Hi my name is Dr. Steve Minors, of Rehab FX, in Austin, Texas. And today we are going to discuss cervical, non-surgical, spinal decompression. Non-surgical spinal decompression is a process by which negative pressure is established in the spine. And in this case we're talking about the cervical spine. If you imagine this to be the problem area, let's say this disc right here is bulging or herniated. Putting pressure on the nerve. We want to figure out a way to relieve the pressure. Take the pressure off of the nerve and rehabilitate the disc. So imagine this to be an Oreo cookie, this segment right here. This is an Oreo cookie, chocolate Oreo cookie and right here we have the creamy white center. Spinal decompression will pull the chocolate cookies apart, basically, creating negative pressure inside the creamy white center. So that is can actually absorb fluid and nutrients and become a healthier disc. In so doing, we can get pressure taken off the nerve. Because now, we can get some recession in the disc. Or, we can get the bulge to recede, or go back in. And, we get the outer wall of the disc, referred to as the annular wall, if there are any tears in it, to heal well. When surgery is performed in this area and there needs to be an incision made to the disc, the scar tissue itself can lead to pain for months, if not years, after. And so with non-surgical spinal decompression, this allows us to have less scar tissue and for potentially a better recovery. So for the patient who has pain that is radiating into the shoulder, down the arm, into the hand, spinal decompression may be indicated and be an effective modality for them to do or to try.
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