General information only
The pages on this site explain spinal decompression, the conditions it's used for, the research behind it and what insurers have decided about it. They are general information. They are not a diagnosis, and they are not advice about your own body.
An exam comes first
Whether decompression is appropriate for you can only be decided after an examination. Some people shouldn't have it at all, including people with a spinal fracture or instability, fusion hardware, active cancer affecting the spine, significant osteoporosis, an aortic aneurysm, or a pregnancy.
Emergencies
Get emergency care for loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or weakness in a leg or arm that's getting worse. Don't wait for an appointment or rely on this website.
About the evidence
Research on spinal decompression and traction is mixed, and several major reviews and insurers have found the evidence insufficient. The DRX9000 is FDA-cleared as powered traction equipment. Clearance and approval are different FDA processes, and neither one proves a treatment will work for a particular person.
Some people with disc-related pain feel better during a course of decompression. Some don't, and some improve on their own while they wait. Nothing on this site can predict which of those you'll be.