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If you’re reading this page, someone has probably told you that your disc problem requires surgery. Maybe you’ve been living with chronic back pain, sciatica, or neck pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments. Perhaps you’ve already scheduled a surgical consultation, or you’re weighing the risks and recovery time that surgery involves.
Here’s what we’ve learned through twenty-five years of helping people with disc problems: many conditions that seem to require surgery can actually heal naturally when we create the right environment for that healing to occur. Our KDT Neuroflex Spinal Decompression system does exactly that—it creates conditions inside your damaged discs that allow your body to heal itself in ways that surgery simply cannot duplicate.
This isn’t about avoiding surgery at all costs or making unrealistic promises. It’s about understanding that your body has remarkable healing capabilities when given optimal conditions, and sometimes those conditions can be created without the permanent changes that surgery involves.
To appreciate how spinal decompression works, let’s start with understanding what’s actually happening when discs become damaged. Think of your spinal discs as sophisticated shock absorbers positioned between each vertebra. They’re filled with a gel-like substance that normally cushionsmovement and distributes weight evenly throughout your spine.
When discs become compressed, herniated, or degenerated, several problems occur simultaneously. The disc loses its ability to absorb shock effectively, which transfers abnormal stress to surrounding structures. The spacing between vertebrae decreases, which can narrow the openings where nerves exit your spine. Most importantly, the damaged disc tissue becomes dehydrated and cut off from the nutrients it needs to heal naturally.
This is where conventional treatments often fall short of addressing the real problem. Pain medications can mask symptoms but don’t improve the internal disc environment. Physical therapy can strengthen surrounding muscles but can’t change what’s happening inside the disc itself. Even injections, while sometimes providing temporary relief, don’t create the conditions necessary for actual disc healing.
The key insight that led to the development of spinal decompression therapy is this: discs can heal themselves when we create the right internal environment, but that environment is nearly impossible to achieve through conventional means.
The science behind spinal decompression centers on a simple but powerful principle: creating negative pressure within the disc space. This might sound complicated, but the concept is actually quite straightforward. Instead of the compression forces that damaged your disc in the first place, we’re creating the opposite effect—gentle decompression that encourages healing.
When we achieve proper decompression, several remarkable things happen inside your disc. The negative pressure creates a vacuum effect that encourages herniated or bulging disc material to retract back toward its normal position. Think of it like a gentle suction that helps displaced disc material return to where it belongs.
At the same time, this negative pressure creates space for nutrient-rich fluids to flow into the disc tissue. Your discs don’t have their own blood supply like other tissues, so they depend on this fluid exchange for nutrition and waste removal. When discs are compressed and damaged, this vital exchange is severely compromised, creating a cycle where damaged discs can’t get the nutrients they need to heal.
The KDT Neuroflex system takes this principle and applies it with remarkable precision. Unlike conventional traction that simply pulls on your spine, this computerized system monitors your body’s response in real-time and adjusts the decompression forces thousands of times during each session. This precision prevents the protective muscle spasms that often limit the effectiveness of simpler approaches.
Each treatment session typically lasts twenty to thirty minutes, during which you lie comfortably on the specialized table while the system delivers carefully programmed cycles of gentle stretching and relaxation. Most patients find the experience surprisingly comfortable—many even fall asleep during their sessions.
Through our years of experience with spinal decompression therapy, we’ve learned which conditions typically respond best to this approach. Understanding these patterns helps us have realistic conversations with patients about what might be possible for their specific situation.
Herniated and Bulging Discs represent some of our most successful cases. When disc material pushes through tears in the outer disc wall or bulges beyond normal boundaries, the decompression process can encourage that material to retract while improving the internal healing environment. Many patients who were told they needed surgery for disc herniations have achieved complete resolution through decompression therapy.
Degenerative Disc Disease often responds well because decompression addresses the underlying problem of poor disc nutrition and hydration. By improving the internal disc environment, we can often slow or even reverse aspects of the degenerative process that conventional medicine considers inevitable.
Sciatica and Radiating Pain typically improve quickly because decompression addresses the root cause—nerve compression from disc problems. As disc material retracts and pressure is relieved, patients often experience rapid improvement in their radiating symptoms.
Spinal Stenosis related to disc problems can improve significantly through decompression therapy. By improving disc height and reducing inflammatory swelling, we can increase the available space for nerve structures without surgical intervention.
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome presents some of our most challenging but rewarding cases. When surgery hasn’t provided expected relief, decompression therapy can often address the underlying disc problems that may persist after surgical intervention.
Understanding what to expect during spinal decompression therapy helps eliminate any anxiety about the process. We’ve designed the entire experience around patient comfort while maximizing therapeutic effectiveness.
Your journey begins with a thorough evaluation to determine whether decompression therapy is appropriate for your specific condition. Not everyone is a candidate, and we take care to identify any factors that might make this approach inappropriate or unsafe. This evaluation includes detailed discussion of your symptoms and previous treatments, focused physical examination, and review of any existing imaging studies or recommendations for additional diagnostics when necessary.
Once we determine that decompression therapy is appropriate for you, we develop a completely customized treatment protocol. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach—every aspect of your treatment is calibrated to your specific anatomy, condition severity, and therapeutic goals.
During each treatment session, you’ll lie comfortably on the KDT Neuroflex table while our specialist positions you for optimal decompression of your specific problem areas. The treatment feels like gentle, rhythmic stretching—many patients describe it as remarkably relaxing. The sophisticated monitoring systems continuously adjust the treatment parameters based on your body’s responses, ensuring maximum therapeutic benefit while maintaining complete comfort.
Your progress is carefully monitored throughout your treatment program through regular reassessments of your symptoms, function, and objective measures of improvement. This ongoing monitoring allows us to modify your protocol as you improve, ensuring optimal outcomes throughout your recovery process.
Ready to experience advanced decompression therapy designed specifically for your condition? [Start your personalized treatment program] and discover what systematic, monitored improvement feels like.
Not all spinal decompression systems provide the same therapeutic capabilities, and understanding these differences helps explain why we’ve invested in the most advanced technology available. The KDT Neuroflex system represents a significant technological advancement over conventional traction or basic decompression tables.
The computer-controlled precision of this system allows for therapeutic effects that manual approaches simply cannot achieve. Traditional traction applies constant force that often triggers protective muscle spasms, limiting effectiveness. The KDT Neuroflex system uses sophisticated algorithms to deliver variable force patterns that work with your body’s natural responses rather than against them.
Real-time biofeedback integration sets this system apart from simpler approaches. Advanced sensors provide continuous feedback about your body’s response to treatment, allowing automatic adjustments that maintain optimal therapeutic conditions throughout each session. This level of precision would be impossible to achieve manually.
The customization capabilities allow us to precisely tailor treatment to your body weight, anatomy, condition severity, and individual response patterns. The system can store your individual treatment parameters, ensuring consistency and optimization across all your sessions.
Most importantly, this system integrates seamlessly with our other therapeutic approaches, allowing us to combine decompression therapy with our Spinal Rejuvenation Therapy program, chiropractic care, and soft tissue therapies for synergistic effects that exceed what any single treatment could accomplish alone.
Experience what happens when advanced technology meets personalized care. [Schedule your consultation] to learn how this precision approach addresses your specific disc problems.
While spinal decompression therapy produces remarkable results for disc healing, we’ve learned that optimal outcomes require addressing all factors that contribute to spinal health. Our integrated approach recognizes that disc problems rarely occur in isolation but are usually part of broader spinal dysfunction patterns.
When we combine decompression therapy with our Spinal Rejuvenation Therapy program, we address both the disc-specific aspects of your condition and the structural factors that may have contributed to your disc problems. This comprehensive approach creates more complete and lasting recovery than either treatment could achieve alone.
Supportive therapeutic interventions enhance your decompression program when appropriate. SoftWave Therapy can accelerate soft tissue healing around affected disc structures. Specific chiropractic adjustments correct spinal misalignments that may be contributing to abnormal disc stress. Targeted exercises strengthen the muscles that support optimal spinal health while improving movement patterns that prevent future problems.
Our nutritional guidance supports the healing processes we’re activating through treatment, providing your body with the building blocks necessary for tissue repair and optimal disc health. Understanding the lifestyle factors that contributed to your disc problems empowers you to make choices that support long-term spinal health.
Over the years, we’ve been blessed to help many people avoid surgery and achieve remarkable recovery through spinal decompression therapy. While every case is unique, the patterns of improvement we see consistently demonstrate the healing potential of this approach.
Sarah, a teacher with a large disc herniation causing severe sciatica, was scheduled for surgery when she decided to try decompression therapy first. After completing our program experienced complete resolution of her leg pain. She was able to cancel her surgery and return to all normal activities.
Scott, who continued experiencing pain after spinal fusion surgery, found significant relief through our comprehensive program combining decompression with spinal rehabilitation. Rather than requiring additional surgery, he returned to full work activities and recreational pursuits he thought were permanently lost.
Linda, dealing with multi-level degenerative disc disease, not only experienced pain relief but she returned to hiking and activities she had abandoned due to her condition.
These stories represent the hope that’s possible when we address disc problems comprehensively rather than just managing symptoms. While we can’t guarantee specific outcomes for any individual, these experiences demonstrate what’s often achievable when we create optimal conditions for healing.
We understand that considering spinal decompression therapy often comes with questions and concerns, especially if you’ve been told that surgery is your only option. Let’s address some of the most common questions we hear.
How does decompression compare to surgery? Decompression therapy offers several advantages for appropriate conditions. It’s completely non-invasive with no recovery time or activity restrictions. Unlike surgery, which permanently alters your anatomy, decompression works with your natural structures to promote healing. Surgery addresses only the immediate problem without correcting underlying factors, while our comprehensive approach addresses all aspects of spinal health.
Is the treatment comfortable? Most patients find decompression therapy very relaxing. The treatment feels like gentle stretching, and many people actually fall asleep during sessions. If you experience any discomfort, you have immediate control to modify or stop the treatment.
How long does treatment take? Individual sessions last twenty to thirty minutes, and most programs involve multiple sessions over several weeks. Many patients begin experiencing improvement within the first few sessions, though optimal results usually require completing the full program.
Will insurance cover the treatment? Coverage varies depending on your specific plan and the medical necessity for your condition. We work with most major insurance plans and will verify your benefits before beginning treatment.
Every day you delay treatment allows continued disc damage and potential nerve injury that becomes increasingly difficult to reverse. Disc problems rarely improve on their own and typically worsen over time without appropriate intervention.
The remarkable healing potential of spinal decompression therapy is most effective when treatment begins before permanent structural damage occurs. Early intervention provides faster symptom relief while preventing progression that can make future treatment more challenging.
Schedule Your Comprehensive Evaluation – [Book online] to take the first step toward understanding whether spinal decompression therapy can provide the relief you’ve been seeking.
Speak with Our Specialists – Call (651) 644-7207 to discuss your specific condition with our knowledgeable team who can answer questions about decompression therapy and help determine if this approach is appropriate for your situation.
Request Information – Email us at info@stpaulnaturalhealth.com with details about your disc problems, and we’ll provide personalized information about how spinal decompression therapy might address your specific condition.
During your consultation, we’ll provide complete understanding of your disc condition, clear explanation of how decompression therapy can address your problems, realistic timeline and expectations for improvement, and detailed discussion of all treatment options and costs.
Your discs have the ability to heal when given optimal conditions. [Discover the decompression difference today] and experience what’s possible when advanced technology meets natural healing.
KDT Neuroflex technology uses computer-controlled precision to create negative pressure within damaged discs, which simple traction cannot achieve. Traditional traction applies constant force that often triggers protective muscle spasms, limiting effectiveness. Our system uses sophisticated algorithms delivering variable force patterns that work with your body’s natural responses. Real-time biofeedback allows automatic adjustments maintaining optimal therapeutic conditions throughout each session. This precision creates disc healing environments that manual approaches simply cannot duplicate.
Herniated and bulging discs typically show excellent results because decompression encourages displaced disc material to retract while improving internal healing conditions. Degenerative disc disease often responds well by addressing poor disc nutrition and hydration. Sciatica and radiating pain usually improve quickly as nerve compression is relieved. Spinal stenosis related to disc problems can improve significantly through increased nerve space. Even some cases of failed back surgery syndrome can benefit when underlying disc problems persist after surgical intervention.
Spinal decompression therapy is very safe when performed with advanced KDT Neuroflex technology and proper patient screening. The treatment feels like gentle, rhythmic stretching, and many patients find it quite relaxing. You maintain complete control throughout treatment and can stop the session immediately if needed. The sophisticated monitoring systems continuously adjust treatment parameters based on your body’s responses, ensuring maximum therapeutic benefit while maintaining complete comfort.
St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center
464 Hamline Ave South, St. Paul, MN 55105
Phone: (651) 644-7207
Email: info@stpaulnaturalhealth.com
Located in St. Paul’s Highland Park area, our clinic serves as the region’s destination for advanced spinal decompression therapy. Dr. Christopher Lilja and our specialized team have extensive experience with KDT Neuroflex protocols, ensuring you receive expert care throughout your treatment program.
Our comprehensive approach integrates spinal decompression with our other advanced treatment systems for optimal outcomes that exceed what any single approach could achieve. We’re grateful for the opportunity to serve our community and honored to help people avoid unnecessary surgery while achieving lasting relief.
Stop letting disc problems control your life. [Experience the healing power of advanced spinal decompression] and discover why many people are choosing this approach over surgical intervention.
We accept most major insurance plans, including HSA/HFA funds, and verify your coverage before your first visit at no cost; just bring your insurance card. We also coordinate with your primary care provider to ensure seamless care.
By appointment only
Monday: 9am – 12pm & 2pm – 6pm
Tuesday : By appointment
Wednesday: 9am – 12pm & 2pm – 6pm
Thursday :12pm – 6pm
Friday: 9am – 1pm
Closed Saturdays & Sundays
Check back often for orthopedic news and updates about our office.
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We’re honored by the trust our patients place in us and grateful for every opportunity to participate in their healing journeys. If you’re seeking comprehensive care that addresses the real reasons your symptoms persist, we’d be privileged to help you discover what’s possible when the right combination of advanced treatments addresses your body’s specific needs.
Gratefully Serving the Twin Cities Community Since 2000
Where Innovation Meets Natural Healing
By appointment only
Monday: 9am – 12pm & 2pm – 6pm
Tuesday : By appointment
Wednesday: 9am – 12pm & 2pm – 6pm
Thursday :12pm – 6pm
Friday: 9am – 1pm
Closed Saturdays & Sundays
Emily serves as the Lead Spinal Rehabilitation Specialist at St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center, where her exceptional patient care and clinical expertise have made her an invaluable member of our team since August 2017. As our most senior team member, Emily exemplifies the practice’s commitment to compassionate, comprehensive care.
Emily brings a strong academic foundation to her role, having graduated from Winona State University in 2017 with dual Bachelor’s degrees in Movement Science and Psychology. This interdisciplinary education uniquely positions her to understand both the physical and psychological aspects of patient rehabilitation, allowing her to deliver care that addresses the whole person.
Since joining our team, Emily has become an expert in our proprietary treatment protocols. Her advanced training includes certification as a registered Limited Scope X-ray operator, providing her with detailed knowledge of spinal anatomy and pathology that enhances her rehabilitation work.
Olivia brings Southern warmth and exceptional expertise to St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center, where she has been an indispensable team member since 2018. Originally from Georgia, Olivia made Minnesota her home in 2010, establishing roots in East St. Paul and graduating from Johnson Senior High School before pursuing her passion for healing at the Aveda Institute Minneapolis.
With over a decade of experience in therapeutic bodywork, Olivia’s journey began as a certified massage therapist in 2016, quickly distinguishing herself through her remarkable ability to address soft tissue injuries and chronic pain conditions. Her skills and commitment to patient care gained Dr. Chris’s notice, resulting in a lasting professional partnership.
In January 2024, Olivia’s role evolved to Lead SoftWave Technician Specialist, where she skillfully applies Extra-Corporal Shock Wave Therapy to address knee pain, shoulder injuries, and various soft tissue conditions. Her extensive background in massage therapy provides her with an intuitive understanding of the body’s mechanics, allowing her to achieve exceptional results with SoftWave technology.
Olivia is also a key practitioner in our proprietary Spinal Rehabilitation Therapy (S.R.T.) program, working seamlessly alongside Emily to create a therapeutic environment that promotes optimal healing and recovery. Together, they form the backbone of our patient care team, establishing an atmosphere of comfort, trust, and clinical excellence that patients consistently praise.
What truly sets Olivia apart is her genuine compassion and unwavering reliability. She greets every patient with a warm smile, approaches each case with meticulous attention to detail, and consistently demonstrates the perfect balance of technical skill and heartfelt care. Her humble nature belies her exceptional abilities, making her therapeutic presence all the more powerful.
Outside the clinic, Olivia embraces life’s simple joys with her 7-year-old daughter and spouse. She finds renewal through camping adventures, expresses her creativity through drawing, delights in culinary exploration, and soaks up Minnesota’s precious sunshine whenever possible.
We consider ourselves truly blessed to have Olivia as part of our healing community at St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center, where her dedication continues to transform lives daily.
With over two decades of dedicated patient care experience, Molly brings a wealth of expertise and compassion to her role as Office Manager at St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center.
After graduating from Century College’s Dental Assistant program in 2004, Molly built an impressive career as a Licensed Dental Assistant, developing exceptional skills in patient communication and healthcare administration.
Guided by her personal commitment to holistic wellness, Molly made a transformative career shift in Summer 2023 to align her professional path with her passion for natural health. She earned prestigious certifications from the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) as a Personal Trainer, Nutrition Specialist, and Corrective Exercise Specialist—qualifications that provide her with unique insights into the comprehensive care our patients receive.
“What I value most about St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center is our team’s dedication to treating the whole person, not just symptoms,” Molly shares. “Seeing patients progress from pain to wellness is incredibly rewarding.”
As Office Manager, Molly expertly coordinates patient care while ensuring our practice runs smoothly. Her understanding of both administrative excellence and natural healing principles makes her an invaluable bridge between our clinical team and patients.
When not welcoming patients with her warm smile, Molly embraces life as a devoted mother to three daughters. Her personal wellness journey includes strength training and fitness activities—often making these family affairs. An avid home chef, she experiments with nutritious recipes and occasional treats, believing that balance is essential to well-being. In quieter moments, she finds inspiration through reading and creative writing, nurturing her lifelong love of storytelling. Molly’s adventurous spirit also drives her passion for travel and exploring new cultures.
Her philosophy perfectly complements our center’s mission: “True health comes from understanding the body’s natural healing abilities and supporting them through proper care, nutrition, and mindful living.”