Think of an intervertebral disc as a flat, ring-like structure that acts as a shock absorber between two spinal vertebrae.  Intervertebral discs allow the spinal to be flexible.  The composition of an intervertebral disc can be compared to a jelly doughnut.  Each disc is made up of a gel-like nucleus (the jelly filling) surrounded by bands of fibrocartilage (the dough). 

Everyday pressure causes intervertebral discs to bulge slightly.  However, when a disc suffers an injury, the disc can bulge abnormally or even rupture.  This rupture is called a herniation.  Imagine that a hand presses on the jelly doughnut until the jelly actually breaks through the dough.  This is what happens to a disc under too much pressure.  The nucleus ruptures through the fibrocartilage. 

Actually, NASA first noted the effects of spinal decompression!  During a space travel mission, astronauts noticed that they were relieved of back pain while in the anti-gravity state.  They also found that disc height was increased during space flight.  Spinal decompression offers pain relief by applying a negative pressure that draws the nucleus material back into the disc space…like sucking the jelly back into the doughnut.  At the same time, decompression strengthens the fibrocartilage bands that hold the nucleus in place.

Spinal decompression can relieve the pressure caused by a herniated disc, a disc bulge, facet syndrome, sciatica, and spondylolisthesis.

According to The American Journal of Pain Management, spinal decompression offers an 86% chance for success for patients with a disc herniation.  The chance for success with spinal decompression jumps to 90% for patients with cases of sciatica, stenosis, deterioration, and arthrosis.  In comparison, the reported overall failure rate for fusion-type back surgery is 30% and is 37.3% for non-fusion back surgery (results of research on the aftermath of back surgery reported by the Orthopedic Clinic of North America in 1995).


What does spinal decompression cost?

According to Orthopedic Technology Review (Nov, Dec. ’03 issue), “chronic low back pain disability is the most expensive benign condition that is medically treated in industrial countries.  It is also the number one cause of disability in persons under age 45.”  They also report that “disc disease—the most common cause of back pain, which costs the American health care system more than $50 billion annually—can be cost-effectively treated using spinal decompression.”  It has been proven that non-surgical therapy, such as spinal decompression, costs less than one tenth of what back surgery costs.  At Stow-Kent Chiropractic, we offer several different payment options to help you meet your financial obligations.  Because we don’t advertise with expensive commercials or fancy billboards, we are able to keep our prices lower than other local doctors that are utilizing these costly tools.  A member of our staff will discuss your options with you in a private, one-on-one financial consultation.

Coverage for Chiropractic care and the associated therapies varies with each insurance company.  The experienced staff in our insurance department will gladly verify any insurance benefits that you might have. 

A typical treatment plan consists of 20 sessions.  Depending on your schedule, the doctors recommend 3-5 sessions per week.  Each spinal decompression session last approximately 30 minutes (after the initial consultation). 

Spinal decompression can offer long-lasting relief.  To maximize your results, the doctors at Stow-Kent Chiropractic recommend that you adopt a “wellness lifestyle” that includes routine, maintenance adjustments.

Unlike surgery that requires an extensive recovery time, most patients are able to maintain a “normal” work routine while undergoing treatment.  If your job is physically stressful, the doctor may ask you to consider “light duty” for a short period of time.  

In most cases, the answer is YES!  If you have had metal implants, unfortunately, you are not a candidate for spinal decompression.