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Ottawa Pain Management and Wellness, 704-265 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON (2026)

12/17/2025

From cane to snowmobile Reclaim your life.

That sounds like a marketing slogan until you meet the retired firefighter who actually lived it. Years of lower back misery had him stuck. He was at that frustrating point where surgeons wouldn't operate, and injections were the only option left on the table.

He couldn't sleep through the night. Walking was a chore.

Snowmobiling? That was just a painful memory.

We see this constantly. People assume that because surgery is funded, it must be the only "real" fix. Or they figure if their doctor didn't mention a therapy, it probably doesn't work.

But things have changed.

He decided to try Spinal Decompression. This isn't the old-fashioned traction that just pulls.

Think of a pinched garden hose. When it's kinked, the water stops.

Decompression creates a gentle negative pressure inside the disc. It’s like unpinching that hose so fluids and nutrients can finally get back in. You are basically giving the disc a physiological chance to heal itself rather than just masking the pain.

By the end of his treatment plan, his specialist cancelled the scheduled injections. The shooting leg pain was gone.

He was sleeping again.

And yes, that winter he was back on his sled with his friends.

That’s the goal.

We aren't just looking at an MRI or fixing a "bad back." We are helping someone get their freedom back.

If you are dealing with:
-> Disc herniations or bulges
-> Sciatica that won't quit
-> "Wear and tear" that slows you down

You might have non-surgical options you haven't explored yet.

Results vary, of course. Every spine is different. But if you’re sitting there wondering if you just have to accept the pain... maybe you don't.

Like & Comment "Ready" if you have an activity you're dying to get back to.

12/15/2025

POTS got you stuck on the couch?

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome can feel overwhelming. Lightheadedness when you stand. Heart racing for no reason. Fatigue that makes simple tasks feel impossible.

And often, conventional treatments only manage symptoms without addressing underlying causes.

A recent medical case report published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care documented something worth knowing about. A 50-year-old patient experienced complete resolution of POTS symptoms after addressing spinal misalignment through rehabilitation.

Three years of symptoms. Lightheadedness, palpitations, chronic neck pain. She had been evaluated by neurologists and cardiologists, tried multiple medications, acupuncture, and physiotherapy. Nothing provided lasting improvement.

When imaging finally revealed significant spinal misalignment, including a reversed cervical curve and mild thoracic scoliosis, a different approach became possible.

Here's what matters about that.

Your cervical spine houses part of your autonomic nervous system. Think of it like the control center that regulates heart rate, blood pressure, and circulation when you change positions. When the spine is misaligned or compressed, it can irritate these nerve pathways and disrupt their signaling.

POTS is a form of autonomic dysfunction. Your nervous system struggles to adjust properly when you move from sitting to standing.

The treatment approach combined three components: therapeutic ultrasound to reduce tissue inflammation, spinal adjustments to restore proper alignment and movement, and gentle decompression to relieve pressure on affected areas.

After three months of consistent treatment, the patient reported complete resolution of neck pain, dizziness, and POTS symptoms. Follow-up imaging at 12 months showed measurable improvement in spinal alignment. At 24 months, she remained symptom-free.

This is one documented case, and results vary from person to person. But it highlights something important: for some people with POTS who also experience neck pain or headaches, spinal function may play a role that hasn't been adequately addressed.

Your spine and nervous system don't operate separately. They're interconnected. When spinal alignment is compromised, it can affect how your nervous system communicates throughout your body.

Many patients with complex autonomic symptoms experience improvement when we address both structural alignment and neurological function together. This doesn't replace medical care. It complements it by addressing mechanical factors that may be contributing to nervous system dysfunction.

If you've been struggling with POTS and conventional approaches haven't provided the relief you need, exploring the spinal connection may be worth considering, especially if you have concurrent musculoskeletal symptoms.

Your body is designed to heal when the right conditions are present.

Have you experienced POTS symptoms alongside neck pain or headaches? Comment below and let me know what approaches have helped you most.

12/12/2025

Elite sports teams are quietly adding chiropractic care.

Professional wrestling organizations. Baseball teams. Football clubs across China and Hong Kong.

They're not using it as a backup option when someone gets hurt... they're building it into their core medical staff.

And there's solid research behind why.

A study published in sports medicine journals tracked what happened when elite athletes received regular chiropractic care alongside their standard medical protocols. The evidence showed promising outcomes: many athletes experienced faster recovery from muscle strains, improved biomechanics, and reduced recurring injuries.

When your nervous system and musculoskeletal system communicate more effectively, many patients report significant improvements in how their body functions.

Here's what interests me about this.

Professional athletes depend on their bodies for everything - championships, contracts, years of dedicated training. These aren't people experimenting casually. They're working with comprehensive medical teams who evaluate evidence carefully and track real outcomes.

Yet many people dealing with chronic pain haven't had the chance to fully understand what modern chiropractic care actually involves.

I see this pattern often in our clinic. Someone's been managing persistent knee pain for months, or shoulder discomfort that hasn't responded to initial treatments, or sciatica that keeps returning. They've tried physiotherapy, worked with their family doctor, explored their options thoughtfully.

Sometimes the missing piece is addressing how the nervous system is communicating with the rest of the body.

The same principles that help a professional athlete may support someone in getting back to daily activities they value - walking comfortably, playing with grandchildren, or sleeping through the night without disruption.

You don't need to be an elite athlete to benefit from care that focuses on restoring function at its source.

If professional sports teams are integrating this approach for their athletes, it might be worth learning more about how it could support your own recovery. Have you ever wondered whether chiropractic care might address pain that hasn't responded to other approaches? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

12/11/2025

Is your back pain stealing your life?

When chronic back pain takes over, it doesn't just hurt. It steals the small moments that make life worth living. Playing with your kids on the floor. Working in the garden. Even just sitting through dinner without shifting in your chair.

I've been helping patients with complex spinal conditions for years, and there's something I need to say clearly: not everyone needs the same treatment. That includes spinal decompression.

Most clinics book you straight into an appointment when you call about back pain. We take a different approach.

During that first contact, I'm listening for specific signs. Sharp, shooting pain down your leg. Numbness or tingling in your arm. These phrases tell me something important about what might be happening with your nerves and discs.

But here's what matters more: understanding whether spinal decompression is right for your specific situation.

Before you come into our clinic, we schedule a brief video consultation. This step helps us determine if decompression therapy will genuinely benefit you, or if a different approach would serve you better.

I ask about how your pain behaves. Does it change when you sit versus stand? Does movement make it better or worse? These details reveal the mechanical nature of your condition.

Sometimes, a patient describes leg numbness when sitting. On the surface, that sounds like nerve compression from a disc. But when we explore further, it might actually be nerve entrapment in the pelvis or muscular tension affecting a peripheral nerve. In those cases, focused shockwave therapy or magnetotransduction therapy (which works like wireless charging for your cells, helping them repair faster) would be more effective than decompression.

This screening process exists to match you with the treatment that fits your condition. It saves you time and helps ensure we're addressing the actual source of your pain.

If decompression is appropriate, your comprehensive evaluation begins with something that often surprises people: heart rate variability testing.

This assessment measures your nervous system's state. When you've been dealing with chronic pain or disc issues, your nervous system can get stuck in a stressed state. Research shows this can impact your body's ability to heal, regardless of which treatment you receive.

After nervous system assessment, we move through neurological testing (balance, motor function, sensory perception), and then orthopedic evaluations. This sequence helps us understand both the structural issues and how your nervous system is responding to them.

Your first decompression session starts with careful attention to your comfort. During the initial five minutes, I adjust the settings in real time based on your feedback. Once we've established the right parameters, the session continues for about 30 minutes. Many patients find it deeply relaxing.

Each session that follows is adjusted based on how your body responded to the previous treatment. This personalized approach helps optimize your healing process.

The goal throughout every step is to provide clarity about what's happening, why we're recommending specific treatments, and what you can expect as you progress.

If you've been searching for answers that address your specific pain condition, I'd welcome the chance to see if we can help.

Like & comment if this approach to pain care resonates with you 👇

12/10/2025

Is your "decompression" really just traction?

Many treatments call themselves spinal decompression, but they're actually just traction. Knowing the difference could save you time, money, and unnecessary pain.

I see this confusion every week in our clinic.

Patients come in after trying "decompression" somewhere else, and they're frustrated because they felt a pull, maybe some temporary relief, but then the pain came back and they're left wondering what happened.

Here's what many people don't realize.

Traditional traction pulls on your spine with steady or intermittent force using belts, harnesses, and pulleys. It's a generalized approach that affects your entire spine without targeting the specific disc that's injured.

And here's the real challenge... your body fights back.

When traction pulls, your muscles contract protectively. These reflexive spasms can actually increase disc pressure. Your nervous system is working against the treatment.

Advanced computerized decompression works differently.

Systems like SpineMED measure your body's resistance every 20 milliseconds and make micro-adjustments hundreds of times per minute. Think of it like picking a lock versus forcing a door open.

Traction uses brute force and meets resistance.

Computerized decompression makes hundreds of tiny adjustments until your body relaxes and allows the disc space to open. When the system detects muscle guarding, it instantly backs off a fraction of the pull, then reapplies decompression in a gentler way, sneaking past your body's protective reflexes.

This process repeats continuously, so your nervous system never triggers the defensive muscle contractions that sabotage traditional traction.

The result?

True negative pressure inside the disc space. This vacuum-like environment draws water, oxygen, and nutrients back into damaged discs, creating conditions that support healing.

The difference shows up in recovery stories.

Traction patients often say: "It feels like a stretch. I feel looser for a few hours, but the pain creeps back."

Decompression patients report something different: "After a few weeks, I could walk farther, sit longer, and my constant leg pain became occasional."

Research shows computerized decompression can achieve significant reductions in herniation size. More importantly, many patients experience improvements in daily function: sitting through work days, lifting groceries, sleeping through the night again.

So how do you spot real decompression technology?

Some clinics advertise "decompression" when they're offering traction. You can protect yourself by asking specific questions.

Is the table computer-controlled with continuous feedback, or does it apply preset force? Advanced decompression systems measure patient resistance thousands of times per second, while traction typically uses static or intermittent force without real-time adaptation.

How does the device isolate the exact disc level that's injured? Advanced decompression tables can angle and program force vectors to focus on specific segments like L4-5, whereas traction typically affects the entire spine.

What prevents my muscles from tightening against the pull? If they can't explain real-time force modulation and muscle guarding prevention, that's an important distinction to understand.

And finally, is this system FDA cleared as a decompression device or traction equipment? This distinction matters because decompression systems undergo different regulatory evaluation.

A few more things worth knowing.

Even advanced decompression systems have appropriate applications and limitations. Computerized decompression works best for patients with disc-specific pathology like herniations, nerve root compression, radiculopathy, or sciatica that hasn't responded to conservative care.

No approach works for everyone. Fractures, high-grade instability, spinal tumors, and active infections are contraindications for both treatments. Results vary from patient to patient, and success depends on proper diagnosis, precise disc targeting, and adherence to treatment protocols.

The gentleness of true decompression therapy often surprises patients.

They expect to feel significant pulling, but the most important healing happens when you feel almost nothing... that lack of sensation signals the system is working correctly, bypassing muscle guarding and creating the negative pressure environment discs need to heal.

Before committing to any decompression treatment, ask those revealing questions.

Ask for explanations about real-time adaptation, segmental targeting, and research validation. Understanding how the system measures and adapts to your body continuously helps you make an informed decision.

Your spine deserves precision.

What questions do you wish you'd asked before starting treatment? Drop a comment below, and if this helped clear up the confusion, like and share so more people can make informed decisions about their spine care.

12/09/2025

Is your back pain stealing your life?

I mean the walks you used to take without a second thought. The sleep you can't seem to get anymore. The simple freedom to move without planning every step first.

A retired firefighter came to see us after years of struggling with a disc injury. Severe nerve pain shooting down his leg, couldn't walk without a cane, couldn't sleep through the night. After multiple neck surgeries, doctors wouldn't operate on his lower back anymore.

Injections were his only option left.

But there was another option worth exploring.

Spinal decompression therapy creates gentle, computer-controlled negative pressure inside damaged discs. Think of it like unpinching a jammed drawer so it can move freely again. This helps draw bulging disc material back into place and allows healing nutrients to reach areas that normally don't have much blood supply.

This isn't the old traction tables from decades ago.

Modern systems monitor your body's response continuously and adjust automatically, preventing your muscles from fighting the treatment (which was the big problem before).

So our firefighter patient went through his treatment plan. Twenty-something sessions over about six weeks. And by the end, his pain specialist cancelled the planned injections because his improvement was that significant.

The shooting leg pain?

Gone.

Sleeping peacefully again. And that winter, he was back on his snowmobile with his friends doing what he loved.

Here's what many patients don't realize: there are non-invasive options that may be worth exploring, especially when other treatments haven't provided the relief you're looking for. Surgery can be highly effective and appropriate for many people. But for some, exploring options like spinal decompression first makes sense.

Twenty to twenty-eight sessions over several weeks requires commitment. But for many patients, the time investment is worthwhile when compared to other interventions and their respective recovery periods.

Disc healing is slow. Your body needs time to respond. That's just biology, not a sales pitch.

Recent research shows that motorized spinal decompression can be effective in reducing pain and disability in patients with lumbar disc problems when added to conventional treatment. It's drug-free, non-surgical, and many patients find it comfortable.

What keeps me going are those moments.

Not just pain reduction, but watching someone reclaim their freedom and the activities that matter to them. When they realize they have options and possibilities again, that's what this work is really about.

If you're dealing with chronic back pain, sciatica, or disc problems that haven't responded well to other approaches, it might be worth having a conversation with someone who offers this therapy. A thorough assessment can tell you if you're a candidate and whether it fits your specific situation and goals.

Somewhere out there is another person wondering if they'll ever get back to doing what they love.

I believe they should know that answer might be yes.

If you're living with chronic back pain and wondering what options might work for you, I'd be happy to answer questions in the comments. Like and share if someone you know could benefit from learning about non-surgical approaches to disc problems.

11/14/2025

How spinal decompression actually works

When I hear that a physician has dismissed spinal decompression to one of their patients, I wonder if they might be thinking of technology from decades ago.

The traction tables from the 1980s and 90s had significant limitations. Modern spinal decompression systems are fundamentally different, and I think this knowledge gap may be keeping some patients from exploring an option that could help them.

Today's systems create measurable negative pressure inside the disc. Think of it like relieving pressure on a pinched garden hose so water can flow freely again. The computer continuously monitors muscle response and adjusts tension automatically, which solves the major limitation old traction had: muscle guarding that prevented effective decompression.

A retired firefighter came to our clinic after years of struggling with a disc injury that was putting pressure on a nerve and causing severe pain down his leg.

He couldn't walk without a cane, couldn't sleep through the night, couldn't participate in the activities that mattered to him. After multiple neck surgeries, his doctors wouldn't operate on his lower back. Injections were his remaining option.

Near the end of his spinal decompression treatment plan, his pain specialist cancelled the scheduled injections.

His pain had improved significantly.

The shooting leg pain was gone, he was sleeping peacefully again, and that winter he was back snowmobiling with his friends.

Now, I want to be clear: not every patient responds the same way, and some conditions aren't suitable for this approach. For patients considering their options, that time investment is worth understanding alongside the recovery timelines of other treatments.

But for people dealing with herniated discs, sciatica, or degenerative disc problems who haven't found relief with other conservative approaches, understanding what this therapy actually does can be valuable. The gentle, controlled stretching allows healing nutrients to flow into the disc, which normally has very limited blood supply. You're creating an environment where the disc has a chance to heal.

Recent research supports this approach. Studies show motorized spinal decompression is more effective at reducing pain and disability in patients with lumbar disc problems compared to conventional treatment alone.

Is it right for everyone?

No.

But somewhere out there is another person wondering if the activities they love are still possible.

I believe they deserve to know what options exist, including how far this technology has come.

If you've dealt with chronic back pain or have questions about non-surgical options, I'd be happy to hear from you in the comments.

11/13/2025

Three questions I ask before any spine treatment.

Before I recommend decompression, traction, or a movement plan, I ask three things.

Simple questions.

But the answers tell me whether you need advanced intervention or something completely different.

→ What's likely driving your pain?

Is it a disc pressing on a nerve, worn joints grinding together, or muscles locked up from protecting an old injury? Each source responds to mechanical load in completely different ways.

→ How sensitive is everything today?

Some days your nervous system is calm enough to tolerate decompression. Other days it's so wound up that even gentle decompression may backfire.

The timing of treatment matters more than most people realize.

→ What's already helped or made it flare?

If lying flat gives you relief, that tells me something specific about disc pressure. If extension hurts but flexion helps, that points somewhere else entirely. Your body has already been running experiments... I just need to listen to the results.

Here's what these questions actually do.

They separate the patients who need sophisticated computerized decompression from those who'd get better results with simpler approaches first. I've worked with patients who were told they needed expensive protocols when their real issue was a nervous system that just needed reassurance it was safe to move again.

Decompression works brilliantly when discs are the primary driver and sensitivity allows for mechanical intervention.

Movement-first plans win when your body just needs to relearn that loading the spine won't cause harm.

The technology matters way less than whether it actually fits what's broken in your specific case.

That's why I start with questions instead of leading with equipment or the newest device in the clinic. Your situation guides the tool, not the other way around.

If a provider jumps straight to a recommendation without asking what's driving your pain, how reactive your system is today, or what patterns you've already noticed... that's a signal they're working from a protocol instead of a diagnosis.

What's been your experience? Did your provider ask enough questions before suggesting a treatment, or did it feel like they'd already decided before you finished explaining what was wrong?

Like this if you've ever felt like a provider had their answer ready before they really listened.

11/12/2025

What successful patients asked first

The patients who achieved the best outcomes with spinal decompression therapy had something in common before they even started.

They asked the right questions.

Not about scheduling or cost. About the treatment technology and clinical approach being used for their specific condition.

Here's what they learned to ask, and why these questions mattered for their results:

"What type of decompression system do you use?"

Basic traction tables apply continuous pulling force. Modern computerized systems like SpineMED® use sensor-driven feedback that adjusts decompression force in real-time based on your body's muscular response during each session. This feedback mechanism is what allows effective decompression at the disc level without triggering protective muscle guarding that limits treatment depth.

"Can you control the angle to target my specific disc level?"

This question reveals whether a clinic uses true spinal decompression or general traction. Advanced systems can isolate individual disc segments through precise angle adjustments. An L4-L5 disc herniation requires different positioning than an L5-S1 issue. The ability to target the exact problematic level directly impacts decompression effectiveness and patient outcomes.

"How do you measure my progress throughout treatment?"

Some practices track attendance. Others measure actual clinical changes - disc height improvements on follow-up imaging, documented pain scale reductions, functional capacity gains like increased walking tolerance or improved sleep quality. Objective measurement allows for protocol adjustments based on your individual response rather than following a predetermined schedule.

"What's your approach if I don't respond to the initial protocol?"

Standardized programs apply identical settings regardless of condition severity or treatment response. Evidence-based practices adjust decompression force, session duration, and treatment frequency based on your specific disc pathology and documented progress. This individualized approach is supported by research showing that customized protocols produce better long-term outcomes than one-size-fits-all treatment plans.

The patients who asked these questions before starting treatment found themselves in clinics equipped with modern decompression technology and individualized care protocols.

Those who assumed all decompression was equivalent sometimes experienced limited results with basic equipment and standardized approaches.

If you're exploring spinal decompression for disc-related pain, these questions help you understand the clinical differences between treatment options.

What questions would you add to this list?

11/11/2025

Back to the activities you miss

I've been thinking about something lately.

We have one of the most effective therapies for disc problems, and ost people don't even know it exists.

A retired firefighter came to see us after years of struggling with a disc injury in his lower back. The damaged disc was putting pressure on a nerve, causing severe pain that shot down his leg. He couldn't walk without a cane, couldn't sleep through the night.

After multiple neck surgeries, doctors wouldn't operate on his lower back. Injections were his only option.

By the time we neared the end of his spinal decompression treatment plan, something changed. His pain specialist cancelled the planned injections because his pain had improved so much.

The shooting leg pain disappeared. He was sleeping peacefully again.

That winter, he was back snowmobiling with his friends.

So here's what puzzles me...

Why do so many people dismiss this option before really understanding it?

I think it comes down to perception. Surgery is covered by our healthcare system, so people assume it must be the best choice. Paying out of pocket for something else feels counterintuitive when there's a "free" option available.

But let me explain what modern spinal decompression actually does.

It creates gentle, controlled negative pressure inside damaged discs. This helps draw bulging disc material back into place and allows healing nutrients to flow into the disc, which normally has very limited blood supply.

These systems use computer-controlled precision to target specific disc levels. They're completely different from old-fashioned traction tables that caused your muscles to fight against the treatment.

Now, I'll be honest about the commitment involved.

But surgery also involves recovery time, carries risks, and doesn't guarantee results either.

For people dealing with herniated discs, sciatica, or chronic back pain who haven't found lasting relief, this might be worth exploring before considering a surgical option.

That firefighter didn't just get pain relief.

He got his identity back. His freedom. The ability to do what he loves with the people he cares about.

If back pain is keeping you from something you love, I'd genuinely like to hear about it. What's the one activity you miss most? Comment below.

11/10/2025

Ask these seven decompression questions

We built a patient checklist yesterday.

Because most people assume spinal decompression is spinal decompression.

That assumption? It costs months of progress and thousands of dollars.

The difference between computerized decompression and basic traction is real. One adapts to your body in real time. The other just pulls and hopes for the best.

Here's what to ask before you commit to treatment:

→ Does the device use real-time feedback sensors? (Think of it like a conversation with your spine - the system should adjust when your muscles tense up)
→ Can it target your specific disc level with angle control? (Generic pulling won't reach L4-L5 the same way it reaches L5-S1)
→ Does the protocol use variable force curves instead of static pull? (Your disc needs gentle coaxing, not constant yanking)
→ How do they track disc height changes? (If they're not using follow-up imaging, they're guessing)
→ What's their success rate for nerve pressure reduction at 6 months? (Not just "feeling better" - actual measurable changes)
→ Do they measure function improvements beyond pain scores? (Can you bend over and tie your shoes again?)
→ Can you see before/after MRI comparisons from real patients?

Here's how Dr. King explains it: "Basic traction just pulls on your spine and hopes something good happens. Advanced decompression systems listen to your body's response and adjust accordingly. It's like having a conversation with your spine instead of just yanking on it."

Most clinics can't answer question three without stumbling.

The ones that can answer all seven? Those are the places actually equipped to help you heal.

Your spine deserves technology that works with it.

Like and share if you've wasted time on treatments that sounded good but delivered basic results 👍

Ottawa Pain Management and Wellness

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Ottawa Chiropractic & Osteopathy

Monday	10am - 6pm
Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Thursday	10am - 6pm