Did you still have to use a spring compressor after you took the shock off, but it was just easier to use? What holds the shock inside the spring anyway and why do you need to compress it to get it off and back on i assume? Where did you get the spring compressor?
Yeah you still need a spring comressor, you just need to compress the spring enough to pull it away from the top shock mount and lower spring perch(you will need to go a little extra so the spring will fit back in once you raise the spring perch).
remove the bolt holding the top shock mount, slide the spring right off and put it aside and then move the spring perch up. I rented the spring compressors from Auto Zone for free...as long as you return them unharmed there's no charge to use their tools.