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Lumbar Disk Decompression

Lumbar disk decompression is gaining popularity as a non surgical technique for low back pain. Many patient's have experience chronic low back pain and undergone numerous treatments for low back pain.

A lumbar disk has two distinct layers, the outside fibrous layer and the inside nucleus pulposus. The nucleus is pulposus is gel like. It is similar to a jelly doughnut, the thick outer layer surrounding the gel. Disk herniations involve the nucleus pulposus bulging the fibrous layer toward the lumbar nerve. This can cause painful radiating lumbar pain.

The procedure separates two lumbar bones by a few millimeters, which decreases the lumbar disk pressure. Decreasing lumbar disk pressure can reduce the mechanisms that cause back pain. Increased lumbar joint motion and nutrient blood flow have been indicated by lumbar distraction.

Traction or lumbar disk decompression can decrease back pain by improving the mechanisms that cause pain. Disk decompression decreases the pressure on the lumbar disk, facet joints, opens the neuroforaminal canal, and decreases the stress on the fibrous disk layer. All have been associated with low back pain.

Lumbar disk decompression is an effective treatment for treating low back pain, especially if the decompression is combined with proper strength and stability exercises. Disk decompression decreases the pain and the exercises stabilize the lumbar spine.

The lumbar spine is controlled by a series of muscles that stabilize the spinal joints. With chronic back pain, weakness, and time the muscles often lose coordination and stabilization. Proper exercise can activate and strengthen the weak muscles to further improve back pain.

Lumbar disk decompression can be summarized into three phases.

1. Decompress the intervertebral space
2. Mobilize and strengthen the lumbar spine muscles
3. Educate and prevent further injury

Some patient's have reported undergoing lumbar disk decompression therapy without an extensive exercise program. Going for disk decompression decreased their low back pain, but the muscles could not stabilize the spine and low back pain returned. The core and lumbar muscles were not rehabilitated and could not stabilize the spine through its entire range of motion. This increases the risk and chance of returning low back pain.

Strengthening and stabilizing the lumbar spine reduces the risk of future reoccurrence of back pain.

Our treatment involves:

1. Treating the pain with active and passive therapies. This can involve heat, ice, electric, ultrasound, cold laser, or massage therapy.
2. Posture Training - correcting postural habits and postures that comprise the low back. This can include sitting, standing, and working postures.
3. Stabilization - Core muscle stabilization and strengthening exercises. Improving lumbar muscle patterns, strength, and endurance of the lumbar spine.
4. Work, ADL, and Sport Specific exercises - Exercises to stabilize the lumbar spine for specific work, home, and sports activities. It is important to strengthen the low back to participate in your specific activities, whether it is sitting at the computer, golf, or sports with the kids.

Lumbar disk decompression therapy and rehabilitation has several specific goals

• Restore function
• Restore Pre-injury activities
• Reduce risk of future injury

The level of pain and improvement varies person to person, but a combination therapy of disk decompression and rehabilitation improves outcomes for back pain.

Testimonials:

I had low back pain for years, and they helped me get rid of my back pain. - C.D. Chandler, AZ

I had horrible low back and sciatic pain for a month, and they helped get rid of it. - E.S Chandler, AZ

My chronic low back pain prevented me from participating in my hobbies, and now I don't think twice. My low back pain is gone. - R.R. Chandler, AZ

I have had low back pain for man years, and now my low back feels great. - L.S Chandler, AZ

I have tried many treatments for my low back pain, but this was the best. - M.M. Chandler, AZ

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