In medieval times they had the rack. In the 21st century we have the decompression table. Maybe those ancient healers had the right idea. The decompression table is scientifically proven to help reduce or eliminate back pain through a non-surgical and non-pharmacological treatment.
Archeologist Bob Sonderman woke up one morning and found himself unable to get out of bed. “My sciatica was excruciating.” He ed the office of orthopedics at a local hospital, but was told the first opening was three to four weeks away. A parishioner at Sonderman’s church told him to call Dr. Henry Jenkins, Jr. “I was flabbergasted. He said he could see me the next day.”
When Sonderman started treatment with Dr. Jenkins, owner of Paradigm Chiropractic and Performance on the Hill, he said his pain was sike “someone burning a hot poker through the back of my buttocks down to my thigh.”
Dr. Jenkins did a decompression of his spine. ”He put me on the rack that actually stretched me.” Sonderman said Dr. Jenkins also helped release tension in his neck and did some work on his knee. By the end of two months, after seeing him twice a week, Sonderman was “good to go.” He now visits Paradigm periodically for tune-ups. “I find Dr. Jenkins’ treatments life relieving,” he said. “Recently I had a sciatic blast which is a pinch of pain. Within a few visits the pain was gone. Because of his gentle, warm attitude about things and the ease with which we can talk, I think of Dr. Jenkins as kind of like my bartender. He’s always professional, but we sure do laugh a lot.”
mid-cervical disc
herniation.
Dr. Jenkins used techniques he learned and equipment he acquired when he became the DC representative for the Disc Centers of America (DCOA) in 2022. He continues to get trained annually in new decompression and laser techniques. DCOA doctors offer non-surgical spinal decompression, which, according to the DCOA website, is a conservative approach to disc restoration, maintenance and through TDC Therapy, which is exclusive to DCOA. Low back pain is the second most common symptom-related reason for seeing a physician in the U.S. About 19 million people visit physicians annually for back pain, according to DCOA.
“The decompression table has mechanical pulls based on a measured, specialized pulley system,” said Dr. Jenkins. It stretches and decompresses a spine and discs to relieve pressure they are having.” The table has straps for a patient which allows the disc space to open up. “It’s revolutionary. I couldn’t do it through a chiropractic adjustment alone.”
Dr. Jenkins said he started seeing a trend in his field with the use of a decompression table in 2017. Five years later he was seeing patients get relief from this technique when before their only options to restore their discs and relieve pain were opioids, pain management or surgery. “I have been able to elevate my services. I help people who have neuropathy, numbness, tingling to hands and/or feet and sciatica.” One patient he said, came to his office using a walker. By 10 visits he was using a cane and after about 25 treatments he was walking on his own with no pain. “It’s so rewarding to be able to give people their life back.”
Another patient had serious trauma from being inside an elevator that fell to the basement. “The patient had so many neurological problems. She had no arm use and couldn’t perform life skills like cooking,” he said. “I decompressed her spine so she could begin using her arm again.”
lower back.
Mauryce Johnson calls Dr. Jenkins a miracle worker. Johnson, who is retired, has had a degenerative spine and spinal stenosis for many years. She said she has a history of experiencing sciatica over the years. “I just sucked it up until it dissipat-ed but I never had pain like I did after the pandemic.” She did a two-day walk that included jumping up and down off cement stools which she itted was a mistake. “I did fine on the day of the walk, but I woke up the next day and couldn’t walk.”
Johnson visited an orthopedic doctor who put her left foot in a boot. “I wore it for about a month. That’s when all my troubles began. It was awkward and affected my degenerative spine.” Johnson finally found relief when she started to see Dr. Jenkins about a year-and-a-half ago. “He put me on several machines in his office including the decompression machine,” she said. “His treatments alleviated my pain.” Johnson is now on maintenance. She sees Dr. Jenkins about every three weeks. “He gave me a better quality of life. I’m doing my everyday routine and activity. Using Dr. Jenkins’ resources has helped me regain my strength and vitality.”
When Dr. Jenkins talks about his successes using the new technology he gets excited. “It’s a viable treatment option that will help. The research is there. I love seeing patients become pain-free or have their pain lessened and them getting their lives back.”
For more information: www.paradigmchiropracticdc.com, or www.dcov.com. You can also call: 202-546-0981.
Pattie Cinelli is a health and fitness professional and journalist who has been writing her column for more than 25 years. She focuses on non-traditional ways to stay healthy, get fit and get well. Please her at: [email protected].
