Starting a new treatment can feel intimidating, especially when you’ve been living with pain for months or years. At West Hills Chiropractic Pain Center in Huntington, NY, we want every patient to walk in feeling informed and confident. Here is exactly what happens from the moment you arrive at your first VAX-D appointment with Dr. Tom Oddo.
Before You Arrive: What to Bring
To make the most of your first appointment, bring any recent imaging (MRI, CT scan, or X-ray reports and discs if you have them), a list of current medications, your insurance card, and a brief summary of your symptoms — how long you’ve had them, what makes them better or worse, and what treatments you’ve already tried. This helps Dr. Oddo assess your case thoroughly from the very first visit.
Step 1: Consultation (20–30 Minutes)
Your appointment begins with a thorough consultation with Dr. Tom Oddo. He’ll review your history, discuss your symptoms in detail, and examine your imaging. This is a real conversation — not a rushed intake form. Dr. Oddo wants to understand not just your diagnosis but how your condition is affecting your daily life, what you’ve tried, and what your goals are.
Step 2: Physical Examination
A focused physical and neurological examination follows. This typically includes orthopedic tests to assess disc involvement, reflexes and sensation testing to identify nerve compromise, range of motion evaluation, and postural assessment. This examination, combined with your imaging, allows Dr. Oddo to confirm your VAX-D candidacy and identify exactly which spinal levels need treatment.
Step 3: Your Treatment Plan
Dr. Oddo will present your personalized treatment plan — including the recommended number of VAX-D sessions, frequency, any supportive therapies, and realistic expectations for your outcomes. Your insurance benefits will have been verified in advance, so you’ll have a clear picture of costs. There is no pressure to start immediately. You’ll have time to ask questions and make an informed decision.
Step 4: Your First VAX-D Session (30–45 Minutes)
If you are ready to begin, your first VAX-D treatment can often happen on the same day as your consultation. Here’s what the treatment itself feels like:
- You lie face-down on the VAX-D table, fully clothed in comfortable attire.
- A pelvic harness is secured around your hips. For cervical (neck) VAX-D, a cervical harness is used instead.
- The computerized table begins a precisely programmed cycle — gently stretching and releasing the spine in a pattern designed to achieve true intradiscal decompression without triggering muscle guarding.
- Sessions last 30–45 minutes. Most patients find the experience relaxing — some fall asleep.
- After treatment, you may receive a complementary therapy (heat, electrical stimulation, or ultrasound) to support the decompression.
How Will I Feel After My First Session?
Most patients feel mild relief or no change after the first session — genuine disc healing takes several sessions to accumulate. Some patients with acute inflammation may feel mild temporary soreness for 24 hours. This is normal and typically resolves quickly. By sessions 4–8, most patients begin noticing meaningful pain reduction.
Book Your First Appointment Today
Ready to take the first step? Call West Hills Chiropractic Pain Center at (631) 659-2980 or book online. Dr. Tom Oddo and our team are ready to give you a genuine evaluation and a real path forward — in Huntington, NY, serving all of Long Island.