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Chronic back and neck pain tied to a herniated disc, a bulging disc, or spinal stenosis often needs more than an adjustment alone to resolve. MK Chiropractic offers spinal decompression therapy in Chicago, IL, a non-invasive treatment that uses a motorized traction table to gently stretch the spine and take pressure off compressed discs and nerves. Dr. Donald Mason, DC, builds a treatment plan around your specific imaging and evaluation at our Near North Side office, rather than running every patient through the same protocol.
Quick Facts Equipment: Motorized traction table. Diagnostics: X-ray or MRI as needed. Treatment type: Non-invasive, drug-free, no surgery. Conditions: Disc herniation, sciatica, spinal stenosis, chronic back and neck pain.
How Does Spinal Decompression Therapy Work?
Spinal decompression therapy uses a motorized table to gently elongate the spine, creating negative pressure inside the discs rather than compressing them further. As the spine stretches, herniated or bulging disc material can pull back toward its normal position, easing pressure on nearby nerves. The negative pressure created during treatment also draws oxygen, water, and nutrient-rich fluid into the disc, supporting the tissue’s own healing process.
Your first visit starts with a full evaluation, using x-rays or MRI imaging as needed to pinpoint exactly what’s driving your pain. From there, Dr. Mason builds a treatment plan around the severity of the compression and where you’re feeling it, adjusting the approach as your sessions progress. Many patients also get rehabilitation exercises and lifestyle guidance, movements that strengthen the muscles supporting the spine, improve flexibility, and lower the odds of re-injury.
Who Qualifies for Spinal Decompression Therapy?
Spinal decompression tends to help patients whose pain traces back to pressure on a spinal disc rather than a muscular strain alone. Dr. Mason confirms the right fit during your evaluation and imaging review. It’s commonly recommended for:
- Chronic back pain or low back pain linked to disc compression
- Neck pain tied to cervical disc pressure
- Diagnosed spinal disc herniation or a bulging disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Sciatica, meaning leg pain that radiates from a compressed nerve in the lower back
What Results Can You Expect?
Spinal decompression is built for patients who want a non-surgical, drug-free option for disc-related pain that hasn’t resolved with rest alone. By reducing pressure on the affected disc and surrounding nerves, it can ease pain and improve range of motion for everyday movement. Because treatment also targets the mechanics behind the compression, not just the pain in the moment, it’s often paired with rehabilitation exercises aimed at preventing the same issue from returning.
Does Spinal Decompression Therapy Hurt?
Most patients find spinal decompression comfortable rather than painful. The motorized table controls the stretch precisely, targeting the compressed area of the spine without the jarring motion some people expect from traction. Some patients feel a mild pulling sensation as the table stretches the spine, but sessions are not designed to cause pain.
How Long Does Treatment Take?
Sessions typically run 20 to 30 minutes. A full course is often built around 15 to 20 visits spread over four to six weeks, though the exact schedule depends on how severe the compression is and how you respond to early sessions. Dr. Mason sets your specific plan after your evaluation and imaging review, not before it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No, most patients find it comfortable rather than painful. The motorized table controls the stretch precisely, and any sensation is usually a mild pulling feeling rather than discomfort. Sessions are not designed to cause pain at any point.
Most courses run 15 to 20 sessions over four to six weeks, with each session lasting 20 to 30 minutes. Dr. Mason sets your exact schedule based on your evaluation, imaging, and how you respond to early treatment.
Coverage depends on your specific plan. Our team reviews your insurance and payment options with you before your first treatment so you know what to expect on cost ahead of time.
Most health insurance plans are accepted, including Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Aetna, GeoBlue, and Harken Health, along with Medicare, auto accident, workers compensation, and personal injury claims. Our staff verifies and explains your specific benefits before treatment starts, at no charge. Dr. Mason is credentialed under Illinois Medicaid but is not in-network with Medicaid managed care plans such as BCBS Community Health, Meridian, or AmBetter in his private practice.
It can, for many patients. Stretching the spine reduces pressure inside the disc, which allows herniated or bulging material to pull back and eases pressure on the nerve it was compressing. Dr. Mason reviews your imaging first to confirm decompression is appropriate before surgery would need to be considered.
An adjustment uses a quick, targeted force to restore joint motion, while spinal decompression uses slow, controlled traction over several minutes to relieve pressure inside a disc. They address different mechanics, so Dr. Mason sometimes recommends both as part of the same treatment plan.
It’s a common reaction the first time, mostly because people picture manual traction rather than a controlled, motorized stretch. Most patients relax once they feel how gradual and low-intensity the actual pull is compared to what they expected.
Get Lasting Relief From Disc-Related Pain, Without Surgery
Chronic back and neck pain tied to a compressed disc doesn’t have to mean choosing between living with it and a surgical consult. Spinal decompression therapy at MK Chiropractic is built around your specific imaging and evaluation, so your treatment plan targets what’s actually driving your pain. Reach out to schedule your evaluation and find out if it’s the right fit for you.