Where should I start?
Pick the row that sounds most like you.
| If you're wondering… | Start here |
|---|---|
| Whether decompression is worth considering at all | Does spinal decompression work? |
| What your MRI report means | How to read your MRI report |
| Whether something rules you out | Who should not have decompression |
| What it will cost or what insurance covers | Does insurance cover it? |
| Whether your pain needs a doctor today | When to see a doctor |
Is decompression right for me?
Does spinal decompression work?
What the research does and does not show, in plain language.
Who should not have spinal decompression
Each common reason to rule it out, and why it matters.
Spinal decompression and pregnancy
Why it is not done during pregnancy, and what helps instead.
Questions to ask before you start
A checklist for any decompression clinic, including this one.
During and after treatment
Cost and coverage
MRI and diagnosis
How to read your MRI report
Bulge, protrusion, stenosis, foraminal narrowing and other terms, explained.
Disc protrusion vs. extrusion
What the shape words on your report mean.
Do I need an MRI for back pain?
When imaging helps and when it usually does not.
How long does a herniated disc take to heal?
The usual timeline and the signs that change it.
When to see a doctor for back pain
Warning signs that need care today, and when a routine visit is enough.
Living with disc pain
What about specific conditions and comparisons?
Condition pages cover herniated and bulging discs, sciatica, stenosis, neck and arm pain and more. Comparison pages put decompression side by side with other care.
- All conditions, including low back pain, sciatica and herniated disc.
- Comparisons: vs. surgery, vs. epidural injections, vs. physical therapy, vs. chiropractic adjustment and vs. traction.
- Definitions: the spine and MRI glossary.
- Quick answers: the spinal decompression FAQ.
How are these guides written?
In plain language, with sources linked, and honest about what isn't known.
- Sources you can check. Medical statements link to MedlinePlus (NIH), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Cochrane reviews, NIH institutes, Cleveland Clinic and Medicare.gov.
- No promises. Research on motorized spinal decompression is limited and results vary. You won't find promised outcomes here.
- No prices online. Cost depends on your plan and insurance, and is explained at the consultation.
- Urgent symptoms come first. Pages that touch on nerve symptoms list the warning signs that need emergency care.
Read the editorial policy for more on how pages are written and corrected.
Who can answer my own questions?
Dr. Gordon Stapel, DC, in practice since 1993, at a free consultation in Springville.
Springville Disc Center at Stapel Family Chiropractic is at 230 E 400 S Ste 1, Springville, the only office for this site. Call (801) 491-8688, request a free consultation, or bring imaging for a free MRI review.
About these guides
Who writes these guides?
Can these guides tell me whether I am a candidate?
Where should I start if I just got an MRI report?
How often are the guides updated?
Talk with Dr. Stapel about your pain
Call the office or request a free consultation. You'll talk through your symptoms and history, and you'll get an honest answer about whether spinal decompression is worth considering for you.
The consultation is free, with no obligation to start treatment. Have an MRI? Ask about the free MRI review.
This website is operated for Stapel Family Chiropractic (Springville Disc Center) in Springville, Utah. Care is provided by Dr. Gordon Stapel, DC, a licensed chiropractic physician. About this site.