Shooting pain, tingling, and weakness caused by compressed nerve roots — decompression directly relieves the pressure at the source.
A pinched nerve — medically called radiculopathy — occurs when a spinal nerve root is compressed, stretched, or irritated as it exits the spinal canal through a small opening called the foramen. This compression can be caused by a herniated disc pressing against the nerve, degenerative bone spurs narrowing the foramen, thickened ligaments, or spinal stenosis. When a nerve root is compressed, it sends pain, abnormal sensations, and weakness along the entire pathway that nerve supplies. Cervical radiculopathy affects the neck and radiates into the arms and hands, while lumbar radiculopathy affects the lower back and radiates into the legs and feet. Radiculopathy is one of the most disabling spinal conditions due to the far-reaching nature of its symptoms.
Nerve tissue is among the slowest-healing tissue in the body — but only if given the chance to recover. When a nerve is left under chronic compression, the damage accumulates. Initially the nerve is simply irritated, causing pain and tingling. Left untreated, the compression causes progressive demyelination (damage to the nerve's protective sheath), leading to numbness, then muscle weakness, and ultimately permanent nerve damage and atrophy. The earlier decompression therapy begins to relieve the compression, the less damage accumulates and the faster the nerve can recover. Patients who act quickly often see dramatic improvements; those who wait years may have permanent deficits that can never fully resolve.
Schedule a consultation with our doctors to see if spinal decompression is the right fit for your condition.