Tag Archive for: DRX9000

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression in Los Angeles — What You Need to Know Before Considering Back Surgery

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Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression in Los Angeles — What You Need to Know Before Considering Back Surgery

Los Angeles Spinal Decompression® provides FDA-cleared, non-surgical spinal decompression therapy using the DRX9000 at 11340 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 160, Los Angeles, CA 90064 — serving patients from West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Westwood, Playa Vista, Mar Vista, Venice, Pacific Palisades, and surrounding Westside communities. Dr. Michael C. Karr, a UCLA graduate with postgraduate honors in radiology, personally reviews every patient’s MRI and determines whether spinal decompression is the right course of treatment.

What Is Spinal Decompression Therapy?

Spinal decompression is a non-surgical, drug-free treatment that uses motorized traction to gently stretch the spine, relieving pressure on damaged intervertebral discs. The DRX9000 — the gold standard in spinal decompression technology — creates precise negative pressure within the disc space, allowing herniated or bulging material to retract away from compressed nerves while drawing in oxygen, water, and nutrients that promote natural disc healing.

Unlike surgery, spinal decompression carries no anesthesia risk, no recovery downtime, and no permanent structural alteration to the spine. Unlike pain medication, it addresses the structural source of pain rather than masking symptoms.

Conditions Treated With the DRX9000 at LA Spinal Decompression®

Dr. Karr uses the DRX9000 to treat a wide range of spinal conditions, including:

Herniated discs — one of the most common causes of back and leg pain, occurring when the soft inner core of a disc pushes through its outer casing and presses on nearby nerves. The DRX9000 creates the negative intradiscal pressure needed to draw that material back toward the center of the disc.

Bulging discs — similar to herniated discs but with the disc wall still intact. Decompression reduces the outward pressure that causes the disc to bulge and compress surrounding nerve tissue.

Sciatica and sciatic nerve pain — the sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body, running from the lower spine through the buttocks and down each leg. When a herniated or bulging disc compresses the sciatic nerve, patients experience shooting leg pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. DRX9000 decompression relieves that compression directly at the source.

Degenerative disc disease — over time, intervertebral discs lose hydration and height, narrowing the space between vertebrae and increasing pressure on spinal nerves. Decompression therapy helps restore disc height and hydration while reducing nerve compression.

Pinched nerves and radiculopathy — nerve compression in the cervical (neck) or lumbar (lower back) spine can cause radiating pain, weakness, or sensory changes in the arms or legs. Decompression therapy addresses the structural cause of nerve compression.

Failed back surgery syndrome — patients who have undergone spinal surgery but continue to experience pain are often candidates for decompression therapy. Dr. Karr evaluates each case individually to determine whether decompression can provide relief.

How the DRX9000 Works — Step by Step

A typical DRX9000 session at Los Angeles Spinal Decompression® begins with Dr. Karr reviewing your MRI or X-rays to confirm the diagnosis and identify the specific disc levels requiring treatment. You are then positioned on the DRX9000 treatment table, which is fully adjustable to target the precise spinal segment involved.

During treatment, the DRX9000 applies gentle, computer-controlled traction in a cyclical pattern — alternating between distraction (stretching) and relaxation phases. This cycling motion creates the negative pressure within the disc without triggering the muscle guarding reflex that can limit the effectiveness of manual traction. Sessions typically last 30 to 45 minutes and are comfortable enough that many patients fall asleep during treatment.

A standard treatment protocol at LA Spinal Decompression® consists of multiple sessions over several weeks, depending on the severity of the condition and the patient’s response to care. Most patients report noticeable improvement within the first few sessions.

Why Choose Los Angeles Spinal Decompression® for DRX9000 Treatment in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles Spinal Decompression® is one of the few practices in the greater Los Angeles area with the DRX9000 — the most clinically validated spinal decompression system available. Many practices offer generic traction tables marketed as “decompression” — but only the DRX9000 uses the patented logarithmic decompression curve that prevents muscle guarding and achieves true intradiscal negative pressure.

Dr. Michael C. Karr brings over 35 years of clinical experience to every case. As a UCLA graduate with advanced training in radiology and biomechanics, Dr. Karr evaluates every patient’s imaging personally — not a technician, not a physician assistant. You meet with the doctor, review your MRI together, and receive an honest assessment of whether decompression can help your specific condition. If it can’t, Dr. Karr will tell you — and refer you to the appropriate specialist.

We Treat ALL SPINES of People® — from professional athletes and active professionals to seniors managing degenerative disc disease and patients recovering from work or auto injuries.

Insurance, Payment Options, and First-Visit Offer

Many patients ask about coverage for spinal decompression. Los Angeles Spinal Decompression® accepts most PPO insurance plans, Medicare (for covered services), MedPay, Workers’ Compensation, and approved personal injury liens. Our staff verifies your benefits before your first appointment so there are no billing surprises.

For patients exploring whether spinal decompression is right for them, your first treatment is just $149 with an approved MRI report and doctor’s approval. This includes a comprehensive exam, X-rays if needed, MRI review with Dr. Karr, and your first DRX9000 session.

Serving All of West Los Angeles and the Westside

Los Angeles Spinal Decompression® is conveniently located at 11340 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 160, Los Angeles, CA 90064 — on the ground floor with free parking and easy access from the 10 and 405 freeways. We serve patients from West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Westwood, Century City, Bel Air, Venice, Mar Vista, Playa Vista, Pacific Palisades, West Hollywood, and Marina del Rey.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Decompression in Los Angeles

Is spinal decompression painful? No. Most patients find DRX9000 sessions comfortable and relaxing. The computer-controlled cycling motion is designed to avoid triggering muscle guarding, which makes it gentler than manual traction.

How many treatments will I need? The number of sessions depends on your diagnosis, the severity of disc damage, and how your body responds. Dr. Karr will outline a treatment plan after reviewing your MRI and completing your examination.

Am I a candidate for spinal decompression? The best way to determine candidacy is to bring your MRI to Los Angeles Spinal Decompression® and have Dr. Karr review it. General indicators of candidacy include herniated or bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, or pinched nerves without significant spinal instability or fracture.

How does spinal decompression differ from chiropractic adjustment? Chiropractic adjustment restores joint mobility and alignment through manual manipulation. Spinal decompression uses mechanical traction to reduce intradiscal pressure and promote disc healing. The two therapies are complementary and are often used together at our affiliated practice, West Los Angeles Chiropractic®.

Does insurance cover spinal decompression? Coverage varies by plan. Our staff verifies benefits before your first appointment. We also accept MedPay, Workers’ Comp, approved liens, and self-pay options.

Schedule Your DRX9000 Consultation Today

If you are living with herniated disc pain, sciatica, or chronic back pain — and want to know whether non-surgical spinal decompression can help — call Los Angeles Spinal Decompression® today.

📞 Call Betty: 310-914-9422 🌐 LosAngelesSpinalDecompression.com 📍 11340 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 160, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (Ground floor · Free parking · Near the 10 & 405)

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Page last updated: June 2026

If you work at Google, Apple, Amazon, Meta, EA, Riot Games, Yahoo, or Disney — or anywhere across the Playa Vista, Culver City, or West Los Angeles tech corridor — your spine is under constant stress.

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If you work at Google, Apple, Amazon, Meta, EA, Riot Games, Yahoo, or Disney — or anywhere across the Playa Vista, Culver City, or West Los Angeles tech corridor — your spine is under constant stress.

Long hours coding, designing, producing, and sitting through back-to-back meetings are compressing your lumbar discs every single day. Most people ignore it until the pain becomes unbearable. By then a disc has herniated, a nerve is compressed, and someone is recommending surgery.

Before you agree to that — read this.

Why Disc Pain Gets Worse Over Time

Every hour of sitting increases intradiscal pressure in your lower back. Over months and years that pressure causes discs to bulge, herniate, and eventually compress the surrounding spinal nerves. The result is sciatica — sharp, shooting pain radiating down your leg, numbness in your foot, and an inability to sit, stand, or sleep comfortably.

Cortisone injections mask the pain temporarily. Physical therapy strengthens the muscles around the problem but rarely resolves it. Surgery carries significant risks and a lengthy recovery — and for many patients the pain returns within years.

There is a better first step.

What Is Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression?

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is an FDA-cleared therapy that uses a computerized table to gently and precisely decompress the affected spinal disc. At Los Angeles Spinal Decompression® we use the DRX9000™ — the #1 rated spinal decompression system — combined with MedX Rehab strengthening and same-day in-office digital X-rays.

The DRX9000™ works by creating negative intradiscal pressure — essentially a gentle vacuum effect that draws herniated disc material back toward its normal position, relieves nerve compression, and promotes natural disc healing through increased blood flow and nutrient delivery.

The treatment is painless. Most patients feel relief within the first several sessions. There is no surgery, no injections, and no recovery downtime.

Who Is a Candidate?

Spinal decompression is highly effective for patients suffering from:

  • Sciatica and radiating leg or arm pain
  • Herniated or bulging discs
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Spinal stenosis and foraminal stenosis
  • Chronic lower back and neck pain
  • Numbness and tingling in the extremities
  • Pinched nerves

An MRI no older than 12 months is required prior to treatment. Dr. Karr will review your imaging in detail and confirm whether you are a candidate before recommending a care plan.

Why Los Angeles Spinal Decompression® Is Different

We specialize exclusively in spinal decompression. This is not a side service — it is everything we do. That singular focus means deeper expertise, more precise treatment protocols, and better outcomes for our patients.

Our office is one of the only practices in Los Angeles combining the DRX9000™ with MedX Rehab strengthening and same-day in-office digital X-rays — giving us a complete picture of your condition from day one and a comprehensive treatment approach that addresses both the disc and the surrounding musculature.

Your PPO Insurance May Cover It

If you work at a Westside tech company your employer PPO — Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, Aetna, or UnitedHealthcare — may cover spinal decompression for disc-related diagnoses. We verify your benefits before your first visit so you know exactly what to expect. CareCredit financing is also available for any remaining out-of-pocket costs.

First Visit — $149

Your first visit includes a comprehensive exam, two in-office digital X-rays, and your first spinal decompression treatment — all for just $149 with an approved MRI report.

We are located minutes from the Playa Vista and Culver City tech campuses — ground floor, free parking, near the 10 and 405 freeways. Same-day and Saturday appointments available.

Stop Letting Disc Pain Run Your Life

You are one decision away from a different outcome. Call Betty today — she will review your MRI, verify your insurance benefits, and get you scheduled fast.

📞 310-914-9422 📍 11340 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 160 | Los Angeles, CA 90064 🌐 LosAngelesSpinalDecompression.com

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This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider to determine if spinal decompression is appropriate for your condition.