Non-Surgical Spinal Stenosis Treatment in Walnut Creek

Name: Dudum Chiropractic
Address: 1900 Olympic Blvd. Ste 100, Walnut Creek, CA, 94596, US
Telephone: (925) 300-3302
Price range: $$

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces inside your spine that puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the back, neck, arms, or legs. Many people are told surgery is the only fix. It usually is not.

At Dudum Chiropractic, we treat spinal stenosis with non-surgical spinal decompression on the DOC table — a targeted, angle-specific approach designed to reduce pressure on the affected nerves and create room where the spine has narrowed. We are one of the largest non-surgical spinal decompression centers in the country, with over 50,000 treatments performed, and our outcomes are documented in peer-reviewed research published in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic.

Can Spinal Stenosis Be Treated Without Surgery

For most patients, yes. Surgery for stenosis — laminectomy, fusion — is invasive, carries real recovery time, and doesn’t always deliver lasting relief. Non-surgical spinal decompression takes the opposite approach: instead of removing bone or fusing joints, it gently opens the narrowed spaces in the spine to take pressure off the compressed nerves, so the body can calm the inflammation and restore function on its own.

We built our practice around helping people avoid the operating room. Dr. Dudum came to this work as a patient first — he used non-surgical decompression to resolve his own disc injury and avoid surgery — and that’s the standard of care every patient here is measured against.

How We Treat Stenosis Differently

Most decompression clinics run every patient the same way. We don’t. The narrowing that causes stenosis is specific to your spine, and the treatment has to be just as specific.

Angle-specific decompression. The DOC table lets us set a precise angle and target the exact segment that’s narrowed — the L4/L5 or L5/S1 level in the low back, or the affected level in the neck — rather than pulling on the whole spine and hoping. That precision is the difference between generic decompression and treatment matched to your anatomy.

MRI-guided, and MRI-confirmed. We start with your imaging, not a guess. In a published cervical case with an associated stenosis component, a patient showed measurable improvement on follow-up MRI after non-surgical decompression care — objective, imaging-confirmed change, not just “I feel better.” That’s the bar we hold our work to.

Whole-plan care. Decompression is the centerpiece, but your plan may also include cold laser therapy, gentle chiropractic care, and specific rehab to support the segment and keep it stable as it heals.

What to Expect

Your first visit is a consultation and exam. Dr. Dudum reviews your history, your symptoms, and your MRI, then walks you through exactly what’s happening in your spine and whether decompression is likely to help. If you’re a candidate, we build a plan tailored to your condition — how many sessions, which levels, which supporting therapies.

Most patients move through a structured course of care and begin noticing changes within the first few weeks, though the timeline depends on how narrowed the spine is and how long the symptoms have been present. We track progress against your goals the whole way through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can spinal stenosis be treated without surgery?

For most patients, yes. Non-surgical spinal decompression relieves pressure on the compressed nerves by gently opening the narrowed spaces in the spine — without removing bone or fusing joints. Many patients who were told surgery was their only option get lasting relief without it.

What causes spinal stenosis?

Stenosis is usually the result of age-related changes: arthritis and bone spurs, thickened ligaments, bulging or degenerating discs, and general wear that narrows the spinal canal or the openings where nerves exit. Some people are simply born with a narrower canal, which makes symptoms more likely later in life.

What does spinal stenosis feel like?

Common symptoms are pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness — in the low back and legs for lumbar stenosis, or the neck and arms for cervical stenosis. A classic sign of lumbar stenosis is leg pain that gets worse standing or walking and eases when you sit or lean forward on a cart.

Is non-surgical spinal decompression safe?

Yes. It’s gentle and non-invasive — most patients find the sessions relaxing. We adjust the settings to your age and condition, and we start from your MRI so treatment is matched to what’s actually happening in your spine.

How many sessions will I need?

It varies by how narrowed the spine is and how long you’ve had symptoms. Many patients complete a structured course of visits; Dr. Dudum lays out the specific number and plan after reviewing your exam and imaging.

Can you help if I’ve already had spinal surgery or injections?

Often, yes. We regularly work with patients who’ve had prior surgery, injections, or fusions and are still in pain. We’ll review your history and imaging to determine whether decompression is a fit for your situation.

Take the First Step

If you’ve been told surgery is your only option for spinal stenosis, get a second opinion from a practice that has spent over 50,000 treatments helping people avoid it. Call (925) 300-3302 or book your consultation online.

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