Irvine Family Health Center
Spinal Decompression
(949) 857-1888

Did You Know?

Spinal disc injuries may be diagnosed as “bulging”, “herniated” or “ruptured”.

Bulging refers to a disc that has become misshapen over time. This is often caused by chronic poor posture or repetitive straining as seen with bending, lifting or twisting.

A disc herniation occurs when the tough outer layers of the disc tear partially.

If the herniation worsens to the point that the gelatinous center of the disc escapes, it is called a rupture.

Herniated Discs

The Discs of the Spine:: An Overview

The bones of the spine are separated by tough cartilage pads called intervertebral discs (inter = “between”; vertebral = “bones of the spine”). Healthy discs are thick and flexible (like a wet sponge) allowing a wide range of bending and twisting motions. An unhealthy disc is stiff and hard (like a dry sponge) and prone to injuries such as bulging or herniation. Over time gravity, spinal joint dysfunction and accumulated trauma cause the discs to compress, flatten and degenerate. This constant compression prevents much-needed oxygen and nutrients from entering the disc. This ongoing starvation causes the once-tough outer layers of the disc to soften allowing the disc to become injured or diseased. Disc damage can occur anywhere in the spine. However, the discs of the neck (cervical spine) and low back (lumbar spine) are the most commonly injured.

The most effective treatment available to heal Herniated Discs is
Non-Surgical Spinal Disc Decompression using the DRX9000.

Disease of the spinal discs can take many forms. Significant disc damage can lead to a Disc Bulge, become a tear called a Disc Herniation or the inner gelatinous material of the disc can leak out in the case of a Ruptured Disc. The “jelly center” of the disc can also dry out over time which is referred to as Degenerative Disc Disease. All forms of disc injury can eventually impinge on the nerves exiting the spine (“Pinched Nerve”) which can create numbness, tingling, burning or sharp pain down the arms or legs. Sharp pain originating from the back and “shooting” down the legs is often referred to as Sciatica.

Herniated Disc:: Definition

A Herniated Disc occurs when the tough outer fibers of the spinal disc tear allowing the “jelly center” of the disc to herniate or bulge outward. A Herniated Disc is generally considered to be more serious than a Disc Bulge where the outer wall of the disc is weakened but not torn.

Herniated Disc:: Symptoms

The majority of symptoms caused by a Disc Herniation are related to irritation of spinal nerves. These nerves exit the spine through small holes called foramen. The spinal discs are located next to these nerve passageways. The Herniated Disc can “pinch” these nerves creating a variety of uncomfortable and sometimes debilitating symptoms.

Herniated Disc of the Low Back:: Lumbar Spine Disc Herniation

A Disc Herniation in the low back can cause low back pain or numbness, tingling, burning, sharp pain or weakness in the legs or feet. Sharp pain along the back of the legs is often referred to as Sciatica.

Herniated Disc of the Neck:: Cervical Spine Disc Herniation

A Disc Herniation in the neck can cause neck pain, or in more severe cases, numbness, tingling, burning, sharp pain or weakness in the arms or hands.

Herniated Disc:: Non-Surgical Spinal Disc Decompression with the DRX9000

Non-Surgical Spinal Disc Decompression provides relief to severe back and neck pain sufferers by gently reducing the pressure within spinal discs. The bones of the spine are slowly and methodically separated using the DRX9000 Spinal Decompression equipment. As the vertebrae are separated pressure is slowly reduced within the disc (intradiscal pressure) until a vacuum is formed. This vacuum “sucks” the gelatinous center of the disc back into the disc thereby reducing the Herniated Disc. Significant disc herniation reduction removes pressure off the spinal nerves and drastically reduce pain and disability. This “sucking” vacuum also pulls much-needed oxygen and nutrients into injured and degenerated discs allowing the healing to begin.

The treatment motion is computer controlled to provide gentle and painless decompression of the injured spinal discs. Advanced DRX9000 decompression techniques separate slowly and cycle between brief moments of pulling and relaxing (oscillation). This reduces protective muscle spasm that contributed to the poor success rate of outdated “traction” techniques. The latest DRX9000 decompression technologies also incorporate angulated elongation methods to target specific discs of the spine (for example: L5/S1 at the base of the spine). This allows the treatment to rely less on brute force (separating multiple levels with high force) and more on finesse (using less decompressive force to focus on a single spinal segment) to rehabilitate individual spinal discs.

Contact our office at (949) 857-1888 to arrange a consultation on the phone or in person.

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Irvine Family Health Center Spinal Decompression in Orange County, CA

14150 Culver Drive, Suite 103 • Irvine, California 92604 • phone: (949) 857-1888.

©2006 Irvine Family Heaalth Center Spinal Decompression, Irvine Office :: Contents of this website may not be reproduced without express written permission of Irvine Family Health Center Spinal Decompression. Material in this website is for general information only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Site designed by Expression Graphic Design.