Is Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression just expensive traction?

San Francisco Spinal Decompression Doctor Comments:

We have been helping herniated disc patients in San Francisco for almost 20 years now with our unique brand of chiropractic. About 5 years ago we added nonsurgical spinal decompression into the mix which made our back pain and neck pain outcomes even better.

Nonsurgical spinal decompression or spinal disc decompression is done on a very expensive machine that is designed and built to treat neurovascular compression syndromes such as bulging discs, herniated discs, spinal stenosis (soft tissue), facet syndrome, and spinal disc degeneration. The machine we use cost around $150,000 and it treats both cervical and lumbar disc herniations and disc compression syndromes.

There are many manufacturers of high-end spinal disc decompression machines and for the most part they all work well. However...there are also many cheap machines out there that masquerade as spinal decompression machines or are advertised as nonsurgical spinal decompression machines...and some are just regular old traction devices...there is a big difference.

So what is the difference between non surgical spinal decompression and traction?

Well lets start with the similarities first. Both spinal decompression machines and traction machines pull on either the lumbar spine or the cervical spine. And both require some sort of a harness device to connect you to the machine. But that's where the similarities end.

Nonsurgical spinal decompression machines are fully computerized and contain a bio-feedback mechanism that enables them to sense a patients muscle guarding response to the treatment. The spinal decompression machine is then able to adjust the force of pull in response to this information while at the same time maintaining a constant pull (very important).

The muscle guarding response is what makes conventional traction contraindicated for many herniated disc patients. You can cause severe injury if you pull too much on muscles that are trying to protect an injured area such as a herniated or bulging lumbar disc. The pull must be "just right".

So, is there a difference between spinal decompression and traction? Yes, and it's a big one.

Traction just pulls, which could make the problem worse. Nonsurgical spinal decompression adapts and adjust to the patients natural muscle guarding response and makes the treatment process much more safe and effective.

In fact, many of our San Francisco disc herniation patients have already tried traction...and some say  it made them worse.  Most say it was very uncomfortable. 

So do your homework and think twice before you do conventional traction for your herniated disc.

And for the people that tell you that spinal decompression is just expensive traction...well I guess they just have an agenda (or are uneducated about it)...because I don't know why they would say that...because it's just not true.Check-out our YouTube channel and watch our many spinal decompression testimonials. 

To find out if you are a candidate for nonsurgical spinal decompression at our San Francisco Spinal Decompression Center, please call 415-392-2225 and mention this blog post for a complimentary consultation.

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Comments

[Dr. Nona Djavid]

Spinal Decompression focuses on the level at which the nerve is pinched or where the disc herniation is and thus it is a very specific treatment for patients suffering from chronic lower back pain, disc herniations, sciatica, disc bulges, and more importantly surgery candidates. So many of my patients in Newport Beach will schedule their appointment for surgery and end up not going through with it, because they get such good results from non-surgical spinal decompression therapy.

[Bruce Bell]

Good information. Additionally, current medical research demonstrates the major difference between true nonsurgical spinal decompression and traction is that traction is capable of only slightly reducing pressure within the disc, and at times can actually cause increased pressure by eliciting muscle guarding. True Decompression has been proven to reverse the intradiscal pressure, resulting in a suction effect that draws bulging, protruding or extruded material back into the disc, as well as oxygen, water, and growth factors which stimulate regeneration within the disc. We have pre-DRX and post-DRX MRI's which demonstrate this remarkable effect at the South Coast Spine Center in San Diego.