Spinal Decompression Therapy in Opelika When Disc Pain Won’t Let Up

Herniated discs, sciatica, and chronic back pain are some of the most disabling conditions people in East Alabama deal with every day. Many patients arrive at our office on Gateway Drive in Opelika having already tried pain medications, injections, or simply waiting it out — and the relief they were hoping for never came. Spinal decompression therapy offers a non-surgical path to relieving the disc pressure that drives that pain.

Herring Spine & Rehab has been treating patients with spinal and disc conditions since 1981. Thousands of patients from the Auburn and Opelika area have come through our doors, and our doctors have spent decades developing a deep understanding of how disc problems develop, what makes them worse, and how to address them without surgery.

What Causes Disc Problems and Spinal Pressure in This Area

Disc conditions develop for a number of reasons, and life in the Auburn-Opelika corridor creates several of them. Long commutes on I-85, desk work at the many businesses near Tiger Town, years of physical labor in East Alabama’s manufacturing and agricultural sectors, and the athletic demands placed on student athletes at Auburn University all put the spine under sustained stress over time.

The discs between your vertebrae act as cushions. When they wear down, bulge outward, or herniate, they can press directly on nearby nerve roots. That pressure is what produces the sharp back pain, leg pain, or the burning, tingling sensations that travel down through the sciatic nerve. Left unaddressed, the pressure doesn’t go away on its own for most people.

Certain movements, postures, and occupational demands that are common throughout Lee County accelerate disc degeneration. Prolonged sitting, repetitive lifting, and poor spinal biomechanics over many years are among the most frequent contributors we see in practice.

How We Diagnose Spinal and Disc Conditions

Before any treatment begins, our doctors conduct a thorough evaluation to identify exactly what is happening in your spine. We have an on-site X-ray room at our facility on Gateway Drive, and patients receive their reading and report of findings the same day — no waiting days or weeks for results from a separate imaging center.

Our chiropractic physicians also hold auxiliary staff privileges at East Alabama Health, which allows them to order MRIs, CT scans, bone density tests, and other advanced imaging when needed. That relationship between our chiropractic team and medical staff means your case can be reviewed with the full picture of what’s happening in your spine before a treatment plan is recommended.

The evaluation process looks at spinal alignment, range of motion, neurological signs, and the nature of your symptoms to determine whether spinal decompression is appropriate for your condition.

Spinal Decompression Therapy for Herniated Discs and Sciatica

Spinal decompression works by gently stretching the spine using specialized equipment. This creates negative pressure within the affected discs, which can help retract bulging or herniated disc material, reduce pressure on compressed nerves, and improve the flow of nutrients into the disc to support natural healing.

Our practice uses the Cox technique, a well-documented and clinically studied form of chiropractic decompression. We have four Cox tables in our office, which allows us to serve multiple patients efficiently without sacrificing time or attention. Cox technique uses slow, controlled flexion-distraction movements that are gentle enough for patients in significant pain and can be carefully adjusted based on each patient’s condition and tolerance.

Decompression is often used alongside other therapies available at our facility. Ultrasound therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, cold laser therapy, and spinal strengthening exercises are frequently incorporated into treatment plans to address the surrounding soft tissue and support long-term spinal stability. For patients whose conditions involve more complex pain management needs, our medical team at Tiger Town Wellness is available within the same practice.

Why Opelika and Auburn Trust Herring Spine & Rehab

Dr. Ronald D. Herring has been in private practice in Opelika since 1981, and Dr. Rodney D. Herring since 1987. Both received Young Chiropractor of the Year recognition from the Alabama State Chiropractic Association early in their careers, and Dr. Rod Herring received the Chiropractor of the Year award from the same organization in 2019. Dr. Tyler Wilburn, a Palmer College of Chiropractic graduate who grew up in the Auburn-Opelika area, brings additional expertise including Webster Technique certification.

The practice integrated medical care in 2005, adding Dr. Ronald J. Herring, M.D., who completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic and an additional fellowship year as Chief Medical Resident. Nurse Practitioner Jeff Sanders, a Troy University graduate, rounds out the medical team.

Patients from across Lee County and beyond have relied on this office for disc conditions, sciatica, and chronic spinal pain. One patient summed up the experience simply: “I have had really bad sciatic nerve pain for years, and I am so thankful to say after coming here it is no longer bothersome.” Most major insurance plans are accepted, including BCBS, Aetna, Humana, United Healthcare, and Medicare. No long-term contracts are required.