Does Insurance Cover Spinal Decompression?

  • For patients who do not have health insurance, spinal decompression normally costs $20 to $200 per visit, with 20 to 35 treatments totaling $400 to $5,000. The Kansas City Spine Decompression Center, for example, charges $20 per session for a total of $400; the Mitchell Back and Neck Pain Chiropractic Clinic in Oklahoma charges $65 per session for a total of no more than $1500. A normal treatment at the Kerrville Spine Center in Texas costs around $3,000. The cost is determined by the geographic region and the type of spinal decompression machine utilized at the facility; some machines are significantly more expensive than others, and thus the per-session cost might be significantly greater.
  • For patients with insurance, average out-of-pocket fees are a proportion of the overall treatment cost, usually between 10% and 50%, or as much as $2,000.
  • Each spinal decompression therapy lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. A pelvic harness is used to stabilize the lumbar spine while the patient is lying on a computer-controlled spinal decompression machine. To alleviate pressure between the discs, the machine makes minor modifications to the back position.
  • Before beginning spinal decompression treatment, some chiropractors like to view an MRI of the back. Find out how much an MRI costs.
  • Some chiropractors provide discounts or special offers that are only available for a short time. Carney Chiropractic Care in New York, for example, occasionally offers a free spinal decompression trial.
  • Spinal decompression is a service provided by several chiropractors. The American Chiropractic Association has a state-by-state chiropractor locator.
  • Some patients are not ideal candidates for spinal decompression, such as those who are pregnant, have certain forms of cancer, osteoporosis, or have had lumbar fusion surgery.

Do insurance companies cover spinal decompression?

Spinal Decompression costs vary depending on the severity of the condition and the area being treated. Most patients will see results after 20 treatment sessions spread out over a six-week period, costing between $1500.00 and $2000.00. Depending on the specific policy, insurance may cover a percentage of these costs. Difficult situations can be more expensive since they demand more office visits. It’s worth noting that the overall out-of-pocket expenditures of spinal decompression are typically much lower than the deductibles and co-insurance payments connected with surgery. Our staff will be pleased to discuss payment options with you, including savings for pre-paid treatment sessions.

Our clients frequently inquire about the cost of spinal decompression and whether it is appropriate for their circumstances. Dr. Sands is ready to perform an assessment and determine the cost of spinal decompression for you, as well as devise a strategy that is tailored to your specific needs and insurance coverage. Our objective at Sands Chiropractic in Pompano Beach, Florida, is to provide you with accurate information so that you can consider your spinal surgery alternatives.

Why is spinal decompression so expensive?

The majority of patients have no significant adverse effects. For the first week or two when the body adjusts to being stretched and decompressed, the most typically reported adverse effect of this therapy is a dull, achy discomfort. The muscles are stretched in a lengthening direction that the body is not used to during spinal decompression.

  • It’s possible that lasting relief won’t come until the entire therapy is done, which might take four to six weeks.
  • Spinal decompression therapy can be pricey due to the high cost of the equipment, and most insurance companies do not cover the cost of this therapy in most countries.
  • This therapy program has been deemed overly time-consuming because the procedure may necessitate up to four weekly sessions.
  • It is possible that it will not be effective in resolving the root cause. Some cases have been documented in which the discomfort went away for a while before reappearing.

The system incorporates emergency stop switches for both the patient and the operator to eliminate any discomfort. If the patient experiences any increase in pain or discomfort throughout the therapy, these switches will immediately stop the treatment.

Aside from the sessions, the Spinal Decompression Therapy Program entails helping the patient through a variety of other pain-relieving techniques, allowing the patient to go on the path to a pain-free life much more quickly. Dietary supplements (multivitamins), increased water intake, and healthy activity are among the most prevalent.

Spinal Decompression Therapy is generally thought to be safe and comfortable. So much so that most patients doze off during the treatment.

Is spinal decompression permanent?

Spinal decompression therapy is a very safe, FDA-approved procedure that can help you live a better life by lowering pain and enhancing mobility. Many people see the effects of spinal decompression after just a few sessions. Each session is usually between 30 and 45 minutes long. These spinal decompression sessions are pleasant and calming, and some patients even fall asleep during them. Many people appreciate and find the sessions to be quite calming.

Relief from unpleasant symptoms is the most sought-after and noticeable result of spinal decompression therapy.

Pain, muscle weakness, and numbness in the legs or arms, as well as limited movement, are all possible symptoms.

By relieving pressure on the nerves in the spine, spinal decompression therapy can often help to ease these symptoms.

The negative pressure also allows for a greater flow of oxygen and nutrients, which aids in the healing process.

Decompression of the spine can also improve a patient’s mobility.

Many persons who suffer from chronic back and neck pain would benefit from exercise; yet, because of the pain in their neck and back, exercise is often unpleasant or impossible.

After the spine has rested and regenerated, most patients are able to resume full, pain-free mobility by undertaking a series of spinal decompression treatments.

This allows patients who previously had difficulty exercising to do it again.

More persons are able to return to work with low or no restrictions as a result of their increased mobility and lack of discomfort.

People can achieve these results with a shorter recovery time and without the risks associated with surgery thanks to the non-invasive nature of spinal decompression therapy.

Except in the event of further injury, the benefits of spinal decompression are long-lasting.

Spinal decompression therapy has a long-term effect.

Many people claim that spinal decompression has given them their life back by allowing them to work, play with their children, and exercise without discomfort.

How much is a DRX9000?

Despite the fact that other spinal decompression brands have not been subjected to the same level of regulatory scrutiny, many chiropractors who use the devices make similar claims of success, citing studies that have been rejected by insurance companies and Medicare as being less than scientifically sound.

Most of the research on the DRX9000 cited on Excite Medical’s website by doctors affiliated with major universities claim encouraging results such as reduced pain and improved functionality. To confirm the device’s worth, all eight studies recommend for further rigorous scientific research, such as randomly allocating patients to groups receiving treatment or a placebo. According to one of the studies’ authors, he has even asked that Excite remove his studies from its website in a cease-and-desist letter, claiming that Excite has no rights to his intellectual property. (Musallam did not respond to the cease-and-desist order.)

Insurance companies frequently refuse to cover the expense of spinal decompression treatment — which, according to Excite Medical, costs around $3,500 for a complete course of sessions on the DRX9000 — since there is no proof that it works. It’s also not covered by Medicare.

Spinal decompression is described as “experimental” and “investigational” by Aetna in its policy bulletin.

How often should you do spinal decompression?

By mending injured discs and reversing dystrophic alterations in nerves, the Spinal Decompression Table, in combination with other modalities, successfully improves the pain and impairment caused by disc injury and degeneration. Through non-surgical decompression of lumbar intervertebral discs, spinal disc decompression addresses the functional and mechanical components of discogenic pain and disease. Studies show a significant reduction in intradiscal pressures into the negative region, around minus 150 mm/HG, resulting in non-surgical disc and nerve root decompression. Traction has never been shown to reduce intradiscal pressure to negative levels; in fact, numerous traction devices have been shown to raise intradiscal pressure, most likely due to reflex muscular spasm. The Decompression Table is designed to deliver distracting tension to the lumbar spine of the patient without triggering reflex paravertebral muscle spasms.

Decompression Traction induces retraction of the herniation into the disc and enables the influx of oxygen, proline, and other substrates by considerably lowering intradiscal pressure. The stimulation of fibro elastic activity encourages healing and prevents the nucleus from leaking irritating sulphates and carboxylates. The most recent study aimed to link clinical success to MRI evidence of disc repair in the annulus, nucleus, facet joint, and foramina as a result of treatment, and discovered that disc herniation decreased by 10% to 90% depending on the number of sessions performed, with annulus patching and healing visible in all cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Back and leg pain, as well as neck and arm discomfort, can be relieved with Spinal Decompression Traction Therapy, which is a non-surgical, comfortable traction therapy. A spinal disc can be isolated and placed under negative pressure during this treatment, generating a vacuum effect within it, by cycling between distraction and relaxation phases and by precise placement.

The vacuum effect has two purposes. The vacuum formed within the disc might pull disc material that has protruded or herniated outside the normal boundaries of the disc back within the disc. In addition, the disc’s vacuum increases the expansion of blood supply, which in turn stimulates a healing response. This reduces discomfort and allows the wounded area to heal properly.

In the United States, a variety of spinal decompression machines are now in use. Our office has decided to use a KDT (Kennedy Decompression Traction) machine and a Triton DTS machine after extensive investigation.

The goal of spinal decompression traction therapy is to relieve pressure on the spinal discs. Spinal Decompression Traction Therapy may help with back or neck pain caused in part or entirely by a damaged disc. Herniated, protruding, or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, sciatica, or radiculopathy are examples of these diseases (pinched nerves).

Pregnant women, patients with severe osteoporosis, extreme obesity, or significant nerve damage should avoid spinal decompression traction therapy. It is not advised for patients above the age of 70. Every patient, on the other hand, is assessed on an individual basis. Instrumented spinal surgery (screws and metal plates or “cages”) is likewise not recommended. There are no contraindications to disc surgery without fusion or fusion with bone replacement.

Each treatment lasts around an hour and involves Decompression Traction Therapy and spinal stabilization exercises. Decompression of the spine is commonly done three times a week for 15 to 20 sessions.

I’ve had spinal surgery, yet I’m still in pain. Is it possible for me to try Spinal Decompression Traction Therapy?

After a failed spinal surgery, Spinal Decompression Traction Therapy can help persons with back discomfort. Most people who haven’t been left with an unstable spine following surgery can have it done.

Simply phone our office at 912-427-8433 and express your interest in Decompression Traction Therapy to the receptionist. In most cases, an initial consultation can be scheduled within 48 hours.

How long is recovery from lumbar decompression?

Your ability to recover after lumbar decompression surgery will be determined by your degree of fitness and activity before to surgery. This is why, prior to the operation, physiotherapy may be prescribed.

The day after surgery, you’ll be urged to walk and move around, and you’ll most likely be discharged 1 to 4 days later.

You should be able to return to your previous level of mobility and function in 4 to 6 weeks (this will depend on the severity of your condition and symptoms before the operation).

Your back may feel sore when you wake up following lumbar decompression surgery, and you’ll most likely be connected to one or more tubes.

  • Intravenous drip: a drip that delivers fluids directly into a vein to keep you hydrated.
  • If you have trouble peeing, you may need a urinary catheter, which is a thin, flexible tube put into your bladder.

Is non surgical spinal decompression safe?

With a few exceptions, spinal decompression therapy is a safe and effective alternative to surgery for treating chronic back pain. During a session, you may feel a small stretch in your muscles, which most patients say feels wonderful, but spinal decompression therapy should not cause any pain.

Can spinal decompression heal a herniated disc?

The concept behind spinal decompression is similar to that of spinal traction, which is provided by chiropractors and other skilled health professionals. The goal is to reduce back discomfort while also allowing bulging, degenerating, or herniated discs to heal more quickly.

Spinal decompression is a technique that gently stretches the spine and relieves strain on the discs.

Within the targeted discs, the stretching creates a small vacuum.

Negative pressure may help to improve bulging or ruptured discs.

This also aids the delivery of healing nutrients to the disc, reducing recovery time.

The patient wears a strap around the pelvis and another around the abdomen during spinal decompression.

You lie down on a table while the doctor uses an FDA-approved computerized system to cater to your unique needs.

Treatment can take anything from 30 to 45 minutes.

Treatments are usually given daily for the first two weeks, then three times a week for the next two weeks, and finally two times a week for the final two weeks.

Does decompression help bulging disc?

The discomfort associated with disc bulging and herniation can be relieved by spinal decompression therapy. In this article, we’ll look at what spinal decompression is and how it works. We’ll also discuss alternative treatments and complementary therapies. This is not to be confused with traction, which we also provide.