If you have been told a disc is the reason for your back or leg pain, the next question is usually practical: what would care actually look like, and how long would it take? This post walks through a spinal decompression treatment plan at our Lincoln Square office, from the first visit to the last, so you know what you are signing up for before you ever lie on the table.
Summary
- Your first visit is a consultation, exam and MRI review. Decompression does not start that day.
- You take information home, talk it over, and only then sign a care plan agreement.
- Care plans are 20, 25 or 30 visits, chosen from your MRI and the grade of your herniation.
- Decompression is delivered as a plan, not single visits, and nobody picks a plan before the exam.
- Some symptoms, like new bladder or bowel changes, need medical care right away, not a scheduled visit.
- A quick look at herniated discs
- Visit one: consultation, exam and MRI review
- Why plan length depends on your MRI
- The 20, 25 and 30 visit plans
- Why it is a plan, not single visits
- What to bring to your first visit
- Thinking honestly about the commitment
- Red flags: when not to wait
- When to come see us
- Frequently Asked Questions
A Quick Look at Herniated Discs
The discs between the bones of your spine cushion the spinal column and allow movement between the vertebrae. According to MedlinePlus, a herniated disc happens when all or part of a disc is forced through a weakened part of the disc, which may put pressure on nearby nerves. The lower back is the most commonly affected area, followed by the neck.
When a lower back disc presses on a nerve, the result can be sharp pain in the leg, hip or buttocks, numbness, and weakness in the same leg. That pattern is what most people know as sciatica. If leg pain is your main complaint, our post on sciatica and leg pain covers it in more depth.
The MedlinePlus herniated disk overview notes that standard treatments include rest, medicines, physical therapy and sometimes surgery. If you are reading this, you may have already been through some of that. You may have tried steroid injections, an epidural or physical therapy without lasting relief, been told surgery is the next step, or you may want to get off medications like gabapentin or opioids, or never start them.
Visit One: Consultation, Exam and MRI Review
Your first visit is about information, not treatment. Dr. Jeff Haynes sits down with you to hear the history of your pain, what you have tried, and what you want to get back to. Then comes a hands-on exam and a review of your MRI if you have one.
What happens that day
- Consultation: where the pain is, how it started, what makes it better or worse.
- Exam: a hands-on exam, read alongside your imaging.
- MRI review: which disc level is involved and how significant the herniation is.
- Possible pain control: some patients get stim and ice before they leave, to calm things down.
What does not happen that day
Decompression does not start on the first visit. You go home with literature about the treatment and time to talk it over, often with a spouse, and to look at your schedule and finances. If you decide to move forward, you sign a care plan agreement and start treatment from there. Nobody is rushed into a decision in the exam room.
Why Plan Length Depends on Your MRI
The disc level and the grade of the herniation shape how much care makes sense. That is why we read the MRI before recommending anything. The plan follows the findings, not a template.
Our office uses a true spinal decompression table, which is different from the computerized traction that many "decompression" tables actually provide. As Dr. Jeff describes it, true decompression targets a specific disc level, and the pull oscillates. That oscillation helps draw fluid and nutrients back into the disc and keeps the muscles around it from spasming. Because the treatment is aimed at one level, knowing exactly which disc is involved matters.
The 20, 25 and 30 Visit Plans
Care plans at our office are 20, 25 or 30 visits. Which one fits you is chosen from your MRI and the grade of your herniation.
- 20 visits: about 3 times a week for 4 weeks, then 2 times a week for 4 weeks.
- 30 visits: about 3 times a week for 6 weeks, then 2 times a week for 6 weeks.
The front of each plan is more frequent on purpose. Early care is closer together, then visits space out as the plan goes on.
Why It Is a Plan, Not Single Visits
Decompression works as a series. A single session here and there is not how the treatment is designed, so we do not offer it a la carte. A plan keeps the visits consistent from start to finish.
That is also why nobody picks a plan, or a price, before the exam. We cannot tell you whether you need 20 visits or 30 until we have examined you and read your imaging. Some people turn out not to be good candidates at all, and we will tell you that. We don't believe in unnecessary treatment plans or keeping patients dependent on care they don't need.
Decompression is a cash service at our office. The specifics are covered with you in person after the exam, once we know what plan makes sense.
What to Bring to Your First Visit
- Your MRI: the radiology report, and the images if you can get them. If you have not had an MRI, bring that up when you call.
- Your history: what you have already tried, such as physical therapy, injections or medications, and how each one went.
- Your current medications: a simple list is enough.
- Your questions: write them down so nothing gets missed.
If you want a broader sense of what a visit with us is like, read what to know before you book.
Thinking Honestly About the Commitment
A 20 visit plan means about 8 weeks of regular appointments. A 30 visit plan means about 12. In the early weeks, that is roughly three visits a week. Before you sign anything, it is worth looking at your calendar honestly.
- Can you get to 4526 N. Lincoln Ave three times a week around work and family?
- Are there trips or busy stretches in the next two to three months that would break up the schedule?
- Who at home needs to be part of the decision?
This is the reason we send you home after the first visit. A plan you can keep is better than a plan you start and abandon. Small habits between visits matter too, and our post on the worst sitting positions for lower back pain is a good place to start.
Red Flags: When Not to Wait
Most disc pain is not an emergency, but some symptoms need medical attention right away. MedlinePlus advises contacting your provider for severe back pain that does not go away, or any numbness, loss of movement, weakness, or bowel or bladder changes. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases also lists these reasons to see a doctor:
- Back pain after a fall or injury
- Back pain with trouble urinating
- Back pain with weakness, pain or numbness in the legs
- Back pain with fever
- Back pain with weight loss you did not intend
If you lose control of your bladder or bowels, get emergency medical care. Do not wait for a scheduled appointment.
When to Come See Us
A decompression consultation may make sense if you have a diagnosed disc herniation, bulging disc or sciatica from a disc, and:
- You have been told surgery is the next step and you want to explore other options first.
- Injections, an epidural or physical therapy did not give you lasting relief.
- You want to get off gabapentin or opioids, or never start them.
Decompression is not right for everyone and it is not a guarantee. The exam decides. Dr. Jeff has more than 20 years of clinical experience and our office is a member of Disc Centers of America. To learn more about how we work overall, see what comprehensive chiropractic means.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I get decompression on my first visit?
No. The first visit is a consultation, exam and MRI review, and possibly some stim and ice for pain. You take literature home, talk it over, and start after you sign a care plan agreement.
How do you decide between 20, 25 and 30 visits?
From your MRI and the grade of your herniation, confirmed by the exam. Dr. Jeff explains why he is recommending a given plan before you commit to anything.
Can I just come in for a few sessions to try it?
Decompression is offered as a plan rather than single visits, because the treatment is designed as a series. If it is not a fit for you, we will say so at the exam.
Do I need an MRI before I come in?
Bring the report and images if you have them, since the MRI is how the plan length is chosen. If you have not had one, mention that when you call and we will talk through next steps.
How is your table different from traction?
Many tables sold as decompression are really computerized traction. As Dr. Jeff describes it, our true decompression table targets a specific disc level with an oscillating pull, which helps draw fluid and nutrients back into the disc and keeps the surrounding muscles from spasming.
If a disc is behind your pain and you want a clear, honest look at whether decompression fits, start with a consultation. Call (312) 658-0658 or visit us at 4526 N. Lincoln Ave.
