Non-surgical spinal decompression at Beacon Clinic of Chiropractic is most relevant for patients whose symptoms are driven by disc pathology at the lumbar or cervical level. Lumbar disc herniation producing sciatica — radiating pain, numbness, or weakness into one or both legs — is among the most common presentations for which decompression is considered. Bulging discs that have not herniated completely but are producing nerve irritation and local back or neck pain may also be appropriate for the protocol. Degenerative disc disease, which involves loss of disc height and hydration over time, is another condition where decompression therapy may support the disc's environment, though the clinical expectations for degenerative cases differ from those involving acute herniation.
Spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses the spinal cord or nerve roots — is a condition where decompression may provide symptom relief by temporarily increasing the space available to the compressed structures, though the underlying bony stenosis is not altered by the therapy. Not every presentation of these conditions is appropriate for decompression, and Dr. Bronstein evaluates each San Luis Obispo patient's candidacy during the initial assessment at Beacon Clinic. Absolute contraindications include fracture at the treatment level, spinal instability, certain types of implanted hardware, and active malignancy involving the spine. These are assessed during the evaluation before any decompression protocol begins.
