Why does my back hurt after sitting or driving?

Prolonged sitting and driving compress the lumbar discs and strain the spinal joints. Over time this increases pressure on nerves, tightens surrounding muscles, and makes low back pain more likely to flare after long periods in one position.

How long does it take to feel better with decompression therapy?

Many patients notice some degree of relief within the first few sessions of spinal decompression, especially when it is combined with chiropractic adjustments and home exercises. More chronic or severe disc problems often require several weeks of consistent care for lasting improvement.

Should I combine chiropractic adjustments with spinal decompression?

Yes. Chiropractic adjustments help restore proper motion to restricted spinal joints, while decompression specifically targets disc pressure and nerve irritation. Used together, these treatments address both joint mechanics and disc health for more complete and longer-lasting relief.

Does insurance cover chiropractic care and spinal decompression?

Many insurance plans provide benefits for chiropractic care, and some offer coverage for spinal decompression depending on the policy. The team at Woodroof Chiropractic can review your benefits, explain expected costs, and help you understand your options. For details, visit the insurance page or call the office.

How Spinal Decompression Helped an Olathe Patient Overcome Back Pain

Q: Is spinal decompression safe?

For most patients with disc-related low back pain, spinal decompression is a safe and gentle, non-invasive therapy. At Woodroof Chiropractic, we perform a thorough evaluation and review imaging when needed to ensure decompression is appropriate before starting care.

Illustration comparing a bulging lumbar disc before treatment and the improved disc position after spinal decompression therapy.

Back pain that keeps coming back no matter what you try, this patient story from Woodroof Chiropractic in Olathe may give you a clear path forward. One of our patients came in with chronic lumbar pain that affected sitting, lifting, driving, and even sleeping. After a focused plan that included spinal decompression, targeted chiropractic care, and a customized exercise routine, they finally experienced long-lasting relief.

Spinal decompression works by gently stretching the spine to reduce pressure on lumbar discs and nerves, improving circulation to the discs and allowing irritated tissues to heal.

Why this problem happens:
Daily habits like sitting too long, repeated bending, poor posture, lifting at awkward angles, and previous injuries can compress the lumbar discs. Over time, this pressure leads to disc bulges, joint inflammation, nerve irritation, muscle guarding, and stiffness. These changes make the spine less resilient and more prone to flare-ups, especially in the L4–L5 and L5–S1 regions commonly involved in low back pain and sciatica.

Common symptoms patients report include dull low back aches, sharp pain when bending forward, stiffness after long drives, pain getting out of bed in the morning, tightness after workouts, radiating discomfort into the buttocks or thighs, nerve-like tingling, muscle spasms, and a sense that the back “locks up” during routine movements. Many also report pain after sitting at work, which ties into our low back pain and sciatica pages.

Clinical patterns we see every week include flare-ups after yard work, pain during long commutes, stiffness after sleeping on a soft mattress, pain with lifting kids or groceries, and symptoms that temporarily improve with walking but return after inactivity. These clues help us determine whether the pain is coming from discs, joints, or irritated nerves.

How chiropractic helps:
Chiropractic adjustments restore normal motion to restricted lumbar joints, reducing irritation and improving biomechanics. When combined with spinal decompression, the pressure inside the disc decreases, allowing it to rehydrate and heal. This reduces nerve compression and inflammation. Patients often follow this with hydromassage therapy to relax tight muscles and improve circulation.

At Woodroof Chiropractic, our comprehensive approach may include chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression, hydromassage, targeted strengthening, stretching routines, and guided movement coaching. Many patients also benefit from our exercise & stretch routine page for at-home care. Most people begin noticing improvement within the first few visits.

Frequently asked questions include:
• Why does my back hurt after sitting? Sitting compresses lumbar discs and tightens hip musculature, increasing nerve pressure.
• Is spinal decompression safe? Yes — it’s a gentle, non-invasive therapy for disc-related pain.
• How long does it take to feel improvement? Many patients feel relief within a few sessions; chronic cases take longer.
• Should I combine adjustments with decompression? Yes — they work better together, correcting joint motion and disc pressure simultaneously.
• Does insurance cover chiropractic care? Most plans do; visit our insurance page for details.

If you’re dealing with low back pain or nerve irritation, we can help. Call our Olathe chiropractic office today at 913-735-6351 or click Schedule Your Visit to get started.