain. Spinal decompression is a type of motorized traction that may help relieve pain related to disc issues or sciatica. Spinal decompression works by gently stretching the spine, which changes the force and position of the spine. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds! In addition to providing relief, this change takes pressure off the spinal disks, retracts any bulging or herniated disks, and helps promote movement of water and oxygen into the disks so they can heal.
There are two types of traction a patient can receive; pelvic or cervical. Patients with neck pain may receive cervical traction, while patients with back pain may receive pelvic traction. The process takes about 15 minutes and is just a portion of the treatment you may receive here. The patient will lay face up on the treatment table, with a harness around their pelvis or neck. After the initial appointment, you may experience some mild discomfort. It is important not to get too discouraged if this happens! Be patient, relief will come with time.
Our goal is to get you feeling better as soon as possible. Because of this, we recommend attending multiple sessions over a period of 3-4 weeks. When it comes to physical therapy, consistency is key! Treatment can vary when dealing with specific injuries, as every body is different. During your initial evaluation, your therapist will decide if traction is the right treatment for you. As always, if you have any questions you can reach out to us by phone and we would be happy to help you.
Post written by: Tom Farnsworth PT, MPT
