Spinal nerves can experience stress from a variety of sources, the most common sources being herniated and bulging discs. When a degenerative condition causes the discs between the vertebrae to tear or bulge beyond normal perimeters, the surrounding spinal nerves have less room to travel in the spinal canal and can become painfully pinched.

The solution is to ease the disc material back into place and enlarge the nerve pathways (foramina) surrounding the spine. Decompression tables can help to provide nerve decompression in the spine, without surgery, easing symptoms of numbness, tingling, weakness and pain. Read on to learn more about how these decompression tables work and what alternatives are available for relief.

How decompression tables work

Decompression tables come in a variety of forms. Some use inversion techniques, while others use traction and negative pressure. The general principle is the same — to stretch the spine so spinal anatomy can be properly realigned and nerve compression can be released.

Should you choose to try decompression tables as part of your treatment, you will be strapped to a decompression table and your neck and back will be stretched either manually or electronically. Decompression usually requires several sessions each week at around 30 to 45 minutes.

Decompression tables help many people, although there are some drawbacks:

• The treatments can be costly
• Treatment requires a sizable time commitment
• Decompression tables do not directly treat the damaged portion of the spine that is causing neural compression

Also, any immediate relief you feel from decompression tables will most likely be temporary. Usually, patients require several months of decompression sessions before finding any lasting relief.

Alternatives to decompression tables

In many cases, a herniated or bulging disc will heal on its own through a process called reabsorption, in which the body breaks down extruded disc material and absorbs it back into the bloodstream. This will usually occur with a regimen of conservative treatment like pain medication, low-impact exercise and short periods of rest.

If you have already tried conservative therapies for several weeks or months, and have not found relief, we invite you to learn about the minimally invasive surgery techniques offered at USA Spine Care. Our goal is to help you achieve pain relief from nerve compression while receiving the best care and comfort available. Contact us to learn more about how our procedures can help you find lasting relief.

Our esteemed surgical team specializes in a variety of minimally invasive procedures that help to relieve nerve compression. These minimally invasive techniques are safer and effective alternatives to traditional open neck and back surgery. Should you choose minimally invasive surgery, your muscles will be separated, not cut or torn as with traditional open neck and back surgery.

Other benefits to our minimally invasive spine surgery include the following:

• Small incision
• Less surgical blood loss
• No lengthy recovery
• Performed on an outpatient basis
• Patient recommendation score of 98 out of 100
• Patient satisfaction score of 98
• Board-certified+ surgeons
• Patients are up and walking within a few hours of surgery

Learn more about minimally invasive decompression surgery

USA Spine Care is the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery and has helped more than 75,000 patients find relief from chronic neck or back pain. Determine if you are a potential candidate for our minimally invasive decompression procedures by reaching out to our dedicated team today and asking for a free MRI review.* We can help you get back to the activities you have been missing out on.