Spinal Decompression Therapy

What is non-surgical spinal
decompression therapy?

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy (NSSD) is a relatively new non-surgical treatment for most spinal disc problems. It is the only non-surgical treatment currently available that is able to sufficiently relieve pressure on the disc, thus allowing the body to naturally heal itself. It is, by far, the least risky treatment offered.

Non-Surgical Decompression Treatment

Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy is administered using a sophisticated FDA-cleared machine that gently stretches the spine and decompresses the discs. Unlike traction devices, spinal decompression machines are able to sense your muscles’ resistance to the pulling forces and are able to reduce and then cycle the stretch so that your body does not resist the tension. Amazingly the spinal decompression machine is able to do this with little to no discomfort to the patient. This is because of the machine’s ability to comfortably remove the pressure on the discs so they are finally able to heal-much like what happens when you take pressure off of a sprained ankle. A key factor in non-surgical spinal decompression therapy is the slow, controlled stretching. This creates a vacuum which naturally draws bulging disc material back into place.

NSSD is rapidly becoming the treatment of choice (with an over 80% success rate for disc conditions). After a great deal of research, we chose to use the DRS system.

Explanation of Disc Problems

As you may already know, the most likely cause of your pain is nerve pressure caused by bulging or ruptured intervertebral disc tissue. In case you do not know, the intervertebral disc is the cushion like material that sits in between the vertebrae. The discs in your back keep the bones from rubbing together and give you the necessary flexibility to safely move your back. When the discs are injured or degenerate, lingering pain and impaired movement usually occur. See the picture below:

As you can see in the picture above, the ruptured disc material is pushing against a nerve which in most cases causes a great deal of pain. The critical thing to understand here is that disc tissue is one of the slowest healing tissues in the body and as a result, in most cases, if a disc problem goes untreated it is more likely to get worse, not better.

Due to normal everyday life, a typical disc injury or degenerated disc is constantly aggravated and made worse due to regular movement and the weight of the body pressing downward on the disc. As a result, the disc rarely is able to heal completely on its on. It is lot like what happens if someone breaks their foot and continues to walk on it—it never gets a chance to heal.

If you were to break your foot, you could easily have it put in a cast and stay of it by using crutches. Eventually your foot would heal. Unfortunately it is impossible to stop using your back or neck. Even if you are on bed rest, you are still using your back just by lying on it. Worse yet, you are allowing the back muscles to get weak which makes it easier to re-injure yourself when you finally do get out of bed. In order for your disc to heal optimally, pressure must be taken off of your spine – which is a very difficult thing to achieve considering gravity is constantly putting pressure on your discs every day of your life.

Considering how hard it is to take pressure off a disc to allow it to heal, it is no wonder there are so few effective options in permanently curing back and neck pain.

DRS™ Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is the only non-surgical treatment currently available that is able to sufficiently relieve pressure on the disc, thus allowing the body to naturally heal itself. This fact alone puts DRS™ Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression heads and shoulders above other treatment methods for most conditions.

You can easily compare other common treatments to Decompression here.

How do I find out if I am a candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy?

It all starts with an accurate diagnosis. To determine what treatment is most appropriate a thorough evaluation is the starting point. A detailed history is taken including:

• A review of medications, supplements, family history of illness.
• Review of all symptoms.
• Affects on sleep, work, activities of daily living, social and recreational activities.
• Previous testing (including reviews of reports.) Previous treatment. Previous accidents, injuries, hospitalizations and surgeries.

Following the history a specific physical examination is performed including:

• Spine Mobility Evaluation
• Balance Testing
• Othorpedic Testing
• Postural Evaluation
• Muscle Strength Testing
• Vitals
• Neurologic Testing
• Review of X-rays/CT or MRI Report
• Joint Evaluation

If additional testing such as x-rays, MRI/CT or electrodiagnostic evaluation is indicated they would be ordered. Once all of the necessary information is obtained Dr. Shelley meets with patients and family members to review the findings, diagnosis, and treatment options. To schedule an evaluation call Olympic Spine and Sports Therapy at 425-774-2411.

Gene's Story

OSST Gave Me My Life Back!

I had a very painful lower back and pinched nerve down my right leg which meant I was unable to concentrate. I was often irritable and always tired because I couldn’t sleep. I was concerned that I would never get back to normal. At 79, was this what I might have to live with for the rest of my life? I received a flyer about OSST and started treatment. I improved steadily with treatment and by the 6th week of treatment all my pain was gone. All the staff were very pleasant and positive about my treatment. Every step of the way was explained to me so that I knew what to expect. I’m back to doing all the things I always do like cooking, cleaning the house and yard, babysitting, working out, etc! What OSST gave me is my life back!  — Gene Summy