Herniated Disc Healing - Information You Must Know About Herniated Disc Healing

What is a herniated disc?

A herniated disc occurs when one of the spinal discs fails to act as a shock absorber for the spine due to damage, injury, wear and tear, or rupture. On its own, this condition doesn't cause any pain. The actual back pain that a person with a herniated disc is due to the shift in pressure from the ruptured disc to the actual spinal cord. This results in numbness or pain.

How is a herniated disc healed?

Fortunately, about 90% of people suffering from this condition heal within 6 months following non-surgical treatment. Doctors usually recommend non-surgical therapies first before considering surgery in order to reduce side effects and complications that surgery brings about. Bed rest, exercise, medication, and therapy for the pain are usually done in order to alleviate the symptoms of a herniated disc. An example of a common therapy is the spinal decompression therapy that is known to aid faster herniated disc healing.

What is spinal decompression therapy?

A very popular choice among those looking to usher in faster healing for their herniated disc is the spinal decompression therapy. This therapy is done by a chiropractor, and is a non-surgical aid to help the spinal column heal the ruptured disc faster than the normal recovery period.

How is spinal decompression therapy done?

Spinal decompression therapy involves the use of a computer-controlled mechanism that targets the affected area of the back and soothes the pain by the use of a series of computer-aided methods. First, the patient is positioned on the treatment table and adjusted so that the correct area of the back can be targeted. The process largely involves the simulation of anti-gravity and the pulling of surrounding discs so that fluid and other spinal nutrition can flow more smoothly into the affected area. This is a painless and gentle process where patients typically feel only a slight pulling sensation intermittently. This is usually followed by the application of an electronic muscle simulation to prevent pain of the surrounding muscles.

How often is this treatment supposed to be done?

Some patients report a drastic improvement after just one session; others feel a huge pain lifted away from their backs after a couple of sessions. In general, the advised number of sessions runs from 15 to 20, depending on the individual case of each patient. Should you choose to opt for spinal decompression as an alternative therapy for herniated disc healing, you can choose to discontinue at any time, depending on how well you feel. If you think you do not need any more sessions, you can stop your therapy anytime.

Many people looking for herniated disc healing therapies go to a chiropractor to undergo spinal decompression. It has also been found out through numerous clinical studies and researches that there is a high correlation between this therapy and faster herniated disc healing. Aside from its non-surgical nature, this therapy promotes back strength and natural healing through supplemental exercises and muscle strength enhancement to support back weight and pressure that may cause more pain.