Disk decompression therapy is a non-surgical treatment option for bulging disks of the spine. If you have back or neck pain--or have been diagnosed with a "bulging" or "herniated" disk--this may be an option for you. Some refer to this therapy as spinal traction, but it's not the same thing.

Decompression Therapy

When a disk becomes compressed, it pushes out and creates a bulge. According to Dr. Rob Gottesman, Colorado chiropractor, disk decompression therapy creates a space between the disks through negative pressure. The pressure causes the disk to be "sucked" back into the spinal column. Decompression allows water, oxygen and blood to flow to the reabsorbed disk. This helps it heal.

Conditions Benefited

Disk decompression therapy is claimed to help herniated or bulging disks, spinal stenosis, pinched nerves, low back pain, degenerative disk disease, some leg pain, sciatica and neck pain.

Treatment Equipment

A decompression table is used. You might wear harnesses around the pelvic and thoracic (mid-back) region during treatment. You might have heat, cold or electrical stimulation applied before or after treatments. Many chiropractors offer decompression disk therapy.

Treatment Length

Each decompression session will be about 20 to 45 minutes. A typical treatment would be somewhere between 20 and 28 treatments, according to AmericanSpinal.com. Total treatment time could be a month or two.

Considerations

Since decompression therapy helps water to re-enter the disks and stimulate healing, being well-hydrated is critical to success. AmericanSpinal.com recommends getting at lease a half-gallon of pure water daily. You will likely be unable to tolerate this therapy under certain conditions, such as pregnancy.

Source:

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression

Decompression Study

The Joint

More Information:

Spinal Disc Decompression

Decompression Tables