Decompression treatment is an effective procedure for relieving back pain. A qualified healthcare professional can help you understand all aspects of this procedure. Spinal decompression treatment and therapy are procedures for treating the acute and chronic pain that is the result of bulging, herniated, and/or degenerated discs. Decompression treatment is divided into two categories, surgical and non-invasive, and each has its own parameters. Surgical Spinal Decompression Treatment - Surgical Decompression treatment is an invasive procedure designed to relieve pressure (compression) to the spinal cord as well as nerve roots. This procedure has about an 85% success rate of relieving pain. Patients who undergo this treatment can expect to stay in the hospital four to five days, will be given medications to control pain, and can expect a lengthy recovery period, which will include regular physical therapy sessions. As with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks including infection, allergic reaction to anesthesia, and nerve damage to name a few. Also, pain relief does not mean that the underlying cause has been healed. Your surgeon and the medical staff will thoroughly review all aspects of the procedure making sure you understand all the risks and recuperative processes. Another invasive, though less so, procedure that has come into practice is Percutaneous Laser Surgery. This procedure utilizes local anesthesia and is performed on an outpatient basis. The process involves making a small incision in the back and using a small laser to evaporate excess liquid that has accumulated in the disc. Recovery takes less than a week and is a third the cost of surgical decompression. Non-surgical Spinal Decompression Treatment - This type of decompression is a non-invasive, drug free treatment for back pain from disc degeneration, bulging, and herniation. The procedure involves using a specialized device that slowly and gently separates the vertebrae; as they separate, the pressure within the discs is lessened creating a small vacuum. This vacuum, in effect, pulls the disc’s fluid back toward its center relieving the pressure on the spinal nerves. Therapy is conducted on an outpatient basis and lasts less than half-an-hour. Most patients report positive results in as little as six visits. As with invasive treatments, relief from pain does not mean that the underlying causes of back pain have been healed, so it is critical to keep working with your healthcare professional in order to realize the full benefits. The main benefits to this method of decompression treatment are that it is pain-free, non-invasive, and there is no time lost to recuperation. Invasive (except laser) and non-invasive decompressions have had extensive research studies conducted. The effectiveness of both has been well-documented and each has been successful in relieving pain. In order of preference in the medical community, patients should be recommended to pursue non-invasive measures first, as surgery, though the success rate is high, is viewed as a final option. Laser treatment is still a relatively new treatment procedure, and the literature chronicling its applications is limited. Its appeal rests on being minimally invasive, a short recovery time, and its considerably lower cost. The lack of data concerning long-term success is a drawback, but that information will become available over time. www.HealthSourceOfWilmington.com

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