Spinal Decompression: Frequently Asked Questions

Spinal decompression therapy is used to treat people with lasting back pain that is disruptive to their daily lives. Pain relief is thought to be achieved by lowering the pressure on a patient’s discs, allowing herniated disc material and areas of bulging to be drawn back into place. Deciding which approach to spinal decompression in Naples, FL is right for you is a big decision, and it’s good to have all your questions answered beforehand. Here is a list of some frequently asked questions that will be helpful as you deliberate, and if you would like to talk more about your options, contact the professionals at Hiler Chiropractic & Neurology today:

• What conditions does spinal decompression alleviate? There are many disc problems that can be alleviated by spinal decompression therapy, including back and neck pain, bulging discs, degenerated discs and herniated, ruptured or protruding discs of the cervical and lumbar spine. Those who suffer from joint arthrosis, facet syndrome, sciatica, mild spondylolisthesis or stenosis can also find relief from spinal decompression.
• What does nonsurgical therapy involve? Spinal decompression in Naples, FL is a type of traction therapy that gently stretches the spine, taking pressure off spinal discs, creating negative space to relieve neck and back pain and promoting a healing environment for bulging, degenerating or herniated discs. A doctor fits the patient in a harness around the pelvis and trunk of the body as the patient lies facedown or face-up on a computer-controlled table, which is customized to each patient’s needs. Patients receive about 28 treatments over five to seven weeks, with each treatment lasting 30 to 45 minutes. Some patients start to feel relief after one treatment, while others don’t feel relief until the seventh week. This is the most common therapy, but other treatments like VAX-D nonsurgical spinal decompression, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, heat or cold therapy are also options.
• How does VAX-D nonsurgical spinal decompression work? Hiler Chiropractic & Neurology is a leader in VAX-D Spinal Decompression treatment, having helped more than 25,000 patients. The VAX-D Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression unit isolates the problem areas and intermittently “milks” the fluid back into the disc without overloading the body’s protective mechanism. The unit adjusts tension to relax and confuse paraspinal muscles and allow distractive forces to decompress the intervertebral disc space, allowing application of distractive force in a non-linear or logarithmic way.
• What does surgical therapy involve? Surgical spinal decompression procedures relieve symptoms caused by pressure, or compression, on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. Types of surgeries include discectomy, laminectomy, foraminotomy, osteophyte removal and corpectomy. The risks include infection, bleeding, blood clots, nerve or tissue damage and allergic reaction to anesthesia. After being hospitalized for approximately five days and going through rehabilitation, patients should experience lasting results.
• What will it cost? The most accurate way to predict the cost of treatment is to discuss it with your doctor and insurance company. However, nonsurgical treatments range from $30 to $200 per treatment, meaning a series of treatments costs anywhere from $450 to $6,000. The cost of spinal decompression surgery will depend on the type of surgery a patient needs, but some of these surgeries can cost more than $100,000.

If you have any further questions about spinal decompression in Naples, FL or would like to make an appointment, contact Hiler Chiropractic & Neurology today.