By Dr. Michael Veselak, D.C.
Camarillo Functional Health | Serving Camarillo and Ventura County
When low back pain keeps returning, it can begin to shape your entire day. You may limit your walks, avoid lifting, struggle to sit comfortably, or wake up feeling stiff and sore. Even activities you enjoy can become something you have to plan around.
If you have tried treatment but still struggle with symptoms, it may be time for a fresh evaluation and a clear plan focused on helping you regain function.
At Camarillo Functional Health, we offer nonsurgical spinal decompression using the DRX9000 as one potential component of individualized care. For patients considering this treatment, the first step is determining whether it is appropriate for their particular condition.
Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease
The discs between the bones of your spine help absorb loads and allow movement. Over time, they can lose water content and undergo structural changes. These changes—often called degenerative disc disease—may contribute to low back pain.
Hearing the word “degenerative” can be discouraging. But that diagnosis alone does not determine how much pain you will have, what activities you can do, or which treatment you need.
Your symptoms and examination matter. The goal is to identify what is contributing to your discomfort and develop a plan that addresses your limitations.
What Is Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression?
Nonsurgical spinal decompression uses a motorized table to apply controlled traction to the spine. At our office, we use the DRX9000 to deliver this treatment through an individualized protocol.
The intended purpose is to temporarily reduce mechanical loading on spinal structures. Treatment does not involve an incision, and it is different from surgical decompression.
For a prospective patient, the most useful question is: Could this treatment help me make measurable progress toward the activities I want to do again?
That question deserves a thoughtful evaluation rather than a promise.
Start With Your Goals
Perhaps you want to walk through the neighborhood without cutting your outing short. Maybe you want to sit through dinner comfortably, travel with less difficulty, or get back to gardening.
These are the goals that should guide your care.
If spinal decompression is included in your plan, we can track changes in:
- Pain during daily activities.
- Sitting and walking tolerance.
- Ease of bending and moving.
- Sleep disrupted by discomfort.
- Ability to participate in rehabilitation exercises.
Your response helps determine whether treatment should continue, change, or be replaced by another approach.
Why Combine Treatment With Rehabilitation?
An office treatment is only part of managing chronic low back pain. Building strength, endurance, and confidence in movement also matters.
Guidelines support staying active and participating in exercise adapted to your needs and abilities.
At Camarillo Functional Health, your care may include spinal decompression alongside appropriate mobility work, stabilization exercises, movement training, and a practical home program.
The aim is to help you move more comfortably and build the capacity to stay active.
What Should You Expect?
You deserve a clear explanation of both the potential benefits and the limitations before committing to treatment.
Evidence supporting traction and nonsurgical decompression is limited. Some major guidelines recommend against traction for low back pain, and it has not been established as a reliable way to reverse disc degeneration or prevent surgery.
That makes careful selection and reassessment essential. We discuss whether treatment is suitable, what alternatives are available, and what progress would justify continuing. A diagnosis on an MRI alone is not enough to recommend a course of decompression.
FAQ’s
Is spinal decompression the same as spinal surgery? No. Nonsurgical spinal decompression uses a motorized table to apply controlled traction. There is no incision or anesthesia, and it is different from surgical decompression procedures.
Can spinal decompression reverse degenerative disc disease? It has not been shown to reverse disc degeneration. The goal is to help reduce symptoms and improve function, measured through changes in sitting, walking, bending, and sleep.
How many spinal decompression sessions will I need? It depends on your exam and how you respond. Care starts as a defined trial with scheduled reassessments, and treatment continues only if you’re making measurable progress. (Add your typical protocol here, e.g., X sessions over Y weeks.)
Does insurance cover spinal decompression? Camarillo Functional Health does not bill insurance. Fees and the expected plan are reviewed during your consultation before you commit to treatment. (Confirm wording.)
Do you see patients from Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village? Yes. Our Camarillo office at 333 N Lantana St #132 sees patients from Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Moorpark, Oxnard, Ventura, and greater Los Angeles.
Take the First Step Toward a Clearer Treatment Plan
If chronic low back pain is interfering with your life, an evaluation can help you understand your options and decide what to do next.
At Camarillo Functional Health, Dr. Michael Veselak will review your history, examine your movement and neurologic function, and consider relevant imaging to determine whether a supervised trial of DRX9000 spinal decompression is appropriate.
Schedule a consultation to discuss your symptoms, your goals, and whether spinal decompression belongs in your treatment plan.
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