Anyone have experience with spinal decompression

Posted by ichbindck @ichbindck, Dec 6, 2024

I have tried just about everything with constant back pain from spinal stenosis. A spinal decompression machine is designed to
stretch and lengthen the spine, reversing the effects of natural aging and spine compression. Has anyone tried this and what are results?

I am doing this at a medical facility under direction of a doctor and a physical therapist on a commercial machine. Theory is this non-invasive, non-surgical pain relief therapy gently separates discs, creating negative pressure, which draws in water, oxygen, and nutrients.

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@bonez3861

I did spinal decompression for a bad back and neck injury for 5 months at 4x a week. It really did help my back and prevented me from needing back surgery. My neck unfortunately was to damaged. Neck surgery failed also. So have bad chronic pain in my neck. But I do recommend it for the back. Good luck to you!!

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I have chronic back pain. I have both kyphosis and scoliosis. Do you think this type of spinal decompression will work on my twisted spine?

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@oceanm1

I have chronic back pain. I have both kyphosis and scoliosis. Do you think this type of spinal decompression will work on my twisted spine?

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I honestly don't know. I would ask your doctor his opinion. In theory it should help. But I would ask your doctors. Good luck to you!

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My husband had a neck surgery, too far gone for other treatment. They x-rayed his whole spine and saw 3 compressed discs in the lower back and wanted to schedule surgery for them. He saw an ad in the paper for decompression machine called the DRX9000 in a chiropractor's office. He had treatments 4x a week for 1 month. It relieved him for 15 years. He's since had to have surgery. He wishes he had tried the DRX again before giving in. The back surgeries have made things worse, and no one can tell him if the NEXT one they want to do will solve anything.

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@bonez3861

I honestly don't know. I would ask your doctor his opinion. In theory it should help. But I would ask your doctors. Good luck to you!

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Thank you

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@salliesanford3134

I have suffered from Pudendal Nureliga for 10 years,all the time going progressively worse. I am being treted at Southwestern now. I have had repeated nerve blocks ,physical therapy , massage, medication , two Oblation's . Nothing has helped, I am in excuratiang pain and living life in bed, It is basicaly no life .A skilled plastic surgeon
confirmed it as Alcock Syndrome. I have no doubt he is an excellent surgeon. I however am searching for a surgeon that is an expert in Pudendal Surgery and decompression of the nerve that is entraped . Recommendations of positive results would help ! Please recommend a surgeon that specializes in this horrible issue causing unbearable pain.

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Same situation here anytime I’m not moving around. I have to lay in bed to keep it from being compressed. The only help I found was through a support group for predental neuralgia on line. I don’t know what to do about mine. I had three ablations that helped but nothing that works completely. I have to wear a loose clothing not sit for periods of time, it’s just a life changer. I wish I could find out something that works. At least ablation. Makes my life livable.

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I have never tried decompression therapy, but I am interested in. Does it help post-therapy? If so, how long does it last?

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Hi ich,

Responding a little late here. I was experiencing severe cramping in the backs of my legs. After an MRI, the Dr said she thought this was from tight lower back muscles. For reference, I have lumbar stenosis, scoliosis, one vertebra sliding over another, degenerative arthritis, and degenerative discs.

You describe pain in your lower back. My understanding is that spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal) usually results in sciatica and pain in the back of, usually, just one leg. It is painful.

As for spinal decompression, my physician suggested that I regularly stretch my lower back. There are many ways to safely do this and you can check them out online. I use a machine that has be grab a set of handles and then lean gently back and hold that position (it looks like I'm hugging a medicine ball). Something similar is called a "roman chair" stretch, but you have to lean far forward and then raise your torso back up. I would not do this without checking with a spine Dr first.

I think this stretch does work to relieve a tight lower back and provide some relief from tight vertebra pressing on nerves in the lower back.

Another way to help the lumbar spine is to work regularly on your "core" muscles. There are a lot of exercises online for this.

I need to stress, before you do any stretching for your lower back or core exercises, check with a good spine Dr. I'm 70 y/o, recently dropped 30 lbs from 190 to 160 and I'm in the gym everyday. We are all different and that's why checking with a good spine-health Dr is so important.

Finally, I had a procedure called a laminotomy on my S1, L5, and L4 vertebra about 10 years ago. This was done rather than fusion. It involves a small incision, and the Dr. drilling holes in the back of these three vertebra. This relieves pressure from stenosis as well as leaving the integrity of the vertebrae mostly intact. The last course of action is either a laminectomy (removal of a significant amount of vertebra) and/or spinal fusion, and I have avoided that so far with regular core strengthening and stretching.

I wish you and all others here the best in battling lower back problems. And again, please consult with a good spinal surgeon first!

Joe

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Be very careful! My sis had stenosis and many other back issues. During her second treatment on the spinal decompression machine, it was speeded up; she left unable to walk; could not feed herself; we had to rush her to Jax Mayo for fusion; can’t remember exact names of surgeries but was done front and back. She is still using walker after several years, but she did regain ability to feed herself and drive short distances.

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I did this 3x weekly for 9 weeks. But they called it traction. It did stretch my spine and help for several months. I recently had an updated MRI on lower lumbar. Levoconex curvature along with 2 pages of medical terms I'm anxious to talk with my pain dr. about this month. I have terrible pain in my legs if I sleep on either side at night. Anyone else?

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