Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you for considering our services at The Livingston Clinic!
Below, you'll find answers to some of the most common questions our patients ask about our treatment options.
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If you need more information or don't see your question here, please reach out. We look forward to helping you achieve better health.
Q1: Can damaged nerves actually heal from neuropathy?
Short Answer: Yes, in many cases.
Details: Research shows peripheral nerves have the capacity to heal, but recovery depends on identifying and correcting the underlying cause of the damage rather than just managing symptoms. The degree of recovery depends on the cause, severity, and which nerve fibers are affected.
Q2: What are the most common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy?
Short Answer: Numbness, tingling, burning, and weakness.
Details: Patients often describe numbness or reduced sensation, a burning or "pins and needles" feeling, sharp or stabbing pain, muscle weakness, and balance problems, most commonly in the feet and legs.
Q3: Is neuropathy treatment here drug-free?
Short Answer: Yes.
Details: Treatment focuses on improving blood flow to the nerves and stimulating damaged fibers directly, combined with targeted nutritional support, rather than relying on medication to mask symptoms.
Q4: How does spinal decompression relieve pressure on a herniated or bulging disc?
Short Answer: By gently stretching the spine to create space.
Details: A computer-controlled traction table gradually stretches the spine, creating space between the vertebrae so a bulging or herniated disc can retract toward its natural position, easing pressure on nearby nerves.
Q5: Is spinal decompression painful?
Short Answer: No.
Details: Most patients find sessions comfortable and relaxing, and some even fall asleep during treatment. Sessions typically last 15 to 20 minutes.
Q6: Can spinal decompression help with sciatica?
Short Answer: Yes.
Details: When a herniated or bulging disc compresses the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve, decompression relieves that pressure, which can ease pain, numbness, and weakness radiating down the leg.
Q7: What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and how does it work?
Short Answer: Breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber.
Details: HBOT allows the body to absorb significantly more oxygen than normal breathing provides. This oxygen-rich blood reaches tissue throughout the body, including areas with poor circulation that otherwise struggle to heal.
Q8: What pressure level is used during HBOT sessions?
Short Answer: A mild 1.2 to 1.3 atmospheres.
Details: This is roughly equivalent to being about 10 feet underwater — a gentler protocol than higher-pressure hospital-based chambers, designed for safe, comfortable sessions.
Q9: What conditions can HBOT help support?
Short Answer: A wide range, including neuropathy and chronic pain.
Details: Patients use HBOT for neuropathy, disc-related spinal problems, whiplash and soft-tissue injuries, chronic neck and back pain, headaches, sciatica, and long-haul COVID symptoms, among other concerns.
Q10: What is SoundWave (shockwave) therapy used for?
Short Answer: Tendon, joint, and soft tissue conditions.
Details: SoundWave therapy is commonly used to treat plantar fasciitis, tennis and golfer's elbow, rotator cuff injuries, Achilles tendinitis, knee tendonitis, and myofascial pain syndromes.
Q11: How many SoundWave therapy sessions are typically needed?
Short Answer: Usually 6 sessions.

Details: A full treatment plan typically involves 2 sessions in the first week, followed by one session per week for 4 weeks, though this can vary depending on the condition being treated.
Q12: Do I need to avoid any medications before SoundWave therapy?
Short Answer: Yes, steroid medications.
Details: Cortisone shots, prednisone, and Medrol dose packs should be avoided for at least 4 to 8 weeks before treatment and 6 weeks afterward, since steroids interfere with the body's natural healing response.
Q13: What is the Knee Restoration Program?
Short Answer: A non-surgical program for chronic knee pain.
Details: The program uses the Knee On Trac, a non-invasive device that applies safe, targeted mechanical traction to the knee to decrease inflammation, encourage rehydration of joint tissue, increase range of motion, and support natural healing.
Q14: Can the Knee Restoration Program help with osteoarthritis or "bone-on-bone" knees?
Short Answer: Often, yes.
Details: Many patients with joint degeneration find meaningful relief through non-invasive traction therapy, though the degree of benefit depends on how advanced the condition is, which is assessed during a diagnostic evaluation.
Q15: What knee conditions does this program address?
Short Answer: A range of chronic and injury-related issues.
Details: This includes chronic knee pain, osteoarthritis, meniscus tears, ACL injuries, sub-acute and chronic muscle strain, and cases involving previous surgery that didn't fully resolve the problem.
Q16: How does Red Light Therapy work?
Short Answer: By boosting cellular energy production.
Details: Red and near-infrared light wavelengths penetrate beneath the skin and are absorbed by mitochondria within cells, helping them produce more ATP — the energy that fuels healing, reduces inflammation, and supports tissue repair.
Q17: What can Red Light Therapy help with?
Short Answer: Pain, skin health, recovery, and hair growth.

Details: Patients use Red Light Therapy for joint pain and inflammation, faster muscle recovery, collagen production and skin tone, wound healing, and stimulating hair growth in cases of thinning hair.
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If you have additional questions or want to schedule an appointment, feel free to call, email, or visit our clinic in person.
We look forward to supporting your journey toward better health.