Why I Built SpineWell Disc & Joint Centers™ for This Community

Most people don’t lose their independence all at once.
They lose it gradually, while being told everything they’re experiencing is “normal.”

I’ve watched this pattern for decades.

Good people. Active people. People who followed the rules, medications, physical therapy, injections, even traction, yet still felt their world slowly becoming smaller.

They weren’t declining overnight.
They were losing capacity year by year.

That’s why I built SpineWell Disc & Joint Centers™.

Not to add another clinic to Jacksonville, but to create a place focused on understanding where spinal problems may lead when underlying mechanical stress is not properly addressed.

For years, much of conservative spine care focused primarily on managing symptoms rather than evaluating the underlying mechanical contributors.

Pain itself is not always the full picture.

When a spinal disc remains compressed, it may create both mechanical stress and neurological interference. Mechanical compression can influence movement patterns and load tolerance. Neurological compression may affect how signals are transmitted between the spine and the rest of the body.

Over time, ongoing interference may contribute to changes in coordination, balance, strength, and confidence in movement.

This helps explain why some people continue to decline even when imaging does not appear severe.

Neurology educators, including Seth Sharpless, have long emphasized how sensitive nerve tissue can be to sustained pressure. Even minimal pressure, when applied consistently over time, may disrupt nerve signaling. The concern is not force alone, but duration and sensitivity.

This understanding led me to ask a critical question:

Why weren’t we consistently measuring, or meaningfully addressing, the mechanical pressure contributing to neurological stress in the first place?

That question led me to research that reshaped how I approached spine care.

In 1987, McClure and colleagues published research in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy that measured pressure inside living spinal discs.

Not symptoms.
Not opinions.
Actual intradiscal pressure.

The study demonstrated that:

• Spinal discs exist under constant internal pressure
• That pressure can be influenced mechanically
• Under specific conditions, pressure levels may be reduced
• Small changes in force, angle, and timing can significantly alter mechanical response

This research helped clarify that disc compression is a mechanical phenomenon, and that how force is applied matters.

For me, it helped explain why many patients plateau despite doing everything they were told. Their care was not designed to meaningfully influence disc pressure or the neurological stress associated with it.

That realization became foundational to SpineWell.

Nearly everyone who comes to SpineWell has tried some form of traction, and many describe a similar experience:

“It felt good, but it didn’t last.”

Traditional traction typically applies a linear pulling force. For some individuals, the nervous system may respond by increasing muscle tension as a protective mechanism.

That response can limit the ability to achieve sustained decompression and may explain why relief is often short-lived.

Short-term comfort is not the same as long-term mechanical change.

The McClure study highlighted that the manner in which force is applied is more important than the amount of force itself.

Non-surgical spinal decompression systems were developed to apply force in a way that is more compatible with disc mechanics and neurological tolerance.

Compared to traditional traction, decompression systems are designed to:

• Gradually adjust force to reduce protective muscle guarding
• Use variable force patterns rather than constant pull
• Cycle tension and relaxation phases
• Target specific spinal levels more precisely

The objective is not stretching tissue, but creating an environment that supports reduced mechanical stress and improved neurological communication.

At SpineWell Disc & Joint Centers™, we use DRX9000-class decompression systems because they are designed to deliver controlled, repeatable force patterns informed by biomechanical research.

These systems allow for:

• Precise force application
• Consistent treatment protocols
• Improved patient tolerance over time

When someone trusts us with their spine and mobility, precision and intentionality matter.

Many clinics use the terms traction and decompression interchangeably, but they are not the same.

Before investing more time or resources into care, it’s important to understand how different approaches apply force and what their goals are.

Over the years, I’ve observed that people with similar diagnoses often experience very different long-term outcomes.

Some address mechanical stress early and remain active and confident in movement. Others focus only on symptom management and gradually limit activity as discomfort persists.

The diagnosis may be similar.
The care approach and timing often differ.

Spinal compression does not typically impact independence all at once. Changes often occur gradually, influenced by mechanical stress, neurological tolerance, and daily movement habits.

Many patients come to SpineWell after being told surgery was their only option or that they had exhausted conservative care.

For some, a different mechanical approach helped them better understand their condition and explore non-surgical options under medical guidance.

Individual experiences vary. Testimonials reflect personal experiences and do not guarantee outcomes.

Pain and movement limitations rarely change overnight. They often evolve gradually while people adapt and delay addressing underlying mechanical stress.

If you’ve noticed:

• Reduced confidence in movement
• Avoidance of activities you once enjoyed
• Increased concern about flare-ups
• A shrinking sense of physical freedom

Those changes are not simply about age. They may reflect unresolved mechanical and neurological stress.

SpineWell Disc & Joint Centers™ was created to help people better understand what’s happening and explore appropriate, non-surgical care options.

And if this isn’t about you, consider sharing this with someone who keeps saying, “I’m fine, it’s just my back.”

Because understanding your options is always a decision, and clarity matters.