Cervical Decompression
Cervical Decompression Therapy for Neck pain and Disc Herniations
Neck pain, headaches, tingling and weakness in the arm while common is not normal. Approximately 100 million Americans will suffer with neck pain on an annual basis, with 50% having chronic issues. Often neck pain and nerve impingement make it difficult to work, take care of our families, have fun with friends, and keep us from sleeping. Essentially, it can affect all aspects of our daily lives.
If more traditional care such as physical therapy or chiropractic care did not fully resolve your problem, then there might be a deeper concern such as disc herniation. Cervical decompression may offer a solution. This safe, non-surgical therapy relieves pressure inside the neck to improve disc health, calm nerves and reduces inflammation to help you move, sleep, and work with less pain.
What is Cervical Decompression?
Cervical decompression is a gentle, non-surgical therapy that uses controlled computer guided traction to lightly stretch the neck. Traction will decompress the spine and through negative pressure creates more space between the vertebrae in the neck. The process improves circulation and nutrient flow into the disc for improved healing and relieves pressure on irritated spinal discs and nerves.
At Desert Valley Chiropractic, we often pair decompression with our low-force Activator Method adjustments. This helps restore normal joint motion while the discs and soft tissues recover without twisting, cracking, or popping. The goal is to offer the quickest but most complete correction of neck and arm pain from a cervical nerve impingement.
What Conditions Can It Help With?
Cervical decompression can be an effective part of care for many neck and arm-related conditions, including:
Disc and nerve-related conditions:
- Bulging or herniated cervical discs – The discs between the vertebra in your neck act as shock absorbers, contribute to motion and help support weight of your head. Through degeneration over time or an injury the soft material from the disc can push out and impinge nearby nerves creating neck pain, or pain that shoots from the neck down the arm.
- Pinched nerves (cervical radiculopathy) – Weather from a disc injury, a bone spur or misaligned vertebra a nerve can be “pinched”. It can be very painful in the neck, but also pain can radiate from the neck down the arm or into the upper back.
- Degenerative disc disease – over time the soft jelly of the discs can break down, reducing the space between the bones. This can create stiffness, reduce motion, cause pain and if bad enough also pinch a nearby nerve.
- Spinal stenosis – stenosis is “narrowing of a hole”, and in the spine this can happen where the nerve exits the spine, creating pressure on a nerve. Stenosis can be from degeneration of the joint, bone spurs, a disc bulge or a combination of all three.
Pain and mobility issues:
- Chronic neck pain or stiffness – According to national institute of health approximately 120 million US adults will suffer with chronic neck pain each year, half of those develop into chronic symptoms.
- Cervicogenic headaches – Or tension headaches are some of the most common headaches people experience. As the name suggests, these headaches start in the neck often with pain and tension which then leads to a headache.
- Postural strain and “tech neck” – Tech neck can create an additional 72lbs of pressure on the joints in the cervical spine. Over time this adds up and will cause neck pain, headaches and tension.
- Whiplash recovery (when appropriate) – Whiplash occurs when the neck is suddenly “whipped” back and forth because of a car crash. The force exceeds the tissues capacity to support the spine, creating a potential serious injury.
- Arm pain, numbness, or tingling from nerve irritation – Your doctor will always examine you first to be sure decompression is safe and appropriate for your specific condition.
How many sessions will it take to feel better?
Everyone heals at a different pace, so we won’t know your exact treatment plan until after your initial exam and any necessary images. The number of sessions depends on how severe the problem is and how long it’s been there. The good news is that most patients start to notice relief within just a few visits. On average, an initial care plan typically ranges from about 15 to 20 sessions to help restore motion, reduce inflammation, heal the disc, reduce nerve impingement, and support lasting results.
What can I expect to feel with Cervical Decompression?
Most patients describe decompression as a relaxing stretch. Treatments are comfortable, and settings are customized to your body and condition.
What to Expect at Desert Valley Chiropractic
Home Care Support: We’ll guide you with posture tips, movement breaks, and simple stretches to help your progress last.
Initial Evaluation: To determine if decompression is appropriate for you, we will do a thorough review of your history, perform an orthopedic evaluation followed by neurological testing. If you have images such as X-ray or MRI we will review those as well or order additional images if necessary. The goal is to find the primary source of your problem and determine if decompression is right for you.
Gentle, Customized Sessions: Traction or Decompression uses gentle forces to lightly pull on the neck to open the joint space, hydrate and heal a disc to reduce nerve pressure. We start low and build up only as you’re comfortable.
Gentle Chiropractic Adjustments: Gentle, low-force adjustments help restore joint motion without twisting or cracking. Activator adjustments have also been shown to reduce the inflammation and irritation to the nerve root as it exists the spine, which further supports the decompression treatment.
Is decompression covered by my insurance?
While many health insurance plans cover the chiropractic portion of your care, they typically do not cover decompression therapy. The good news is that we offer several flexible and affordable payment options to make treatment accessible, and we’ll review all of them with you before starting care so there are no surprises.
Ready to Start Feeling Better?
Our Top Phoenix Chiropractors have been fortunate to have helped thousands of Moon Valley and North Phoenix neighbors find relief and get back to the lives they love. If neck pain, nerve irritation, or disc issues are holding you back, cervical decompression may help.
Call us at 602-439-1515 or request an appointment today.