Should You Consider Spinal Decompression as an Alternative to Back Surgery?

While back surgery is often recommended for people suffering from severe instances of back pain, there are far too many people whose surgery fails to bring them lasting relief from discomfort. This not altogether rare occurrence is referred to as failed back surgery syndrome. For people who were suffering with herniated discs, sciatica, or other injuries to their spines, a failure of surgery to produce long-term relief from pain can be very difficult to deal with.

Unfortunately, herniated discs are not easy to repair, and surgery may not result in as positive outcome for patients. Back surgery can also cause complications with the bad disc or new discs. As well, back injuries themselves can last far longer than the 6-12 weeks that make up many disability and rehabilitation guidelines. A severe injury of a disc or other tissues of the lower back -- especially ligaments -- can take years to recover from until the pain is finally gone or significantly reduced.

When surgery fails, patients are often recommended a number of movements to practice, exercises to complete, physical therapists to consult with, and other pain management protocols. Typically, if back surgery fails to facilitate healing from an injury, a second surgical procedure is not done. If the original procedure was not successful, less invasive treatments are used in the hopes of addressing different but related issues causing or exacerbating the pain.

For some patients, though, spinal decompression should be considered as a treatment for lower back pain. This is an alternative form of back injury treatment and works on the discs and vertebrae of the spine to reduce compressive loads on the tissues. A machine, the DRX9000, is used to decompress the tissues through the use of traction. As the joints are decompressed, circulation of oxygen and nutrients are able to reach the injured tissues and begin the healing process in the body. There is often less circulation to the discs and ligaments of the spine, so a procedure like spinal decompression that helps to drive nutrients to the injured areas can help promote healing.

The main benefit of spinal decompression therapy is that it is noninvasive and does not require any type of surgical incisions or even a trip to the hospital. Many chiropractors and clinics have their own DRX9000 machines and can do the procedure in-house. This makes the treatment more timely and more convenient for a large number of people who are unsure about having back surgery or need relief faster than a hospital may be able to schedule.

Also, spinal decompression has thus far proven to be safe and effective relative to lower back surgeries. People who undergo the treatment report less pain than they had before the procedure. This is important because the true test of any lower back rehabilitation is to reduce or eliminate pain in the area when stationary and when moving. If spinal decompression can lead to fewer instances of painful movement in clients, it can be included in the patient's rehabilitation program.