Find relief from back pain without surgery at Core Life Chiropractic with spinal decompression
By Mary Malik
Millions of people experience some level of back pain at some point in their lives. When that pain interrupts daily life and activities, it’s time to seek a solution. Dr. Pooja Patel, founder of Core Life Chiropractic, understands the debilitating effects of this kind of pain and offers a wide spectrum of treatment options. Newest among these is spinal decompression, a nonsurgical treatment that for many, offers a solution to lower-back and neck pain.
“The treatment involves motorized traction therapy to gently stretch the spine, allowing fluids, nutrients and oxygen to flow to relieve pressure and promote healing,” Dr. Patel says. “We offer a recommended series of spinal decompression treatments as part of a comprehensive program to relieve back and neck pain in our patients.”
Dr. Patel says the patient lays on a motorized table face up or down, depending on the recommended treatment. The body is gently pulled with a force of 30 to 50 percent of their body weight.
“The table is computerized and set by me according to the specifications of the patient,” Dr. Patel explains. “Sensors on the table read whether the patient’s muscles are resisting the stretch. If so, the table automatically reduces the force of the pull until the muscles relax. This allows the treatment to be painless and more effective in providing relief.”
Dr. Patel says patients review the procedure extremely favorably, reporting that treatments are actively pleasant and not merely pain-free.
“People often read or scroll on their phones during treatments,” Dr. Patel says. “And they feel immediate relief afterwards.”
The treatment works by slowly changing the position of the spine and creating negative pressure, allowing bulging discs to retract, taking pressure off the nerves.
“Spinal decompression offers a permanent result for many patients but it’s not for everyone,” Dr. Patel says. “If a disc is completely herniated, it will remain that way and decompression will not change that. There are other contraindications such as rods in your back, extreme osteoporosis, spinal fracture or a pars defect, which is a stress fracture of the bones of the lower spine. Anything that would cause instability in your spine would prohibit spinal decompression.”
That’s why Dr. Patel begins any spinal decompression treatment plan with an MRI or X-ray.
“Anyone offering spinal decompression shouldn’t skip this step,” Dr. Patel says. “It’s important not to guess what a patient’s needs are. I’m very specific in my plan and make sure before we start any kind of treatment that we will not be doing any harm.”
After Dr. Patel determines that spinal decompression is appropriate, treatments may begin. Sessions are decidedly noninvasive, taking from 8 to 12 minutes each, during which the patient remains fully clothed.
“Once the table is programmed for your particular treatment, it runs itself,” Dr. Patel says. “It’s fast, painless and offers immediate and lasting results for most people suffering with back and neck pain.”
Dr. Patel notes there are some cases when spinal surgery is recommended if nonsurgical treatments have not relieved the pain.
“Spinal decompression surgery usually takes place in the form of a laminectomy, discectomy or spinal fusion,” Dr. Patel says. “However, many patients find relief with a spinal decompression treatment plan like ours.”
Core Life Chiropractic is located at 20134 Van Aken Blvd. in Shaker Heights. For more information on all the services Dr. Patel provides to relieve neuropathy and leaky gut along with spinal decompression and to schedule a consultation, call 216-675-1710 or check the website CoreLifeChiro.com.