The foundation
Non-surgical computerized spinal decompression
Gentle, computer-controlled traction designed to take pressure off the disc and the nerve. Force, angle and timing are set by Dr. Ruiz for your case.
For sciatica, pinched nerves, and herniated or bulging discs lasting 3+ months — Covina, CA
The scariest part of sciatica isn’t the pain. It’s how normal it’s starting to feel.
You stopped taking the long walks. You plan your day around how long you can sit. You say “maybe” to plans until you know what your back will say. The $99 Disc & Nerve Evaluation with Dr. Alex Ruiz, DC tells you what’s actually going on, and whether non-surgical care is an option for you.
This is how patients here get back to the long walks, the full workday and the plans they’d stopped saying yes to.
7 questions, about 60 seconds. If you’re a fit, you pick your time right away.
Not a candidate? You’ll be told — and your $99 is refunded.
$99 pricing ends October 31
Sciatica · 3 years“I came in with REALLY bad sciatica and numbness that had been bothering me for 3 years, and he helped me get complete relief.”
Bayley B. Google review
Neck · arm numbness“I was only given the option of surgery. Turns out the cervical decompression saved me!! I had numbness going down my arm…”
Maria C. Google review
Herniated disc“Been feeling like a new man since I started coming here. Herniated disc pain is completely gone. Mobility restored. Can’t recommend enough.”
Robert G. Google review
Word for word from Google, posted under our former name, ChiroMedix.
- Every exam done by Dr. Ruiz
- Open till 7 PM, plus alternating Saturdays
- Your first treatment on day one
- Se habla español
Normal didn’t happen all at once.
- First, you skipped the long walk.
- Then you started picking the chair by the door.
- Then you started leaving early.
None of it felt like a decision. That’s why it’s so easy to keep living with. A better question than how much longer you can take it: has anyone actually found what’s causing it?
The usual path
Most people with sciatica get moved through the same five steps.
Your primary doctor, the pain clinic, the physical therapist. Each one does its piece correctly. But nobody puts the pieces together and answers the question underneath it all: what exactly is pressing on your nerve, and can that pressure come off without surgery?
…nothing helped from PT, rest, pain medicine and other treatments and got no relief. Now on my 10th session I'm pretty much pain free!
Seaber S. Google review
- 1Rest and pills
- 2PT, stretches, maybe an adjustment
- 3An injection
- 4Another injection
- 5“We can talk about surgery.”
Each step buys a few weeks. None of them goes after what’s pressing on the nerve.
Each thing you tried treated one layer. Never the disc and the nerve together.
The adjustment moved the joint. Physical therapy worked the muscle. The injection calmed the inflammation. Each did its one job, and each left the most common cause of sciatica in place: a bulging or herniated disc pressing on an irritated nerve.
Too much rest works against you. Your discs have almost no blood supply of their own. They soak up fluid and nutrients like a sponge, and the loading and unloading of normal movement keeps that exchange going.
When the pain puts you on the couch, the disc gets less of what it needs. That’s why the heating pad, the massage gun and another round of pills never hold.
You’ve had treatment. What you haven’t had is a plan made from your own findings.
That’s what the $99 evaluation is for: Dr. Ruiz examines you, explains what’s going on in plain language, treats you, and puts your plan in writing.
The $99 Disc & Nerve Evaluation
One hour. A real exam. A clear yes or no.
You leave knowing what’s driving your symptoms, with your first treatment done and a written plan in hand, before you decide anything.
$99total · $49 holds your time, $50 at your visit
An injection buys you a few weeks. An MRI shows you the picture, but not what to do about it. Neither one gives you back the Saturday walk, the drive without stopping, or the full day on your feet you stopped planning for. $99 buys the one hour that can. Dr. Ruiz examines you himself, reads your imaging with you, treats you that same visit, and hands you a written plan for what's causing the pain and exactly how it would be addressed. You already know what another month of waiting costs. This is what one hour costs.
Why only $99? So you get real answers and feel your first treatment before you commit to anything. If you start a care plan within 7 days, your $99 is credited toward it.
Not a candidate? Dr. Ruiz tells you that day, you’re not offered a plan, and your $99 is refunded in full.
7 questions, about 60 seconds. If you’re a fit, you pick your time right away.
$99 pricing ends October 31
We take on a limited number of new disc and nerve cases each month.
I originally wanted to go through insurance, but paying cash was 100% worth it because the quality of care is on a completely different level.
Bayley B. Google review
How your hour goes
Your story
What happened, what you have already tried, and what you want to get back to.
Spine and nerve exam
Orthopedic and neurological testing with Dr. Ruiz to find what’s driving your symptoms.
Imaging review
If you have an MRI or X-ray, Dr. Ruiz goes over the images and the report with you in plain language.
Your first treatment
Usually spinal decompression and Class IV laser, chosen by Dr. Ruiz after your exam.
Your written Blueprint
A printed plan of what’s going on, why, and exactly how it will be addressed with the care Dr. Ruiz recommends. It includes a breakdown of your MRI findings tied to the orthopedic exam he performed on you.
Your plan review
Our care team walks you through your plan, the full cost and your payment options, including monthly payment plans for those who qualify. Bring whoever helps you decide. They can join in person or by phone, at no charge, and there’s no pressure to decide that day.
Inside the ARC Protocol™
More than a decompression table.
Most clinics that offer decompression treat the table as the plan. You lie down, the machine runs, you go home. The disc gets the attention. The tissue around it gets very little.
At ARC, decompression is the A: Alleviate. It never runs alone. The R and the C come with it. Regenerative therapies that support recovery in the tissue around your spine, and corrective work that rebuilds the support so the relief has something to stand on.
Dr. Ruiz designs that sequence from your exam and runs it with a team he trained himself. Visits aren’t rushed. Nothing here is cookie-cutter, because your spine isn’t.
Supporting therapies
Class IV high-intensity laser
Therapeutic laser light used for temporary relief of muscle and joint pain and to increase local circulation.
High-Intensity PEMF
A non-invasive pulsed electromagnetic treatment used for certain muscle and joint pain.
Focused shockwave
Focused acoustic pulses aimed at the painful tissue your exam pinpoints.
Radial pressure wave
Broad, pulsed pressure waves for tight, guarded muscles around the spine and hips.
Full-body red and near-infrared light
A calm, full-body light session used to support recovery between treatments.
Not every case uses every therapy, and not all on day one.
MRI and X-ray review
Already have an MRI? Bring it.
Dr. Ruiz goes through your actual images and the radiologist’s report with you, next to your exam findings, and uses a 3D spine model to show you what’s going on. Words like “L5-S1 protrusion” finally make sense. Imaging adds to the exam; it doesn’t replace it.
- Images and report
- Report only
- Older scans
No MRI? That’s common.
Many cases are worked out from the exam alone. If Dr. Ruiz thinks imaging would change your plan, he writes the referral, usually with same- or next-day booking, and results reach him in about 24 hours. Outside imaging is billed separately.
After a lot of pain because my MRI showed 3 bulging disk L3, L4, L5/ S1. Stenosis and arthritis in the lower back. My experience has been more than excellent, there are no words to describe finding a solution to pain…
Marleny D. Google review
The ARC Protocol™
Alleviate, Regenerate, Correct
Alleviate·Regenerate·Correct
Three phases. One plan, built from your exam.
How the plan works
The ARC Protocol
Take the pressure off. Calm the irritation. Rebuild the support.
The goal isn’t a better pain day. It’s getting your life back to the size it used to be.
Three phases, in the order your exam calls for. The first planned re-check is around week 3 to 4, and that’s where most patients and Dr. Ruiz first see the plan doing its job. Individual results vary, and the plan changes when your progress says it should.
Illustration
How decompression works
Sitting and standing load the disc, so it bulges and presses on the nerve — which is why the pain often bites hardest when you're still. Gentle, computer-controlled traction opens the disc space and eases that pressure off the nerve.
Alleviate take the pressure off the nerve
Precise, computer-controlled traction designed to lower pressure inside the disc and take load off the pinched nerve, to calm pain that runs down the leg or arm.
Regenerate fuel the starved tissue, calm the irritation
Discs have almost no blood supply, and an irritated nerve heals slowly on its own. This phase uses therapies like Class IV laser, High-Intensity PEMF and focused shockwave to increase local circulation and calm irritation, so your body can do its own repair.
Correct lock it in, so it’s less likely to come back
Whole-body vibration and guided neuromuscular re-education retrain the deep muscles that support your spine, plus a routine you do at home, so your back holds up better against flare-ups.
Dr. Ruiz sets the order after your exam. Many patients start the Regenerate and Correct work early, alongside decompression, rather than waiting for one phase to end before the next begins. “Regenerate” means supporting your body's own recovery — circulation, inflammation, muscle relaxation. ARC does not regrow discs, repair cartilage, or grow new bone.
…if you truly give it time and invest in the process you will see. Day one so much pain barely walking and now months later pain is gone and can enjoy my life!
Jesse A. Google review
Your care is directed by
Dr. Alex Ruiz, DC
Dr. Ignacio “Alex” Ruiz, DC · Licensed California chiropractor · Founder & Clinical Director, ARC Spine & Nerve Institute
Over eight years and more than 1,000 spine evaluations, my practice narrowed to one thing: disc and nerve pain that hasn’t responded to everything else. I built the ARC Protocol from what I saw work in my own patients, especially the ones nothing else had helped.
Most of my patients have already been through it: the decompression clinic that ran one machine and quit, three months of physical therapy and home stretches, the injections, the pills that worked until they didn’t. Many had been told surgery was next. They didn’t need one more treatment.
They needed someone to find what was actually pressing on the nerve, and a plan aimed at that.
So here’s my promise: your evaluation and your plan come from me. I’ll tell you the truth: what’s driving your pain, what it will take to go after the cause, and when you’d be better served somewhere else. My clinical team, trained by me, runs your therapies to that plan, and I review your progress at every planned re-check.
Exam first
Treatment is chosen after your exam, never before it.
Progress is measured
Planned re-checks and repeat exams are part of every plan.
The plan can change
The calendar doesn’t make clinical decisions. Your progress does.
Dr Ruiz is incredibly knowledgeable and attentive, taking the time to understand my specific needs and concerns.
Maria Fernanda S. Google review
DR. Alex is great! He is honest about what is best for you.
Jovita F. Google review
Reviews
Real patients, in their own words.
Five stars on Google and Yelp, posted under our former name, ChiroMedix Spine & Recovery. Same doctor, same team.
5.0Google
5.0Yelp
Dr. Alex was honestly amazing!! I came in with REALLY bad sciatica and numbness that had been bothering me for 3 years, and he helped me get complete relief. He’s extremely knowledgeable, takes his time, and actually explains what’s going on instead of rushing you in and out. 10/10 experience 🙌 His decompression program made a huge difference, and I noticed improvement way faster than I expected. I originally wanted to go through insurance, but paying cash was 100% worth it because the quality of care is on a completely different level. This is not one of those places where you get a quick 10–15 minute “crack and go” appointment. Dr. Alex is kind, professional, and most importantly… he gets results!!!
Bayley B. Google reviewI was desperate to try to find a doctor who can help me with my neck pain. I was only given the option of surgery. Turns out the cervical decompression saved me!! I had numbness going down my arm and this treatment helped me sooo mucn! Along with the shockwave! Amazing doctor & team! So blessed to have found them!
Maria C. Google reviewI was referred by my best friend. After a lot of pain because my MRI showed 3 bulging disk L3, L4, L5/ S1. Stenosis and arthritis in the lower back. My experience has been more than excellent, there are no words to describe finding a solution to pain and in ChiroMedix it has given me a hope of smiling again and having a healthy and pain-free future of life! I am very grateful for professional & caring team 😇
Marleny D. Google reviewBeen feeling like a new man since I started coming here. Herniated disc pain is completely gone. Mobility restored. Can’t recommend enough .
Robert G. Google reviewCan't recommend Dr. Alex enough! I came with daily neck pain from a budging disk and nothing helped from PT, rest, pain medicine and other treatments and got no relief. Now on my 10th session I'm pretty much pain free! If you tried everything and nothing has worked, come here and you will have improvements
Seaber S. Google reviewDr Alex and his team are amazing! I highly recommend going and see for yourself! You will not be disappointed, if you truly give it time and invest in the process you will see. Day one so much pain barely walking and now months later pain is gone and can enjoy my life! Thank You Dr Alex and team!
Jesse A. Google reviewDoctor ALEX is an awesome Doctor , I felt the difference from the first treatment. He always takes the time to take care of his patients with a personalized touch and concern regardless how busy he is. He has made a huge difference in my life healthwise and for which I am very grateful. Thank you Doctor Alex for your dedication. May God bless…
Blanca P. Google reviewReviews are quoted word for word from public Google listings. Individual results vary, and your evaluation decides whether care is right for you.
How to get started
Three steps to a clear answer.
- Step 1
Take the Candidacy Check
7 quick questions, about a minute: where it hurts, how long, and what you’ve tried. No payment to take it.
- Step 2
See your result
If you look like a fit, you pick your evaluation time right there. If a quick conversation makes more sense first, our team calls you. If ARC isn’t the right fit, we’ll say so.
- Step 3
Come in for your hour
Your exam, a review of any imaging you have, your first treatment and your written Blueprint. Bring whoever helps you make health decisions. Dr. Ruiz confirms whether you’re a candidate.
Not a candidate? Your $99 is refunded.
Who this is for
We accept about 3 in 4 of the cases that come to us.
We’re looking for the right candidate: someone whose exam points to a problem we can help, and who is ready to follow a structured program. If that isn’t you, you’ll hear it in the first hour, before you’ve paid for anything beyond the evaluation.
This is for you if
- A disc or nerve problem is behind your pain, or you suspect one is, and the quick fixes have stopped working.
- You want a doctor to find the cause before anyone sells you a plan.
- You’re ready to stick to a structured program and follow the doctor’s guidance, in the clinic and out.
- You’d rather hear the truth, including “we’re not your answer.”
This is not for you if
- Your exam and imaging don’t point to a problem we can help. We’ll tell you what you need, and where to go.
- You’re looking for a single adjustment and nothing more. There are good clinics for that. This isn’t one of them.
- You can’t commit to a sequence right now. No judgment. A half-followed plan gets half a result.
If you’re a fit, you’ll know by the end of the hour. If you’re not, your $99 comes back.
Before you book decompression anywhere, ask these five
- Will a doctor examine you and review your imaging before anyone quotes you a plan?
- Is there a plan for the tissue around the disc? Decompression is designed to unload the disc. On its own, it isn’t designed to address the tendons, ligaments, fascia, muscles and nerves around the spine.
- Is anything being done to support the body’s own repair? Ask whether they use clinically researched technology like focused shockwave, Class IV laser and high-intensity PEMF.
- Do they re-examine you and adjust the plan as your body responds, or does everyone get the same schedule?
- When table time ends, is there a phase that rebuilds the muscles that support your spine?
At ARC, the answer to all five is yes. Alleviate. Regenerate. Correct.
Why ARC is private pay
ARC is a private-pay clinic. We don’t bill health insurance.
That’s a choice, not a limitation.
It means your plan is built from one thing: your exam findings and your response to care. Not a list of covered codes. Not a visit allowance. Dr. Ruiz decides what your spine needs, and you decide whether to proceed. Nobody else is in that conversation.
It also means no surprises on cost. You see the full price before you commit, and the $99 evaluation is the only charge on your first visit.
9 out of 10 ARC patients don’t pay for their plan all at once. They pay monthly, $200 to $300 a month through Cherry or CareCredit, and most qualify for 0% interest and no fees.* That’s $7 to $10 a day for a program built to address the cause, not mask the pain. You see your monthly payment in writing before you decide, and you can decide at home. HSA and FSA cards accepted; check with your plan administrator on eligibility.
*Financing offered by Cherry and CareCredit, subject to credit approval. Rate (APR from 0%), term and monthly payment are set by the lender based on your profile; approval is not guaranteed. Ask for full terms at your visit.
7 questions, about 60 seconds. If you’re a fit, you pick your time right away.
Questions
Before you start
Rather talk it through? Call or text us. Se habla español.
What exactly is included for $99?
One hour: your consultation, a detailed spine and nerve exam, a review of your MRI or X-ray if you have one, your first treatment, and your written ARC Recovery Blueprint.
$99 is the full price of that visit. If you start a care plan within 7 days, it’s credited toward your plan. If you’re not a candidate, it’s refunded. The $99 price is held for visits reserved through October 31.
Do you take insurance?
ARC is private pay and doesn’t bill insurance. If you’re a candidate, you see the full cost before deciding anything, and most patients pay monthly: $200 to $300 a month through Cherry or CareCredit, with most qualifying for 0% interest (subject to credit approval).
Can someone come with me?
Yes, and we recommend it. Bring your spouse, partner or whoever helps you make health decisions, so Dr. Ruiz can walk you both through your findings and plan. They join at no charge, and there’s no pressure to decide that day. If they’re dealing with pain of their own, you can add a visit for them when you book.
Do I have to decide on care at my first visit?
No. You see your plan and the full cost before you decide, and there’s no pressure to decide that day. Some people start right away; others want to talk it over at home first. Either is fine.
I have already tried chiropractic, PT or decompression. How is this different?
Most of our patients tried at least one of those first. The difference: a doctor examines you before anything is chosen. Decompression is combined with other therapies instead of used alone. Your table settings are set for your case. And you’re re-examined, with the plan changed when your response calls for it.
My doctor mentioned surgery. Should I still come in?
Many of our patients were told surgery was next and came in first to understand their non-surgical options. Whether ARC fits your case is decided at your exam. Don’t delay anything time-sensitive your doctor has advised.
Do I need an MRI first?
No. Many cases are worked out from your history and exam alone. If you have images and a report, bring them. An MRI is the most useful, if you have one. If Dr. Ruiz decides imaging would change your plan, he writes the referral. Outside imaging is billed separately.
Will I receive treatment on the first visit?
Yes, when your exam shows you’re a candidate. Dr. Ruiz chooses your first treatment after the exam, typically spinal decompression with Class IV laser, plus other ARC Protocol™ therapies when your findings call for it.
I have had symptoms for years. Is it too late?
A long history does not rule you out. Several of the reviews on this page are from people who had lived with it for years before they came in. The exam shows whether the program fits your case.
Do you speak Spanish?
Yes. Our whole team speaks Spanish: the doctor, the coordinators, and whoever calls or texts you back. You can be seen in Spanish by phone, by text and at the clinic.
What if I need to reschedule?
Call or text (626) 669-4559 and we’ll find you a new time.
Ready when you are
Planning your day around your back doesn’t have to be your normal.
You’ve spent years learning to live with it. Spend one hour finding out what’s causing it.
One hour with Dr. Ruiz. A real exam, your imaging read with you, and a straight answer about whether non-surgical care can help. First treatment included. Not a candidate? Your $99 comes back.
$99 pricing ends October 31
Location
248 E Rowland St
Covina, CA 91723
Parking in front and private parking in back.
Hours
Mon & Tue · 11:30 AM to 7 PM
Wed & Thu · 9 AM to 5 PM
Fri · 9 AM to 4:30 PM (Week A)
Sat · 9 AM to 5 PM (Week B)
Closed Sunday. Friday and Saturday alternate week to week — call or text and we’ll tell you which one is open this week.
Call or text
(626) 669-4559
Se habla español.