By Dr. Goodman, DC, and Dr. Bradberry, DC | ReliefNow Laser Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina
Every year, thousands of Mecklenburg County residents receive a disc diagnosis, whether herniated, bulging, or degenerative, and are steered toward surgical consultation before conservative care has been meaningfully explored. Guidelines from the American College of Physicians and the North American Spine Society support conservative care as the appropriate first-line treatment for the vast majority of disc conditions. ReliefNow Laser Charlotte offers the Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol as part of a conservative, non-surgical approach to disc conditions, and both Dr. Goodman and Dr. Bradberry provide pre-surgical consultations for patients seeking a second clinical opinion before committing to an irreversible procedure.
The most important clinical decision in spine care is often made before any procedure is scheduled. The window for non-surgical intervention closes permanently once fusion is performed. A comprehensive non-surgical evaluation should happen before any surgical consent is signed.
Dr. Goodman’s post-graduate training includes laser therapy and rehabilitation, giving him specific clinical training in the non-surgical management of disc conditions that the standard chiropractic curriculum does not include. Dr. Bradberry’s CCSP certification and sports medicine background inform an analytical approach to disc pathology that distinguishes the structural from the functional, and the surgical candidate from the non-surgical candidate, with the precision that elite athlete care demands.
What Is Actually Happening in a Disc Herniation?
Two mechanisms generate pain. First, extruded disc material may physically compress a nerve root. Second, and often more significant, the nucleus pulposus proteins released can trigger an intense inflammatory response that amplifies nerve pain independently of mechanical compression. A 2018 review in the Journal of Pain Research described this neuroinflammatory mechanism as a primary driver of early disc-related pain. At ReliefNow Laser Charlotte, the Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol is one non-surgical option used in the management of disc-related pain, an area where inflammation plays a central role.
What Does the Research Say About Spontaneous Disc Resorption?
Research published in PLOS ONE has shown that larger disc herniations, those most commonly recommended for surgery, can have the highest rates of spontaneous resorption. Conditions associated with resorption include reduced local inflammation and appropriate movement. Patients told to rest until surgery may be creating conditions that are less favorable for natural resolution.
What Red Flags Actually Require Prompt Surgical Evaluation?
Progressive neurological deficit, including worsening foot drop, bowel or bladder dysfunction, or rapidly advancing motor weakness, requires prompt surgical consultation. Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency. Both Dr. Goodman and Dr. Bradberry screen for these presentations and refer promptly when surgical urgency is genuinely indicated. For the vast majority of disc patients without these red flags, conservative, non-surgical care is widely recommended as a first-line approach, and it is the focus of the care offered at ReliefNow Laser Charlotte.
What Is the Failed Back Surgery Risk That Charlotte Patients Need to Understand?
Failed back surgery syndrome affects an estimated 10 to 40 percent of spinal surgery patients, a range widely cited in the medical literature. A 2016 study in Pain Physician found that patients with the syndrome reported a quality of life comparable to patients with chronic heart failure. ReliefNow Laser Charlotte focuses on conservative, non-surgical approaches to disc-related pain, which do not involve the surgical procedures associated with this syndrome.
More information about the practice is available through ReliefNow Laser Charlotte. Patient education content is available on the ReliefNow Nation YouTube channel. ReliefNow Laser Charlotte is located at 4601 Park Rd, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28209, and can be reached at 704-527-7246.
About the Authors
Dr. Eric Goodman, DC, completed his undergraduate studies at UNC-Charlotte and earned his chiropractic degree at Palmer College, with additional post-graduate training in laser therapy, neurokinetic therapy, acupuncture, rehabilitation, and nutrition. Dr. Douglas Bradberry, DC, graduated from the University of Florida and completed his chiropractic training with honors at Palmer College. He holds the CCSP certification and has a sports medicine background that includes work with Olympic-level athletes. Both are providers in the national ReliefNow® network, co-founded by Dr. Robert Hanopole, DC.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any treatment program.
