As the typical pain and mobility chart (below) shows, the Non Surgical Spinal Decompression (NSSD) journey is a slow but steady road to pain and mobility improvement. Like in many other treatment journeys, pain may move around, symptoms may come and go or plateau. Pain may even get worse before it gets better – which can be frustrating regardless of its severity. For example, when pain returns, even at a lower level than before, you may feel that you are back to square one. This occurs because the brain cannot remember the severity of pain.
How Non Surgical Spinal Decompression Relieves Pain
The secret to success with Non Surgical Spinal Decompression is two-fold. This comes down to the precise combination of repetition and increased force as part of your customised treatment program.
Force cannot be increased between treatments if treatments are performed too far apart. The body must “remember” the force to be able to embrace the next stretch. Over time the body responds positively to the increase in stretching force and starts to make physical changes. These changes, after repeated treatments and increases in force, are what reduces the pain and improves the mobility. Once mobility is fully restored to the problematic area of the spine, pain reduction will follow. Once the maximum stretch is reached, any pinched or compressed nerves will be released, and pain will cease.
In the Typical Pain and Mobility Chart we can identify three key patterns:
1st: The blue line represents mobility improves in a fairly steady line with subtle increases over time.
2nd: The red pain line fluctuates which represents the common pain journey. While all pain cases are unique most commonly we see both increases and decreases in pain before we reach the goal of living pain-free.
For patients who have referred pain down their arms or legs, such as Sciatica which is pain travelling down the leg, there is a 3rd stage.
3rd: The green referred pain line is the last thing to improve. Only when the force is at its maximum (e.g., at the force a particular patient’s body needs to move a bulging disc off the nerve or release a pinched nerve) will the pain go. The pain will cease when the pressure is taken off the nerve or the nerve is no longer inhibited or pinched in any way.
Non Surgical Spinal Decompression Vs Surgical Intervention
Relieving pain with Non Surgical Spinal Decompression treatment is a simple, precise, yet sometimes frustrating journey given the pain journey previously discussed. However, when considered as an alternative to surgical incisions, risk of infection, serious pain and the need for addictive pain medication, time off work combined with slow rehabilitation and maintenance exercises, Non Surgical Spinal Decompression is a relatively short treatment program to achieve your pain and mobility goals.
Another example of where a prescribed course of treatment is required to achieve a successful outcome is knee replacement surgery. Extensive rehabilitation exercises are required to restore the mobility of the knee after the surgery. The full course of rehabilitation exercises as prescribed is essential in order to achieve and maintain that mobility. This is just another example of how every path to living pain-free is a journey that requires time and commitment.
Are you Ready to Make a Physical Change?
If you are ready to see what the journey towards relieving your chronic neck or back pain looks like for you, please get in touch with us here at Non Surgical Spinal Care. We can assist in relieving your pain caused by a pinched or compressed nerve, sciatica, bulging or herniated disc(s), degenerative disc disease and other spinal conditions. Read here to learn more about our treatments and how we treat these chronic conditions: nonsurgicalspinalcare.com.au/table-treatments/
