More than 20 years as a truck driver had finally taken its toll on Sam Gibson's back. Just one wrong turn was the final straw.

"The pain was really scary to me because of my job," he said. "I lift a lot, I move a lot, I twist a lot."

What Gibson thought was a pulled muscle turned out to be a herniated disk pressing on a nerve. Other doctors recommended surgery, but Gibson chose a newer procedure called spinal decompression.

Chiropractor Christopher Outten of Cary said many of the patients he treats with the procedure are hoping to avoid surgery.

"Many of the patients that walk in the office have seen other doctors," he said. "They've tried other therapies, had spinal injections or oral steroids. So when they hear that they may be out of pain in two to three weeks, they're actually thrilled."

Disks are cushions between vertebrae in the spine. In decompression sessions, which typically last about 20 minutes, the patient lies on a specially-designed table while vertebrae are gently pulled apart to relieve pressure on the injured disk and allow it to heal. Unlike traditional methods that use traction, newer approaches use a computer to control the pressure.

"The patient should not feel it," said Outten. "Because if the patient does feel it, the muscles around that disk will start to guard. And that's where the patient could feel even more pain and be injured."

Outten said the procedure is only successful in treating herniated disks, a condition called facet joint syndrome that affects the lower back and neck, and spinal stenosis. Most patients, like Gibson, come for sessions four days a week for up to six weeks. The procedure is not covered by most insurance plans, so patients have to pay out of pocket for the treatment and can spend between $1,500 and $4,000.

Gibson said being able to continue working throughout his treatment was a plus. But the biggest advantage to it is being able to say he is finally pain free.

"I would say I'm a happier person because of it," he said.