The Wilmington Spine & Joint Institute was established by Dr. Aaron Richardet a chiropractor placing the well-being and care of his patients at the forefront of everything he does. He understood the need to find a treatment for chronic pain that provided consistently successful outcomes and as a result focuses on long-term, non-surgical treatment using spinal decompression therapy.
By Chris Martin
If you've suffered from chronic back or knee pain all your life, you know how debilitating it is. Your back and knees are integral for virtually every type of movement, so chronic pain means the pain never subsides.
"Most of my patients come to me at their wit's end," says Dr. Richardet. "They've been to doctors, acupuncturists, and some have even had surgery with no success or relief from pain. My goal is to get the patients relief from chronic pain through a combination of non-invasive and non-surgical treatments."
One of those treatments is Spinal Decompression Therapy.
"Spinal decompression therapy is a groundbreaking treatment that involves the meticulous mechanical stretching of your spine," says Dr. Richardet. "It is a gentle, non-surgical way to instantly relieve disc-related pressure that builds upon the discs and nerves, stimulates blood flow through your spine, and promotes long-term healing."
The treatment is specific for disc problems of many varieties, such as bulging discs, herniated or ruptured discs, degenerated discs, sciatica, facet joint arthrosis, stenosis, and mild spondylisthesis. The task of relieving pain comes about from drawing areas of herniated disc back into place. Vital fluid and nutrients are also sucked back into the disc to rehydrate and renourish it. Decompression creates negative pressure within the disc, referred to as negative intra-discal pressure. This creates a vacuum to draw the bulging and herniated disc material back into the disc space and relieves pressure. In addition, decompression strengthens the ligaments that hold disc material in place.
"I've have undergone extended training in the delivery of decompression," says Dr. Richardet. "And I've dedicated a large portion of my chiropractic practice to the relief of severe and chronic lower back and neck pain. In most cases, patients only require a few weeks of treatment on an outpatient basis."
How Does it Work
Spinal decompression operates under the same basic principles chiropractors have been using for decades to stretch the spine and provide effective pain relief. The therapy is performed on a motorized traction table using advanced computer technology that moves the lower half of the table when activated while the upper half remains fixed. Personal treatment protocols are based on various factors, ranging from your body weight and spinal condition to the duration of your symptoms and your level of sensitivity.
How Long Does it Take
Spinal decompression treatment consists of about 24 sessions over a four to six-week period. Most patients report relief from their pain and other symptoms during the first few treatment sessions and most experience dramatic pain relief after completing their prescribed treatment program.
Common questions regarding spinal decompression:
1. Does the therapy hurt?
2. Can it worsen the spine condition?
3. Are there any side effects?
"If you go to skilled professionals who have a license to carry out spinal decompression therapy, then the answer to all of the above questions is no," says Dr. Richardet. "A thorough examination is performed before approving a patient as a candidate for spinal decompression. Many patients actually feel so comfortable during the treatment process that they fall asleep."
Dr. Richardet does emphasize that patients have to show consistency in attending the treatment sessions for them to be successful. "Part of our treatment is regularly motivating our patients to attend these sessions, see the results and live a pain-free life."
According to Dr. Richardet, back pain issues have become so common that many people don't pay much attention to it and simply ignore the discomfort by popping pain pills. There are many reasons why people suffer from back pain, but these are the most common:
1. Type of Job: jobs that involve heavy lifting, pulling, twisting, or pushing all impact the spine. But, even if you sit at a desk all day, it will still affect your back. Making sure that you stand, stretch, and take short walks will relax your back a bit every day.
2. Weight of Backpack: If you carry an overloaded backpack every day for long hours, it can badly affect your spine. Try to divide the weight rather than just overloading your backpack.
3. Intensity of Workout: Don't overdo exercise. You may actually feel just fine while working out, but unknowingly, you could be harming your back.
4. Body Posture: Your back can essentially only support enough weight until it's not slouched. Keep your back straight while carrying a heavy bag on your back.
5. Herniated Disc: The spine has a natural cushioning from gel-like discs that protect the vertebrae from being exposed to rough wear and tear through severe injuries and aging. When the disc weakens, it will rupture or bulge after a certain point. The disc will put pressure on the nerve roots of your spine, causing severe pain.
6. Chronic Conditions: If you're going to ignore your lower-back pain simply by taking over-the-counter medicines, you are at risk of causing spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, and spondylitis after a certain point in time.
To schedule a consultation and find out more about Decompression Therapy get in touch with the Dr. Richardet at the
265 Racine Dr
Wilmington, NC, 28403
910-798-5560