Spinal decompression aims to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or the nerve roots that branch from it. When pressure comes from herniated or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, or bone spurs, it can cause back pain or weakness. Surgery is one treatment option, but it involves a recovery period that may last weeks or months. Here are some non-surgical options for spinal decompression:
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is often the first treatment a provider recommends for spinal decompression. A physical therapist begins with an evaluation of your posture, range of motion, strength, and the movements that trigger your symptoms. This information guides the therapist, and they use it to build a tailored treatment plan. Common therapy approaches include:
- Core strengthening: Exercises target the abdominal and lower back muscles that support the spine.
- Stretching: Hamstring, hip flexor, and piriformis stretches may reduce tension that pulls on the lower back.
- Mechanical traction: A motorized table or device gently stretches the spine to create more space between the vertebrae.
- Posture training: You learn safer ways to sit, lift, and bend during daily tasks.
Many plans include a home exercise program. Complete your assigned exercises between sessions, and tell your therapist if any movement increases pain or numbness. Your therapist may adjust the exercises as your symptoms change to keep your home routine aligned with your treatment needs.
Prescription Medication
Medication does not physically remove pressure from a nerve, but it targets pain and inflammation. These may make daily activity and physical therapy more manageable. Before writing a prescription, your doctor will review your health history, current medications, and kidney and liver function. They may prescribe:
- NSAIDs: Prescription-strength anti-inflammatory medication helps reduce inflammation around irritated nerves.
- Muscle relaxants: These may ease the muscle spasms that often accompany disc problems.
- Nerve pain medications: These affect nerve signaling, and they are sometimes prescribed for radiating pain, such as sciatica.
- Oral corticosteroids: A short course, often called a steroid taper, may reduce swelling during a flare-up.
Epidural Steroid Injections
If symptoms continue after several weeks of therapy and medication, your doctor may discuss an epidural steroid injection. During this outpatient procedure, a physician injects a corticosteroid, often mixed with a local anesthetic, into the epidural space around the spinal nerves. Fluoroscopy guides the needle into position. The injection can reduce inflammation around the spinal nerves, and symptom relief makes movement easier during recovery.
Mild soreness at the injection site is common. Pain relief may last weeks to months, but some patients notice no changes. Because of steroid-related side effects, providers typically limit the number of injections a patient receives each year.
Schedule Spinal Decompression
Physical therapy, prescription medication, and epidural steroid injections each address spinal compression in a different way. Some treatment plans combine multiple methods, but the right approach depends on your diagnosis, medical history, and personal goals. A consultation gives you time to ask questions and review your options with a provider. Contact a spinal specialist today to schedule a consultation and learn more about spinal treatments.
