By Dr. Tom Oddo DC, CSCS, CEAS — West Hills Chiropractic Pain Center, Huntington, NY
I’ve been using VAX-D spinal decompression since 1997. That’s not a marketing line — it’s just the truth. When the technology came out, I looked at the research, looked at my patients, and decided it was worth investing in. We’ve had three tables running at our Huntington office ever since. In that time I’ve watched a lot of treatment trends come and go. VAX-D didn’t go anywhere.
What I want to do here is explain what VAX-D actually is, who it helps, and who it doesn’t — because a lot of people come to us after reading something online that got their hopes up in the wrong direction. I’d rather give you the straight version.
What VAX-D Does That Standard Treatment Can’t
Most back pain treatment — from physical therapy to standard chiropractic to injections — addresses what’s happening around the disc. Muscle tension, inflammation, restricted movement. That stuff matters. But if your disc is herniated, bulging, or degenerating, none of those approaches actually changes what’s happening inside the disc.
Here’s the basic anatomy. Your intervertebral disc is a two-part structure: a tough outer ring called the annulus fibrosus, and a gel-like center called the nucleus pulposus. When a disc herniates, the nucleus pushes through a tear in the annulus and compresses whatever nerve is nearby — that’s the pain, the sciatica, the leg numbness. The disc is under constant compressive load just from gravity and daily movement. It can’t heal itself under that load.
VAX-D — Vertebral Axial Decompression — uses controlled, computer-monitored traction to create a negative intradiscal pressure. That negative pressure does two things: it can pull herniated material back toward the center, and it allows fluid, oxygen, and nutrients to move back into the disc — the same nutrients the disc needs to begin healing.
It’s FDA-cleared for the treatment of herniated and bulging lumbar discs. That matters because a lot of decompression devices on the market are just motorized traction tables that haven’t earned that designation. VAX-D earned it. The clinical distinction is in the precision — the system monitors patient response and adjusts tension in real time to prevent the muscle guarding that kills the effectiveness of standard traction.
Who Actually Responds to VAX-D Treatment
After this many years, I’ve gotten pretty good at predicting who’s going to respond and who isn’t. Here’s what I typically see working well:
- Lumbar herniated or bulging discs — L4-L5 and L5-S1 are the most common. If your MRI shows disc herniation with nerve root involvement and you have corresponding pain patterns — low back into the glute, down the leg — this is squarely in our wheelhouse.
- Sciatica from disc compression — Not all sciatica is disc-related, but when it is, and when conservative care hasn’t moved the needle, VAX-D is often what finally does. I’ve had patients tell me the leg pain was gone after a handful of sessions.
- Degenerative disc disease — The discs have lost height and hydration. Decompression can’t reverse the degeneration, but it reliably reduces the pain load and improves function. Patients with DDD often become long-term periodic users — they come in when a flare hits and we manage it without drugs or procedures.
- Spinal stenosis — This one requires more evaluation because stenosis can have different causes, but when it’s disc-related, decompression often provides meaningful relief where other treatments stall.
- Failed surgery cases — We see a meaningful number of patients who had surgery — discectomy, fusion — and still have pain. Sometimes the disc adjacent to a fusion site is now under increased load and starts herniating. VAX-D can help in those cases when there’s still a decompressible problem.
Who’s not a candidate: active infection, fracture, severe osteoporosis, certain surgical hardware situations, and pregnancy. We do a full evaluation before anyone gets on the table. There’s no value in treating someone who won’t benefit.
What a VAX-D Program at Our Huntington Office Actually Looks Like
We’re at 400 W Jericho Turnpike in Huntington — same location we’ve been in for decades. Long Island patients drive in from Commack, Melville, Dix Hills, Syosset, Smithtown, and all the way out from the East End when they haven’t found answers closer to home. There aren’t many offices on Long Island running three VAX-D tables and integrating them with a full chiropractic and rehabilitation program the way we do.
The first visit is an evaluation. We review your imaging if you have it, do a physical examination, and determine whether decompression is appropriate and what parameters to use. If you have an MRI, bring it. If you don’t, we’ll tell you whether you need one before we start.
Decompression sessions are around 30 minutes on the table. Patients typically describe it as a gentle pulling sensation — not painful, often relaxing. The system cycles between distraction and relaxation at precise intervals. Most people don’t feel much during the session. Where they notice things is over the following 24-48 hours, particularly early in a program, when the tissue is responding.
We pair decompression with targeted chiropractic care and, where indicated, physical rehabilitation. The reason is simple: VAX-D addresses the disc. But the surrounding musculature has been compensating for your pain for months or years. If you decompress the disc and don’t address the structural imbalances that got you there, you’re solving half the problem.
A typical program runs 20-30 sessions over 6-8 weeks, though that varies by case. Most patients are seen within a week of their first call. We accept most major insurance — Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, BlueCross BlueShield, Northwell Health, NYSHIP, and no-fault and personal injury cases. We verify benefits before your first visit so there are no surprises.
Why I’m Still Using VAX-D After 28 Years
People ask me sometimes why we haven’t switched to one of the newer branded decompression systems. Some of them have better marketing. Some have fancier-looking equipment. My answer is consistent: because VAX-D works, the research behind it is solid, and our patients get better.
There’s a 2001 study in the Journal of Neurological Research that followed 778 patients with herniated and degenerative discs treated with VAX-D. 71% reported complete resolution of pain. That’s a number I’ve seen hold up in practice for nearly three decades. Not every patient, not every time. But when the case is right, the outcomes are real.
We have patients who came in for disc herniations in the early 2000s who still come back periodically for tune-ups. They’re active, they’re working, they avoided surgery. That’s the goal. It’s not dramatic — but it’s everything to the person who was told surgery was their only option.
Frequently Asked Questions About VAX-D on Long Island
Is VAX-D covered by insurance?
Coverage varies by plan. We accept Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, BlueCross BlueShield, Northwell Health, NYSHIP, and most no-fault and personal injury plans. We verify your benefits before your first visit. Call us at (631) 659-2980 and we’ll tell you exactly what your plan covers before you commit to anything.
How is VAX-D different from regular traction?
Standard traction applies a fixed force. The problem is that when tension increases, your muscles engage reflexively to protect the spine — which defeats the decompression. VAX-D’s computer-controlled system varies the tension in a specific pattern that prevents that reflex, allowing sustained decompression of the disc. It’s the difference between pulling on a knot and knowing how to loosen it.
How many sessions will I need?
Most programs run 20-30 sessions. Mild cases can resolve faster. Long-standing degeneration takes longer. We give you an honest assessment after the initial evaluation — not a number designed to keep you coming in indefinitely.
I’ve already had back surgery. Can I still do VAX-D?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no — it depends on what was done and what your current imaging shows. Patients who had discectomies and still have pain are often candidates. Spinal fusion patients require more careful evaluation. Come in, bring your surgical records and any recent imaging, and we’ll give you a straight answer.
Do I need an MRI before starting?
Not always, but if you have one, bring it. An MRI lets us see exactly what we’re working with and design the right program. If you don’t have recent imaging and we think you need it, we’ll tell you before we start treatment — not after.
Where is West Hills Chiropractic Pain Center located?
We’re at 400 W Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 11743. On-site parking. We serve patients throughout Long Island — Huntington, West Hills, Commack, Melville, Dix Hills, Syosset, Cold Spring Harbor, Smithtown, and beyond. Monday through Friday 7 AM to 7 PM, Saturday 8 AM to noon. Call (631) 659-2980 or schedule your evaluation online.
Dr. Tom Oddo DC, CSCS, CEAS is a founding provider at West Hills Chiropractic Pain Center in Huntington, NY. He has been treating spinal disc conditions with VAX-D spinal decompression since 1997 and is part of a clinical team with over 100 years of combined experience. To schedule an evaluation, call (631) 659-2980 or book online.