Living with chronic back pain is one of the most physically and emotionally exhausting conditions a person can face. In El Paso and across the United States, millions of people live with spinal stenosis, herniated discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, and facet joint syndrome. These spinal issues not only cause daily discomfort but also interfere with work, relationships, and the ability to stay active.

Many individuals have already tried medications, injections, or even surgery, yet find that their pain persists. At Synergy Health Solutions, we specialize in a different approach: spinal decompression therapy. This FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment uses controlled motorized traction to reduce spinal pressure, promote disc healing, and restore mobility. For veterans, athletes, law enforcement officers, and the hardworking community of El Paso, spinal decompression has become a game-changing therapy that avoids the risks of surgery while addressing the root cause of spinal pain.

Spinal decompression is a specialized form of non-surgical spinal therapy that gently stretches the spine in a controlled, computer-guided manner. This creates negative intradiscal pressure, which acts like a vacuum inside the disc. This vacuum effect allows bulging or herniated disc material to retract, relieves mechanical nerve irritation, and enhances the flow of oxygen, water, and nutrients into the disc space to promote natural healing (Beattie et al., 2008).

Unlike old-style traction devices or inversion tables, today’s decompression systems are precisely programmed to match each patient’s body type and condition. This prevents muscle guarding (the body’s natural resistance to traction) and makes the therapy safe, comfortable, and highly effective.

At Synergy Health Solutions, decompression tables can be programmed to target either the cervical or lumbar spine, depending on where the problem is located. Most patients describe the treatment as a mild stretch or gentle pulling sensation. Sessions typically last between 15 and 30 minutes.

Spinal decompression works by altering both the biomechanics and the physiology of the spinal discs:

• Reduced intradiscal pressure: Studies have shown that decompression significantly lowers the pressure inside the disc, which encourages bulging material to move back toward the center and away from pinched nerves (Gose et al., 1998).
   
• Improved fluid exchange: The drop in pressure creates an environment where oxygen and essential nutrients can enter the disc, rehydrating it and enhancing tissue repair.
   
• Restored disc height: As discs rehydrate, their height increases, which improves their ability to cushion spinal segments.
   
• Better biomechanics: With nerve compression reduced, muscles and joints around the spine function more normally, leading to improved movement patterns and posture (Gudavalli et al., 2006).
   

These mechanical changes are more than theoretical—they correlate strongly with patient reports of reduced pain, increased range of motion, and better long-term function.

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that places pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. This often results in lower back pain, leg cramping, numbness, or weakness. By gently stretching the spine and creating more space in the spinal canal, decompression therapy relieves nerve irritation and improves function (Chou et al., 2011).

Herniated discs occur when the inner gel-like nucleus pushes through the outer ring of the disc, often compressing nearby nerves. This condition can cause sharp, radiating pain into the arms or legs. Spinal decompression gently retracts the herniated material and promotes healing of the disc tissue (Gose et al., 1998).

Car accidents are a major cause of disc herniations in El Paso. We cover this in depth in our article on Vertebral Endplate Fractures and Modic Changes After Car Crash, which explains how traumatic forces damage discs and why decompression therapy can help restore stability.

Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve, typically from the lower back down one leg. It is most commonly caused by herniated discs or spinal misalignments pressing on the nerve. Spinal decompression relieves this compression and reduces inflammation, often leading to dramatic improvements in pain and mobility (Sherry et al., 2001).

In fact, many of our patients developed sciatica after being involved in car accidents. For more information, see our resource on Whiplash and Chronic Pain Syndromes After Car Accident, which explores how accident trauma can affect the entire spine, sometimes resulting in sciatic symptoms.

Over time, discs naturally lose hydration and elasticity. This process, known as degenerative disc disease, can result in chronic pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Spinal decompression enhances nutrient delivery to discs, slows down degeneration, and helps restore disc height and cushioning (Beattie et al., 2008).

Facet joints are small joints along the spine that provide stability and guide motion. When inflamed or overloaded, they can cause sharp, localized pain. Decompression therapy helps relieve this pressure, allowing these joints to move more comfortably (Gudavalli et al., 2006).

• Post-surgical rehabilitation (non-fusion cases)
   
• Chronic low back pain
   
• Cervical radiculopathy
   
• Sports-related spinal injuries
   
• Auto accident trauma, including Whiplash Ligament Damage & Chiropractic Care
   

Non-invasive alternative to surgery – Many patients turn to decompression after exhausting other conservative measures. It avoids surgical risks, recovery time, and reliance on opioid medications.

Improved mobility – By restoring disc height and reducing nerve impingement, patients often regain the ability to walk, sit, and exercise without discomfort.

Supports natural healing – Decompression enhances circulation of oxygen and nutrients, encouraging the body’s natural repair processes (Beattie et al., 2008).

Reduces inflammation – Chronic compression leads to inflammation and muscle spasm. Decompression addresses the root cause, helping to break this pain cycle (Shealy et al., 2005).

Customizable treatment – Each session is tailored to the patient’s condition, spinal region, and tolerance, based on exam findings and imaging.

Treatment begins with a comprehensive consultation, exam, and—when necessary—imaging such as X-rays or MRI. If decompression is appropriate, you’ll be positioned on the decompression table with a comfortable harness. The system then applies gentle, intermittent distraction forces.

Sessions last 15–30 minutes. Some patients feel relief after only a few visits, while full treatment plans typically span 4–8 weeks.

To maximize results, decompression is often paired with:

• Chiropractic adjustments
   
• Flexion-distraction therapy
   
• Therapeutic exercise and spinal stabilization
   
• Cold laser therapy
   
• Electrical muscle stimulation
   

This multimodal approach not only reduces pain but also promotes long-term spinal health.

One of our El Paso patients, a Marine veteran, suffered from lumbar disc herniation after deployment. Surgery had been recommended, but he wanted a non-invasive option. After six weeks of spinal decompression combined with therapeutic exercise, he experienced a major reduction in pain, regained his mobility, and was able to return to recreational activities without depending on medication.

Stories like this illustrate how spinal decompression can provide lasting results where other methods fall short.

Auto accidents are a frequent cause of spinal injuries in El Paso. Rear-end collisions, T-bone crashes, and rollovers create violent forces that damage discs, ligaments, and joints.

• Whiplash and Chronic Pain Syndromes After Car Accident explains how cervical trauma can lead to lasting symptoms if untreated.
   
• Whiplash Ligament Damage & Chiropractic Care explores how soft-tissue damage in the neck responds to decompression and chiropractic adjustments.
   
• Vertebral Endplate Fractures and Modic Changes After Car Crash details how accident trauma can alter disc structures and how decompression therapy can help restore balance.
   

By integrating decompression with chiropractic care, we not only relieve immediate symptoms but also prevent future instability.

If you’re dealing with back pain, sciatica, or accident-related spinal injuries, spinal decompression therapy may be the solution. At Synergy Health Solutions, Dr. Alexander Jimenez and our team create individualized treatment plans tailored to your unique needs.

We proudly serve veterans, first responders, athletes, and families throughout El Paso. Most insurance plans are accepted, including VA benefits, Tricare, personal injury coverage, and commercial providers.

Call us today at 9152194477 or schedule your appointment online.