Can Spinal Decompression Therapy Work With Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in the body, originates from your lower back and travels under the buttock muscles all the way down the legs and feet. When it is being pressed on, it gets inflamed or irritated which may give rise to painful symptoms. This pain is called sciatica.

Most people obtain relief from sciatic nerve pain without resorting to surgical treatments. In addition, they are able to return to their usual activities after a few weeks of having nonsurgical spinal decompression. Even more, many patients who underwent disc decompression experienced very good results.

Sciatic Nerve Pain

Sciatica is a painful symptom caused by an irritation of sciatic nerve. The pain is usually felt at the back of the thigh. Herniated disc, which is the most common cause, presses the nerve and cause it to get irritated or inflamed.

Symptoms

The pain from sciatica may vary from infrequent and irritating to severe and debilitating. Sometimes the sensation is like a jolt or electric shock. It may get more painful when coughing or sneezing. Symptoms may aggravate if you are sitting for a long period. Usually, only one lower extremity is affected.

Common symptoms of sciatica include:

• Pain in the rear or leg that becomes worse when sitting
• Burning or tingling sensation down the leg
• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot
• Constant pain on one side of the rear
• Shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up

Herniated Disc

A spinal disc problem, herniated disc is the most common cause of sciatica. Spinal discs are pads of cartilage located between the vertebrae. Filled with a gel-like material, they maintain flexibility of your spine. The discs cushion your vertebrae to absorb stress when you move.

However, if the disc's outer covering tears or herniates, the gel may ooze and press on a nerve root. Constant pressure irritates the nerve and can cause swelling and inflammation and the symptoms will start to occur.

Nonsurgical Disc Decompression

Nonsurgical spinal decompression is a type of motorized traction that therapeutically helps in correcting disc-related problems. It works by gently stretching the spine, taking off pressure from spinal discs. The negative pressure of decompression retracts the bulging or herniated disc, eliminating the pressure from the affected nerves. The negative pressure also draws in nutrients, water, and oxygen into the disc to promote hydration and healing.

Using only drugs or injections to treat the chronic pain does not promise long-term relief. They only work to mask the pain instead of treating the cause itself.

Because spinal decompression therapy works directly on the cause of the problem, it offers long lasting relief in comparison to drugs and injections. Also, this treatment method is a safe alternative to drugs and surgery.

If a person is a good candidate for spinal decompression therapy, there is a good chance that he/she may get the real cause treated and experience long lasting relief from sciatica.