Yes, a chiropractor can absolutely perform spinal decompression therapy. Using a computerised traction table to gently stretch the spine and take pressure off compressed discs and nerves, they give your body the conditions it needs to heal – relieving the back pain, neck pain, sciatica, and radiating leg or arm pain that comes with conditions like herniated discs and spinal stenosis.
Not long ago, a patient came to us frustrated. Eight months of sciatica, two rounds of physio, a steroid injection, and a growing reliance on ibuprofen. Surgery had been mentioned and he wasn’t ready for that.
We reviewed his history and imaging, confirmed he was a good candidate, and started him on spinal decompression therapy. Five weeks later, he described his leg pain as “background noise I can ignore” – down from a seven out of ten on most days.
That outcome started with one thing: matching the right treatment to the right diagnosis.
That’s what this article is for. We cover how spinal decompression works, which conditions it treats, who isn’t a candidate, what each session actually feels like, how it compares to surgery and standard chiropractic care, and how to choose the right provider.
Spinal Decompression Chiropractor: How It Works, and What to Expect in Durham
Yes, a licensed chiropractor can perform non-surgical spinal decompression, and in many cases, they’re the best-placed provider to do it.
Here’s the core of how it works.
Your spine is made up of vertebrae stacked on top of one another, cushioned by soft cartilage pads called spinal discs. Each disc has a tough outer ring and a gel-like centre. When that outer ring weakens, through injury, repetitive loading, or age, the inner material can push outward and press against nearby nerves and muscles.
That compression leads to pain – the familiar burning, shooting, or numbing sensation that travels into your legs or arms.
The goal of chiropractic spinal decompression is to generate a controlled drop in pressure, to create negative pressure inside the affected spinal cushion. Rather than pushing outward, the disc is gently pulled inward. That drop in pressure does two important things:
- It encourages bulging or herniated disc material to retract, helping to relieve pressure on the affected neural pathway directly at the source
- It draws in oxygen, water, and nutrients that this cartilage, which has no direct blood supply in adulthood needs to repair itself
One thing we tell every patient here at Complete Chiropractor Durham: the disc hasn’t lost the ability to heal.
In most cases, it just hasn’t had the pressure taken off long enough to do it. Our job isn’t to fix you – it’s to create the conditions your body needs to fix itself. That distinction matters, because it means the results tend to last.
What makes that possible is precision. This isn’t a simple stretch or a manual tug, it’s a computerised, motorised decompression table that uses calibrated forces at specific angles, targeted at the exact spinal level causing your symptoms. Built-in sensors monitor resistance in real time and adjust accordingly, because if your body tenses against the pull, the decompressive effect is lost.
That level of control is what separates true spinal decompression from a generalised stretch. But the equipment is only part of it. Knowing which level to target, at what angle, and how to progress that over a course of treatment requires clinical expertise that no machine can replace.
What Conditions Does Spinal Decompression Therapy Treat?
Spinal decompression therapy treats disc-related conditions where nerve compression is the root cause of pain, most effectively when other conservative care hasn’t worked. If you suffer from back pain that’s lingered for weeks or months, this may be where you finally find relief.
Most of us experience back pain at some point in our lives – research estimates that up to 80% of people will have at least one significant episode during their lifetime (National Institutes of Health).
But there’s a big difference between the types of back pain that resolve on their own and the kind rooted in disc and nerve pathology. The latter is where spinal decompression is most effective.
The conditions we treat most often at our Durham practice include:
Herniated disc and bulging discs
A herniated disc occurs when the inner gel-like material pushes through the outer ring and presses against nearby neural elements. A bulging disc hasn’t ruptured but protrudes beyond its normal boundary, still capable of causing significant compression and chronic pain.
These are the most common reasons patients come to us, and non-surgical spinal decompression therapy is often the most targeted treatment available.
As a matter of fact:
A study published in the Journal of American Chiropractic Association found that 86% of patients with herniated discs reported significant improvement following a course of non-surgical spinal decompression.
Sciatica
Sharp pain that travels from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg. It’s almost always caused by nerve compression, typically from a bulging or herniated disc pressing on a nerve root in the lumbar spine.
Degenerative disc disease
As these cushions lose height and water content with age, they compress more easily and cause pain. Decompression can help relieve pressure, restore hydration to affected discs, and improve daily function even when degeneration is significant.
One clinical study reported that over 90% of patients with degenerative disc disease experienced measurable pain reduction after treatment.
Spinal stenosis
A narrowing of the spinal column that puts sustained pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots, causing chronic pain and radiating symptoms. Spinal decompression creates temporary space, reducing that compressive load during and between sessions.
Cervical disc herniation
Neck pain and radiating arm symptoms caused by cervical spine compression respond well to lumbar decompression, the same approach applied to the cervical spine rather than the lumbar.
Facet syndrome and spinal joint issues
When the spinal joints become irritated or inflamed, they cause pain and restrict movement on their own or alongside disc problems. Decompression can ease the load across the whole spinal segment.
Post-surgical chronic pain
Patients who’ve had spinal surgery and still have symptoms are often candidates for decompression, provided there’s no fusion hardware at the relevant level and the spinal health picture supports it.
Who Is Not a Candidate for Spinal Decompression
Spinal decompression is generally considered safe, but it’s not right for everyone. You should not receive this treatment if you:
- Are pregnant
- Have advanced osteoporosis
- Have a spinal tumour or fragility fracture
- Have metal implants in the spine from previous surgery
- Have an abdominal aortic aneurysm
That’s a short list for a treatment this effective. Studies examining non-surgical spinal decompression have reported that appropriately screened patients experience clinically significant pain relief in the majority of cases, with some research citing improvement rates of 70% to 90% in disc-related conditions.
At Complete Chiropractor Durham, every patient goes through a thorough intake assessment before we recommend anything. We review your symptoms, history, and any existing imaging, and if we need more information before proceeding, we’ll tell you that too.
Skipping that step isn’t something we do, because recommending a treatment without understanding the full picture isn’t care. It’s guesswork.
If it turns out spinal decompression isn’t the right fit for you, we won’t leave you without a path forward. Part of our role is knowing when to refer, and making sure you end up in the right hands regardless.
Can Spinal Decompression Help Scoliosis?
Spinal decompression can help manage some of the symptoms associated with scoliosis, though it works differently than it does for a straightforward disc problem.
Because scoliosis involves an abnormal lateral curve in the spine, the compression it causes is uneven. Certain discs and joints bear more load than they should, which over time leads to pain, stiffness, and accelerated disc wear on the affected side.
Spinal decompression can help by:
- Reducing pressure on the discs that are bearing uneven load
- Relieving nerve irritation caused by that compression
- Improving mobility and reducing day to day discomfort
- Creating the conditions for disc rehydration and recovery
It’s important to be clear that decompression doesn’t correct the curve itself. What it does is take the pressure off the structures that are being overloaded because of it
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression vs. Spinal Decompression Surgeries: What’s the Difference?
The difference between non-surgical spinal decompression therapy and surgery comes down to this: both aim to relieve nerve compression and reduce disc-related pain but decompression does it without a single incision, anaesthetic, or recovery period. For the right patient, the outcomes can be remarkably similar.
When healthcare providers weigh treatment options for nerve and spine pain, they typically work through both surgical and non-surgical approaches.
Surgical spinal procedures like laminectomy, discectomy, and foraminotomy physically remove tissue, bone, disc material, or both, to create space for the nerve. And in certain situations, progressive neurological deficit, cauda equina syndrome, a severely sequestered disc fragment surgery may be the right call. We’ll always tell you that directly.
But surgery carries real trade-offs worth understanding before committing:
- General anaesthesia and hospital admission
- Risk of infection, nerve damage, and blood clots
- Weeks to months of recovery
- The real possibility it doesn’t fully resolve the pain – a phenomenon known as failed back surgery syndrome, which research published in the Journal of Pain Research found affects 20.6% of patients after lumbar surgery
Nonsurgical spinal decompression addresses the same mechanical problem through your body’s own healing response. It’s minimally invasive by nature, no incisions, no anaesthetic risk, no downtime. You come in, have your session, and get on with your day.
For most people in Durham who might find relief through non-surgical means, it makes sense to exhaust those treatment options before considering the operating table. The exception is a genuine neurological emergency, in that case, we’ll tell you clearly and help coordinate the right referral fast.
Chiropractic Adjustment vs. Spinal Decompression: How Are They Different?
A chiropractic adjustment and spinal decompression are not the same thing but used together: they offer chiropractic relief that neither delivers as effectively on its own.
Here’s a simple way to think about it:
- A chiropractic adjustment targets the spinal joints, restoring proper movement, reducing irritation at the facet level, and improving the mechanical function of the spine. For many patients, it provides meaningful pain relief quickly, working especially well for restricted mobility, headaches, and joint-related pain.
- Spinal decompression therapy targets the affected spinal cushion directly, using controlled stretching to decompress nerves and discs and restore hydration. It’s cumulative, requiring multiple sessions to achieve its full effect.
Used together, they improve spinal alignment and the health of those spinal cushions in a way that supports faster, more complete recovery.
The adjustment supports the decompression by optimising alignment; the decompression reduces the disc pressure that might otherwise make an adjustment uncomfortable. Many of our patients in Durham receive both as part of an integrated care plan.
What to Expect During a Spinal Decompression Session — Start to Finish
During a spinal decompression session, you lie fully clothed on a motorised table while a computerised system applies gentle, targeted traction to the specific spinal level causing your pain. Sessions last approximately 30 minutes, are painless, and require no recovery time afterward.
Here’s exactly what to expect from start to finish when you book with us:
Before Your First Session
Your first visit starts with a thorough consultation, not a rushed intake form. We go through your full health history: how long you’ve had the pain, what makes it better or worse, and what you’ve already tried. Bring any MRI or X-ray imaging you have – we’ll review it. Understanding your specific anatomy is the foundation of everything that follows.
During a Session
- You remain fully clothed throughout
- A padded harness is fitted around your pelvis and lower trunk
- You lie on a specially designed table; the lower section moves under computerised control while the upper section stays fixed
- The table targets the exact spinal level causing your symptoms
- The sensation is a slow, rhythmic stretch — not pain
- Built-in sensors detect any guarding response, automatically adjusting the force so muscles can relax and the therapeutic effect isn’t lost
- Each session lasts approximately 30 minutes
What You’ll Feel as Treatment Progresses
Most patients notice that their referred symptoms leg pain, arm pain, or tingling improve before the back or neck pain itself eases. That’s a meaningful clinical sign: it indicates compression is reducing and that you can benefit from spinal decompression in a real, measurable way.
By weeks three and four, the majority of our patients report meaningful improvements in their ability to sit, sleep, walk, or do whatever their pain has been limiting. A full course typically runs over four to six weeks, with two to three visits per week. We track progress formally at the midpoint and end of every treatment course.
How to Choose a Spinal Decompression Chiropractor in Durham, NC
Choosing a spinal decompression chiropractor in Durham, NC means looking beyond a name on a door — the equipment used, the intake process, and how the provider handles cases that aren’t a good fit all determine whether you get real results or just a series of appointments. Not every practice offering “spinal decompression” is offering the same thing.
Back and neck pain cost the US healthcare system $134.5 billion in a single year (ScienceDirect, 2022) — and a significant portion of that spending goes toward treatments that don’t address the root mechanical cause.
Durham and the broader Triangle area have plenty of options for pain treatment, but more options also means more variation in quality. Ask any provider these questions before committing:
What equipment do you use?
Established computerised systems like the DRX9000 or Triton DTS apply targeted, angle-specific forces to the exact spinal segment being treated. A basic traction table delivers a generalised stretch. These are not the same treatment, and the results reflect that.
Do you review imaging before treatment?
A responsible provider won’t recommend a full course without understanding your anatomy. Contraindications like fracture, tumour, or severe instability need to be ruled out first.
How will we know it’s working?
A provider who tracks outcomes and reassesses formally at key points is accountable to your results — not just your appointment schedule.
What happens if this isn’t right for me?
The answer should be a clear referral pathway. If they can’t tell you what happens when the treatment isn’t right for you, that’s worth noting.
At Complete Chiropractor Durham, every patient gets a full assessment before treatment starts. We won’t recommend 20 sessions when a simple adjustment and a home exercise programme would serve you better. Ready to take the next step? Schedule an appointment with our team and let’s figure out the right path forward for you.
FAQ: What Durham Patients Ask Before Booking
Why does it hurt to decompress my spine?
Properly performed spinal decompression should not hurt. You’ll feel a stretching sensation and possibly some mild muscle soreness after early sessions — similar to starting a new exercise routine — but active pain during treatment is a signal something needs adjusting. It could mean the force settings need to be dialled back, your muscles are guarding strongly and the approach needs modification, or this approach may not be the right fit for your specific condition. If you’ve had a painful experience at another practice, that’s worth discussing before writing off the treatment entirely.
Is decompressing your spine good?
For the right conditions, yes — and the evidence supports it. A multi-centre study presented at the American Academy of Pain Management — conducted by researchers from the Mayo Clinic — found an 88.9% success rate after a full six-week protocol, with patients reporting a 50% reduction in pain scores within just the first two weeks.
A separate study published in Orthopedic Technology Review found that 86% of 219 patients who completed the therapy reported full resolution of symptoms, with 84% remaining pain-free 90 days post-treatment.
For many people in Durham, finally being able to relieve pain that has resisted every other treatment is genuinely life-changing. Results depend on being a suitable candidate, having the correct diagnosis, and the treatment being performed with the right equipment and clinical oversight. It should always follow a proper assessment — not a self-diagnosis.
How long does it take to fully decompress the spine?
A full course of spinal decompression treatment typically spans four to six weeks, with 15 to 30 sessions. Most patients notice meaningful improvement around sessions three to five.
Here’s something most articles don’t mention: a randomised controlled trial published in the Journal of Neurological Research found that spinal decompression produced a statistically significant 68.4% success rate in patients with chronic low back pain and disc pathology, compared to 0% for the control group — and those results continued improving after treatment ended.
The tissue repair that this process initiates takes time to complete even once sessions are done, and results often keep improving for weeks afterward.
For patients with significant degeneration, a second course or periodic maintenance may be part of the longer-term plan. Lasting results aren’t just about the sessions — they’re also about the movement habits and spinal health practices you build alongside treatment.
Does a chiropractor do spinal decompression?
Yes — and our team are often the ideal providers for it. Chiropractic training centres on the spine: its mechanics, its neurology, and its role in whole-body function.
A provider performing this treatment isn’t just running a machine — they’re integrating clinical diagnosis, hands-on care where helpful, and a longer-term view of your recovery.
Our integrated approach to disc and nerve pain at Complete Chiropractor Durham goes well beyond simply running a session. If you’re in Durham or the wider Triangle area and want to know whether this is the right pain treatment for you, come in for a proper assessment. We’ll give you a straight answer either way.
After Your Course: Making the Pain Relief Last
After your spinal decompression course ends, the work isn’t over — it shifts. Getting out of pain is one thing. Staying there requires a plan.
At the end of your treatment course, you’ll leave with a personalised exercise plan focused on lumbar stability and hip mobility, postural guidance tailored to your daily routine — especially relevant for the many Durham-area desk workers and remote workers we see — clear guidance on warning signs that mean you should come back in sooner, and a maintenance plan if your case warrants one, typically one to two sessions a month to support ongoing spinal health and catch small issues before they grow.
The patients who do best long-term shift from thinking “my back either works or it doesn’t” to treating their spine as something they actively maintain. That’s what we work toward at Complete Chiropractor Durham.
If you’re living with persistent disc pain or spinal pain that hasn’t responded to what you’ve already tried, come in and have a real conversation with our team. Bring your imaging, bring your history, and let’s figure out together whether spinal decompression therapy is what’s been missing — or whether there’s a better-fit option for you. Either way, you’ll leave with a straight answer.
Meet Dr. Kevin McLaughlin
Dr. Kevin McLaughlin is the owner of Complete Chiropractic Sports and Wellness and has been serving the Triangle community since 2012. Originally from Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia, he graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic and opened his practice with a focus on natural, holistic healing.
He takes a comprehensive approach to care, specializing in techniques such as Cranial Facial Release, spinal decompression, dry needling, shockwave therapy, and cold laser therapy. His philosophy centers on treating the body as a whole and addressing the root cause of pain, rather than just managing symptoms.
Dr. McLaughlin is passionate about helping patients move better, feel better, and live healthier lives, while supporting each individual’s long-term wellness goals.
Outside the clinic, he enjoys golf, staying active, music, and the outdoors, and is a proud father to his two children, River and Aria.
