Many patients will find the relief from pain with chiropractic spinal manipulation performed periodically. However, when chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, massage therapy, epidurals, or surgery haven’t been effective in relieving your back pain, your chiropractor has another form of treatment that may be right for you. If you believe you may be a candidate for spinal decompression therapy, here are some questions and answer that may help you know the facts:

• How many treatments will it take before I see results? Most patients report a significan reduction in pain after the first few sessions, and typically by the second week.
• How long does it take to complete a spinal decompression treatment? One session typically will last about an hour, and while generally lying in a comfortable position.
• Do I qualify for Spinal Decompression Therapy? There are many conditions that can be successfully treated using spinal decompression therapy, including herniated discs, bulging discs, degenerative disc disease and failed back surgery. Proper patient selection is essential to obtain favorable outcomes.
• What will exclude me from spinal decompression therapy? Appliances such as pedicle screws and rods, pregnancy, lumbar fusion less than six months old, metastatic cancer, severe osteoporosis, recent compression fracture of lumbar spine, plus other issues that your chiropractor will inform you of and discuss with you.
• Are there any side effects? Most patients do not experience any side effects. It is totally safe and comfortable for both the patient and the operator.
• How does spinal decompression separate each vertebra and allow for decompression? Decompression is achieved by using a specific combination of spinal positioning and varying the degree and intensity of force. Spinal decompression creates a negative pressure or a vacuum inside the disc, causing the disc to pull in the herniation. The increase in negative pressure causes the flow of blood and nutrients back into the disc, allowing the body's natural response to heal the injury and re-hydrate the disc.
• How does spinal decompression therapy differ from traction? Traction does not address the source of the problem and can actually trigger the body's normal response to stretching by creating painful muscle spasms that worsen the pain in the affected area.
• Can spinal decompression be used for patients that have had spinal surgery? Many patients have found success with Spinal Decompression after a failed back surgery.

The chiropractors at McKim Chiropractic specialize in spinal decompression therapy using the DRS Protocol™, a non-surgical treatment for back pain associated with spinal and disc problems. Call McKim Chiropractic today for more information and to schedule a consultation. Following a thorough examination to see if you are a candidate for spinal decompression therapy, a course of treatment will be customized uniquely for you. Our licensed and certified staff is happy to help the residents of Nampa, ID achieve health wholeness.