Spinal Decompression for Lower Back Pain: What to Expect

Back pain is one of the most common medical complaints, affecting millions of Americans. Nearly 10% of American adults have chronic back pain that’s so bad it interferes with daily activities.

You can have back pain in any part of your spine. But many people have more frequent or more severe symptoms in their lower back, an area of the spine that’s very flexible and often exposed to stress and strain.

At Kerinver Chiropractic, Josue Maysonet, DC, and his team help patients in Kissimmee and Lake Nona, Orlando, Florida, relieve chronic lower back pain with spinal decompression, an advanced technique. If you’re suffering from nagging pain in your lower back, here’s what you should know about this trusted therapy.

The science behind spinal decompression

Lower back pain often results from repetitive movements and strain on your spine muscles, joints, and discs. “Slipped” or herniated discs, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, and sciatica are all common causes of lower back pain — and they all respond to spinal decompression.

Decompression uses special “stretching” techniques to create negative pressure in and around the spongy discs that separate your spine. This negative pressure causes a vacuum that “sucks in” extra oxygen and nutrients vital for healing.

At the same time, the gentle traction used during spinal decompression alleviates nerve compression while curving discs into their proper positions. Traction also helps realign your spine joints and increase space between each pair of vertebrae, relieving painful symptoms and helping to prevent them in the future.

What to expect during treatment

Before recommending spinal decompression, Dr. Maysonet performs a thorough evaluation of your back and symptoms to ensure decompression is the appropriate treatment option to help you feel better. In addition to a hands-on exam, he may order diagnostic imaging or other tests for your evaluation.

Decompression treatment uses a special table. During therapy, you lie on the table while your body gets secured with a harness or strap. The harness helps hold your body in position while gentle traction is applied.

Once you’re comfortable, Dr. Maysonet activates the traction table, which can be controlled and adjusted based on your specific anatomy, spine health, and symptoms. You may feel some gentle stretching in your back during treatment, but the therapy is painless and noninvasive.

Depending on your needs, your session may last about 30-45 minutes. Most patients benefit from a series of treatments over several weeks. Dr. Maysonet recommends a treatment plan based on your symptoms, progress, and response after each session.

Find relief for your lower back pain

Chronic lower back pain can jeopardize mobility, physical health, and emotional well-being. To learn more about spinal decompression and other therapies that can help you feel better, request an appointment online or over the phone with the Kerinver Chiropractic team today.