Should I Consider Spinal Decompression for My Sciatica Pain?

If you suffer from sciatica pain, you want answers. The sciatic nerve is sometimes known as the body’s “super highway,” because it’s the longest nerve. It starts at your lower back, splits in two, and runs down each leg. 

The role of the sciatic nerve is to communicate with your brain and control movement and feeling in your lower body. However, it can be painful if any part of the nerve gets “pinched” or otherwise irritated. You might feel pain or tingling sensations in your lower back or legs.

Sciatica pain affects millions of people a year, with as many as 40% of Americans experiencing this type of pain at some point in their lives. If you’re one of them, you no doubt want to find a solution fast. 

At Joint Effort Chiropractic in White Plains, New York, our chiropractors help you find a solution to your sciatica pain. One effective therapy is called spinal decompression.

What causes sciatica pain?

A variety of conditions can put pressure on your sciatic nerve to cause pain, but among the most common are bulging and herniated discs.

The spine contains discs that cushion the vertebrae and act as shock absorbers. Each disc is jelly-like on the inside (the nucleus) and tough on the outside (the annulus). As you age, your discs degenerate, causing the annulus to weaken (bulging disc) or even tear (herniated disc).

The pain of a bulging or herniated disc can make it difficult to perform daily tasks. You might be unable to find a comfortable position whether you’re sitting, standing, or lying down. 

Spinal decompression therapy can help.

What’s spinal decompression? 

Spinal decompression is a therapy chiropractors use to relieve back and neck pain, including sciatica pain. Your chiropractor has you lie on a spinal decompression machine. The FDA cleared device, gently stretches your spine in a specific pull and then relax pattern to get the muscles to relax, and it can cause a vacuum effect. This reduction in pressure sucks the bulging or herniated disc material back towards the center of the disc and off the nerves. 

The gentle technique also helps pump the spinal fluid to flow in and around the discs and facilitates healing. 

Most spinal decompression treatment plans call for multiple sessions to help create enough space between the discs and the nerves or spinal cord. The sessions last between 20 and 25 minutes, depending on your unique situation. Spinal decompression is a natural, noninvasive way to treat bulging or herniated discs and other causes of spinal pain. 

Are you a good candidate for spinal decompression? 

Spinal decompression therapy is a safe and effective approach for most people experiencing pain associated with bulging discs, herniated discs, sciatica, or pinched nerves. 

Spinal decompression is unsuitable for pregnant women or people with very advanced osteoporosis or recent spinal fractures, or tumors.

If you’d like to see whether you’re a candidate for spinal decompression, our team at Joint Effort Chiropractic can evaluate your condition and suggest a suitable treatment. Call the office or book online today to start your journey to pain-free living.