Answer library
Everything patients ask about spinal decompression and spine care.
Written to be read quickly and quoted accurately — by you, by your family, and by the AI assistant you probably asked before landing here.
General
What is the success rate of non-surgical spinal decompression?+
Published clinical studies on decompression for disc-related back and leg pain report good-to-excellent outcomes in roughly 70–90% of correctly selected patients. Selection is what drives that number: a contained disc herniation with intact disc height responds far better than an end-stage collapsed segment, which is why every case at Back2Health is screened against MRI and neurological findings first.
How is spinal decompression different from a chiropractic adjustment?+
Decompression is a machine-delivered, sustained cycle of traction that changes pressure inside the disc. A chiropractic adjustment is a brief hand-delivered thrust that restores motion to a stiff joint. They solve different problems, which is why most disc patients receive both.
Do I need an MRI before starting treatment?+
Not always. An MRI is essential where there is nerve involvement — leg or arm pain, numbness, weakness — or where surgery may be on the table. For mechanical back pain with a clean neurological exam, we can begin safely on clinical findings alone.
Is spinal decompression safe?+
Yes, in screened patients. It is contraindicated in pregnancy, spinal fracture, tumour, active infection, severe osteoporosis, and at a fused or instrumented level. Those are ruled out at the first visit before any traction is applied.
How many sessions will I need?+
Most disc courses run 12–20 sessions across 6–10 weeks. Early bulges may need only 8–12. Stenosis and post-surgical cases typically need a longer rehabilitation phase after the decompression course finishes.
Will the disc problem come back after treatment?+
Recurrence is driven mainly by what happens after the pain settles. The deep multifidus stays inhibited for months following a disc injury, so patients who skip the rehabilitation phase relapse far more often than those who complete it. That is why rehab is built into every protocol rather than sold separately.
Can I continue working during treatment?+
Yes. There is no downtime with decompression, laser, shockwave or super inductive therapy. We do correct your workstation, driving posture and sitting duration, because those are usually part of the cause.
Do you treat patients who have already had spine surgery?+
Frequently. Post-discectomy and post-fusion rehabilitation is one of our core programmes. Decompression is never applied over a fused segment, but the levels above and below, along with multifidus retraining and graded loading, respond very well.
Is chiropractic care safe for the neck?+
Yes when it is screened and licensed. Dr. Shiv Bajaj is Delhi NCR's IACD-licensed chiropractor and performs a vascular and neurological screen before any cervical technique, using low-force methods or cervical decompression alone where indicated.
How much does treatment cost, and are packages available?+
Sessions are priced individually with discounted 6, 12 and 20-session decompression packages — a fraction of the cost of disc surgery, with no hospital stay or recovery leave. Call +91 88005 05844 for exact pricing once your condition is assessed.
Do you offer same-day appointments for acute back pain?+
Yes. Slots are reserved daily at both clinics for acute disc flare-ups and sciatica. Call +91 88005 05844 between 9 AM and 7 PM, Monday to Saturday.
Do I need a doctor's referral?+
No referral is needed. You can book directly. If you are already under an orthopaedic surgeon or neurosurgeon, bring their notes — we work alongside them rather than around them.
By condition
Can a herniated disc heal without surgery?+
Yes. The majority of lumbar disc herniations resorb naturally over months, and non-surgical spinal decompression accelerates that by lowering pressure inside the disc so fluid, oxygen and nutrients re-enter the nucleus. At Back2Health more than 90% of disc patients avoid surgery.
Is spinal decompression painful for a slipped disc?+
No. The table applies a slow, computer-modulated pull that most patients describe as a gentle stretch. Many fall asleep during the 25–30 minute cycle.
How many sessions will I need for an L4-L5 or L5-S1 disc?+
Typical courses run 12 to 20 sessions across 6 to 10 weeks. Dr. Shiv Bajaj sets the exact number after reviewing your MRI and neurological findings.
What is the difference between a bulging disc and a herniated disc?+
A bulge is a broad, symmetrical outward spread of the disc with the outer wall intact. A herniation is a focal tear through which nucleus material escapes. Bulges cause ache and stiffness; herniations more often cause radiating nerve pain.
Can a bulging disc go back to normal?+
Disc height and hydration can genuinely improve. Spinal decompression creates negative intradiscal pressure that pulls fluid back into the nucleus, and consistent rehab keeps the load off it.
How long does sciatica take to heal?+
Acute sciatica often settles in 4–6 weeks with correct care; long-standing sciatica with a large disc herniation may need 8–12 weeks of structured decompression and rehab.
Should I rest or move with sciatica?+
Movement wins. Extended bed rest weakens the stabilisers and dehydrates the disc. We prescribe specific, tolerable movement from day one.
Is cervical spondylosis curable?+
The structural wear is permanent, but the pain, stiffness and nerve symptoms are highly treatable. Patients who correct posture and keep the deep neck flexors strong usually remain symptom-free.
Is chiropractic safe for the neck?+
In IACD-licensed hands, yes. Dr. Shiv Bajaj screens every neck case before adjusting, and uses low-force techniques or decompression alone where indicated.
Can spinal stenosis be treated without surgery?+
For most patients, yes. Surgery is reserved for progressive neurological loss. Structured decompression and conditioning improve function significantly in the majority of degenerative stenosis cases.
Why can I cycle but not walk?+
Cycling puts the spine in flexion, which opens the canal. This 'shopping trolley sign' is a classic stenosis finding and guides how we set your decompression angles.
Does degenerative disc disease get worse with age?+
The structural change progresses slowly, but symptoms do not have to. Strong, mobile spines with hydrated discs stay comfortable even with visible degeneration on MRI.
Can decompression rehydrate a degenerated disc?+
Decompression creates negative pressure that draws fluid and nutrients into the nucleus. It works best on discs that still retain height, so early treatment matters.
Is spinal decompression safe with spondylolisthesis?+
It can be, at low force and with careful positioning, but stability work leads the plan. Dr. Shiv Bajaj grades your slip from flexion-extension imaging before any traction is applied.
Can I go to the gym with spondylolisthesis?+
Yes, with modifications. Deadlifts, overhead pressing and back extensions need technique correction or substitution until your deep core can protect the segment.
How do I know if my back pain is facet or disc?+
Facet pain typically worsens on bending backwards and rarely travels past the knee. Disc pain typically worsens on sitting and bending forward and often radiates down the leg. A clinical exam distinguishes them reliably.
Do I need a facet injection?+
Most patients don't. Injections numb the joint but don't change the mechanics that overloaded it. We restore movement and load-sharing first.
Is SI joint pain the same as sciatica?+
No. SI pain rarely travels below the knee and does not follow a single nerve path. Provocation testing separates the two in minutes.
Can chiropractic help postnatal pelvic pain?+
Yes, and it is one of the most rewarding cases we see. Gentle correction plus targeted strengthening restores confident, pain-free movement.
Can chiropractic cure scoliosis?+
No credible clinician can straighten an established structural curve with manual therapy alone. What we can reliably deliver is less pain, better posture and endurance, and — in growing patients — closer monitoring and slower progression.
Should my teenager be screened?+
Yes. A two-minute Adam's forward bend test during the growth spurt is the single most valuable screen, because early detection expands the treatment options.
I've had back pain for years — is it too late?+
No. Duration predicts how long rehabilitation takes, not whether it works. Long-standing cases simply need a longer build phase.
Do I need an MRI for chronic back pain?+
Only if there are neurological signs, red flags, or if the clinical picture is unclear. Many people with pain-free backs have 'abnormal' MRIs, so imaging must always be read alongside examination.
When can I start rehab after spine surgery?+
Gentle activation often begins within days under surgeon clearance. Loaded strengthening usually starts at 6–12 weeks depending on the procedure.
Can I have decompression therapy after a fusion?+
Not over the fused segment. Decompression may be applied cautiously to other levels once healing is complete and your surgeon agrees.
By treatment
How is spinal decompression different from ordinary traction?+
Traditional traction applies a static, uniform pull. Decompression uses computer-modulated cycling at a specific angle and level, with sensors that detect muscle guarding and back off — which is what allows true negative intradiscal pressure to be achieved.
Is spinal decompression scientifically proven?+
The devices are FDA-cleared and a growing body of clinical literature supports reduced disc pressure, improved disc hydration and significant pain and function gains in disc-related back and neck pain.
When will I feel relief?+
Many patients notice a change within the first 3–5 sessions. Larger herniations and long-standing cases take longer, and the full benefit accrues over the complete course.
Does laser therapy hurt?+
No. Most patients find it soothing, describing a deep warmth over the treated area.
How is Class 4 different from low-level laser?+
Class 4 lasers deliver far more power, so they reach deeper structures like a lumbar nerve root in a much shorter treatment time.
Is shockwave therapy painful?+
It is briefly intense over very tight tissue, but tolerable and adjustable. Patients typically feel looser immediately afterwards.
Can shockwave treat the disc itself?+
No — it is not applied over the spinal cord or directly to disc tissue. It treats the muscular and ligamentous layer that keeps disc problems recurring.
Why can't I just do core exercises instead?+
You can, and you will — but an inhibited multifidus often fails to recruit no matter how hard you try. Super inductive therapy re-establishes that connection so your exercises finally reach the right muscle.
Is the cracking sound dangerous?+
No. The sound is gas releasing from the joint fluid, the same phenomenon as cracking a knuckle. It is not bone grinding, and it is not a measure of how effective the adjustment was.
Will I need adjustments forever?+
No. We work towards discharge with a self-management plan. Some patients choose periodic maintenance visits, but that is a preference, not a requirement.
Why do I need rehab if the pain is gone?+
Pain settles long before capacity returns. The deep stabilisers stay inhibited for months after an episode, which is precisely why untreated back pain recurs.
Can I do this at home?+
The home programme is a core part of it. Clinic sessions exist to progress load safely and correct technique before you take it home.
Book an assessment
Still unanswered? Ask the clinic directly.
Bring your MRI or X-ray. You'll leave the first consultation knowing exactly what is wrong, whether decompression is right for you, and how many sessions it should take.