Patient Success Story Spinal Decompression for a Retired Dentist in Plymouth Dr. Tom Bomberg Mark came in with a low back that was so stiff and tight he could no longer walk or move the way he felt he should. He had already been through surgeries, injections, physical therapy, and more than one orthopedic consultation, and none of it had given him the freedom he wanted in retirement. Mark is a retired dentist who built and ran a large dental practice in Janesville, Wisconsin before moving up to Plymouth, Minnesota to be closer to his kids and grandkids. He was an avid tennis player and motorcyclist for years, and he watches his daughter's dog, helps with the grandkids, and volunteers at his church. He had seen a chiropractor at least once a week during his working years, so when he settled in Plymouth he went looking for a provider who could help him stay active for the long haul. Key Takeaways THE CHALLENGE Decades of injuries, repetitive micro-traumas, and several major car accidents left Mark with significant lumbar degeneration, a very stiff low back, and limited walking tolerance. THE CARE PLAN We paired chiropractic adjustments with spinal decompression on the Chattanooga Triton traction unit, adding cold laser and electrical muscle stimulation for his tight lumbar muscles. THE RESULT He was moving better within a few weeks, his back pain was well managed within a few months, and he now comes in twice a month while walking, biking, and playing the ukulele. Mark's case was really twofold: we needed to mobilize and improve the function of his lumbar spine, and we needed to take pressure off the disc space. Adjustments alone would get the joints moving, but with that much arthritic change, decompression gave us a way to stretch each segment and let the discs relax. I was honest with him from the first visit that I wasn't going to over-promise on Lower Back Pain with that much structural history behind it, but that we could stay on top of it so it didn't keep getting worse. Project Summary Client Profile: Mark, a retired dentist and active grandfather Project Location: Plymouth, Minnesota (West Metro, Twin Cities) Primary Objective: Restore lumbar mobility and reduce pressure on degenerated discs through Non-Surgical Disc Care Techniques Used: Chiropractic adjustments combined with Spinal Decompression Therapy on a Chattanooga Triton traction unit, plus cold laser and electrical muscle stimulation Key Outcome: Back pain well managed; now seen every other week and back to walking, biking, and church volunteering What His Lumbar X-Rays Showed Mark had many significant injuries over his life, along with years of repetitive micro-traumas that added up. He also had a few very major car accidents that changed his body considerably, and he was well aware of it. When he came in for his first appointment, we took X-rays of his spine. The films showed significant degeneration and arthritic change in his lower back, including a retrolisthesis and an anterolisthesis at L4 on L5 and a retrolisthesis at L3 on L4. We also saw osteophytes, bone spurs, and a lot of bone and joint degeneration. Add two hip replacements to that picture, and it was clear this needed a careful, specific plan rather than a quick fix. Combining Adjustments With Spinal Decompression We started at three times a week, moving slowly, because doing too much too soon had been a problem for him in the past. Each visit combined chiropractic adjustments to get his lumbar spine moving with decompression to unload the disc space. His lower back muscles were so tight that we also used electrical muscle stimulation, and we incorporated cold laser as part of the plan. Decompression intensity is organized around a patient's weight, with most people tolerating around half their body weight, and we eased into that number rather than chasing it. "The worst thing we can do is max out the machine and try to get it to go as much as possible." - (Tom, Bomberg Chiropractic) The Triton unit reads how much tension is being pulled, so it eases off when the back starts tightening and goes back to a deeper stretch once the muscles relax. That feedback is what separates it from an inversion table, where everything gets stretched globally and the stuck areas simply stay stuck. Decompression adds about 15 minutes to an appointment, it isn't covered by insurance, and every patient signs a disclosure acknowledging that before we begin. We talked through Flexible Pricing Options up front and mapped out what long-term Wellness Chiropractic Care would look like for him. Walking, Biking, and Two Years In With that much arthritic change, it took a few weeks before Mark really noticed a difference, and I told him to expect that. He was moving better within those first weeks, and within a few months his back pain was pretty well managed at twice a week. From there we weaned the frequency down as his body held the changes longer between visits. Mark now comes in once every other week, two times a month, and I've been treating him for well over two years. He's doing a lot of walking, which is something he wasn't able to do for a long time, he went on plenty of bike rides over the summer, and he's stayed active at church. He also picked up the ukulele, and he still gets to Hawaii in the winter to get out of the snow for a while. Stiff Low Back Slowing You Down? We see a lot of patients in Plymouth and the West Metro who have been told their back pain is just age or arthritis. My job is to look at how your spine actually functions, explain what I see on your X-rays, and be straight with you about what chiropractic and decompression can and can't do for it. Dealing with a stiff, degenerating low back in Plymouth and wondering whether decompression is an option for you? Take the first step and let's talk it through. Bomberg Chiropractic15600 35th Ave. N #101, Plymouth, MN 55447Call (763) 450-1755 or Schedule Online Frequently Asked Questions Does spinal decompression hurt at your Plymouth clinic? It looks like a torture device, but it shouldn't hurt when it's done correctly. We use the right poundage for your body weight, move slowly and methodically, and follow the protocols Chattanooga recommends alongside my clinical experience. Most people don't notice much during the first few sessions beyond a gentle pull, and the change tends to show up that evening or the next day. Some patients find it relaxing enough that they fall asleep on the table. Can decompression help with arthritis or after hip replacements? Most people don't even know decompression is an option, and it can take the edge off that kind of stiffness and degeneration. Mark had significant arthritic change, bone spurs, and two hip replacements, and we still built a plan around him by easing into the pressure. It's different from an inversion table, which stretches everything globally and can leave restricted areas hurting. The decompression machine senses when your back spasms or works against it, so it can calm the area down and stretch the specific segments that need to move. Is spinal decompression covered by insurance in Plymouth? No, decompression isn't covered by insurance, and I'd rather tell you that up front than surprise you later. Everyone signs a disclosure acknowledging it, and decompression appointments run at most $70 for that portion of your treatment. We offer care plans in blocks of six, 12, 24, or 48 decompression appointments, and the larger the plan, the bigger the savings. Shawna can walk you through the numbers before you commit to anything.