Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, which is why individualized care matters.
Disc Degeneration Services
Reduce Pain. Improve Function.
Disc degeneration is a common condition, but it does not automatically mean constant pain or declining mobility. Many people live active, capable lives even with disc changes when the spine is supported properly. Problems often arise when movement quality, strength, and control are not addressed alongside the condition.
Effective care for disc degeneration focuses on how the spine moves, loads, and recovers. Treatment at Rehab Lab Wisconsin is designed to reduce irritation, improve function, and help you move with confidence while protecting the spine long term.
What Disc Degeneration Really Means
Spinal discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae. Over time, discs can lose hydration and flexibility. This process is often part of normal aging, but it can also be influenced by posture, repetitive stress, injury, and movement habits.
Disc degeneration becomes problematic when it leads to stiffness, irritation, or instability that the body cannot manage well. Pain often develops not just from the disc itself, but from how surrounding joints, muscles, and nerves respond.
Supporting the Spine, Not Avoiding Movement
Disc degeneration treatment at Rehab Lab does not revolve around rest alone. While flare ups may require temporary modification, long term improvement depends on restoring safe, controlled movement.
Care focuses on improving spinal mobility where appropriate, enhancing stability where needed, and reducing excessive stress on affected segments. As movement quality improves, symptoms often become more manageable and less frequent.
Common Symptoms Associated With Disc Degeneration
Disc degeneration can affect different areas of the spine and present in various ways. Treatment is guided by function and symptom behavior rather than imaging alone.
Common concerns include:
- Chronic neck or back pain
- Stiffness that improves with movement
- Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting or standing
- Reduced spinal flexibility
- Muscle tension around the spine
- Intermittent nerve related symptoms
Signs Your Disc Degeneration Needs Rehab: When to Call for Help
Disc degeneration is more than back discomfort. If ignored, it can lead to long-term complications. Watch for these signs.
Chronic Back Pain
Ongoing pain in the lower back or neck that worsens when sitting, standing for long periods, or bending forward is a key warning sign.
Stiffness and Reduced Flexibility
Loss of disc cushioning can make twisting, reaching, or bending forward more difficult, leaving your spine feeling tight and restricted.
Numbness or Tingling
Radiating sensations in your arms, legs, hands, or feet often point to nerve compression caused by disc changes and should not be ignored.
Frequent Flare-Ups
Pain that continues to return, even after rest, stretching, or over-the-counter remedies, signals a condition that requires ongoing care.
Supporting the Spine From Multiple Angles
Disc degeneration often responds best when joint motion, muscle support, tissue health, and nervous system control are addressed together. Rehab Lab uses a combination of treatments based on individual presentation.
Care may include chiropractic care, corrective exercises, Class IV laser therapy, stem wave therapy, dry needling, Graston Technique, cupping therapy, blood flow restriction training, or ARP Neuro Therapy depending on needs.
Care Focused on Function, Not Fear
Disc degeneration treatment here is never based on fear driven restrictions. Instead, care is built around restoring confidence in movement.
Progress is reassessed regularly to ensure the spine is responding well to load and activity. Treatment evolves as strength, control, and tolerance improve.
Clear Guidance and a Structured Plan
Your first visit focuses on evaluating spinal mobility, posture, movement patterns, and strength. This helps identify where stress is occurring and how the body is compensating.
You will leave knowing:
- What is contributing to your symptoms
- Which treatments are appropriate
- How progress will be measured
Care is transparent and collaborative throughout the process.
When Disc Degeneration Needs Professional Care
Many people live well with disc changes, but care may be helpful if you experience:
- Persistent or worsening pain
- Stiffness that limits daily movement
- Pain with prolonged sitting or standing
- Recurring flare ups
- Hesitation or fear with movement
Early intervention can help protect long term spinal health.
Built for Real World Demands
Disc degeneration affects more than athletes. It impacts professionals, parents, and anyone who moves through daily life. Rehab Lab designs care to support real world activities rather than avoidance.
Treatment helps restore confidence so lifting, walking, working, and exercising feel safer and more controlled.
Behind The Scenes
meet the doctors
Rehab Lab Chiropractic Clinics work with patients ranging from world-class athletes, to executives to rock star Mom's and Dad's! We help you get healthy and stay healthy, and assist in taking your activity and skills to the next level! Regardless of the sport or lifestyle Rehab Lab Chiropractors look to provide our patients, athletes and everyday people an edge over their competition.
Dr. Sam Wagner grew up in Southeastern Wisconsin and first discovered chiropractic care as a multi-sport athlete. His early experiences with movement, recovery, and performance shaped the direction of his entire career. After high school, he continued competing at Lawrence University where he earned a degree in Biology. His curiosity about how the body moves and heals pushed him toward higher study and a deeper commitment to human performance. He later attended Life University in Atlanta, Georgia, earning a Masters Degree in Sport Health Science and a Doctorate of Chiropractic. Dr. Sam also holds the DACBSP, Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians. This advanced sports medicine training strengthens his core belief that movement is medicine. It guides how he treats every patient, creating a complete care experience that supports the whole person. Dr. Sam pursued athletic opportunities in the NFL and CFL, giving him a unique understanding of what high-level performance demands. Today he brings that knowledge to Rehab Lab Wisconsin and Rehab Lab Wisconsin MKE where he treats NFL, NBA, and MLB athletes along with everyday patients who want to move better. He also serves as the Team Chiropractor for Lawrence University Athletics. His mission is simple: Help people take control of their health, improve their function and performance, and give his community the tools to feel strong and capable in their daily lives. Credentials and Certifications: • Diplomate American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DACBSP) • Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner (CCEP) • Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) • Elite Provider Active Release Techniques (EPN ART) • Master Dry Needling Certified (MDNC) • Graston Technique (M1) • Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) • Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) • Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) • Functional Movement Screens (FMS) • Rocktape Basic and Advanced Provider (FMT) • Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) • Adjunct Faculty Anatomy & Physiology (South College)
Dr. Mike Markowski is native to Northeast Wisconsin, growing up just south of Green Bay. He was first introduced to chiropractic care after injuries sustained as a multi-sport athlete, which ultimately led to a short career. His passion for sports and a functional lifestyle led him down a path to find ways to get back into competitive form. Through this endeavor, Dr. Mike became fascinated with the anatomy and biomechanics of the body and graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry with pre-med intent. After his undergraduate schooling, Dr. Mike earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic – Davenport, Iowa. While in chiropractic school, he became certified in high-level extremity adjusting and analysis, upper cervical adjusting, and spinal decompression treatments. Upon graduation, he returned to his hometown where he practiced for 4 years before partnering with Dr. Sam. As an avid golfer and triathlete, Dr. Mike’s motto is ‘motion is lotion for the body.’ To embody this principle, he provides a well-rounded approach to health for active individuals at any skill level. Dr. Mike is excited to work with a community of proactive individuals who care for their health just as much as he does. Credentials and Certifications: • Senior Intern and over 2 years residency completed for The Mally Method – Extremities • Master Dry Needling Certified (MDNC) • Graston Technique (M1) • Craniofacial Release Technique (CFR) • Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) • Functional Movement Screens (FMS) • Flexion Distraction Technique • MLS Certified
Dr. Nick Agen, originally from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, developed a passion for movement and human performance from a young age, participating in many sports and activities, all of which influenced his path into physical medicine. Through his experience with sports and the various injuries that often accompany those pursuits, he decided to continue his passion for performance into a collegiate career where he played football and ran track. He graduated from Saint Norbert College with a degree in Pre-Medical Biology, which laid the foundation for his interest in the human body and provided a solid background in the sciences. After his time at Saint Norbert, he furthered his passion for the human body and helping others at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, Minnesota, where he pursued his Doctorate of Chiropractic with honors, specializing in sports and rehab. During this time, Dr. Nick also achieved a Masters in Exercise Science at Concordia University in Saint Paul. While at Northwestern, he honed his skills in both Chiropractic and soft tissue techniques. After graduation, Dr. Nick returned closer to home in Milwaukee, where he has been practicing since 2021. When not in the clinic, Dr. Nick enjoys spending time in the weight room, adventuring outdoors, analyzing sports, or trying to keep up with his German Shepherd, Koa. He is committed to staying up to date on current evidence-based research to ensure he continues to provide the highest level of patient-centered care possible. Credentials and Certifications: • Masters Degree in Exercise Science • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) • Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) • Functional Movement Screening (FMS) • MRT (Myofascial Release Technique) • FAKTR Certified in Soft Tissue Scraping and Other Applications • Diversified Technique • Flexion Distraction Technique • Dynamic Taping and Strapping • Dry Needling Certified
Dr. Nate Williams grew up in the UP of Michigan in a town called Iron Mountain. It was there he gained a love of sports and the outdoors, which has followed him throughout his life. He attended college at Michigan State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology-Exercise Science. After graduating from Michigan State, he left the Midwest for sunny California, where he attended Palmer College of Chiropractic West in San Jose. Upon graduating from chiropractic school, he chose to move to Denver, CO, where he practiced for 13 years. During his studies at Palmer West, he was fortunate to learn and intern with some of the top clinicians in the country. His time as a clinician in Denver for over 13 years provided him with an array of experience treating a vast range of injuries and conditions. Outside of the clinic, Dr. Nate is a fishing, music, and golf addict! He tries to spend as much time as possible enjoying those activities. He relocated to the Fox Valley in 2025 and has loved becoming a Wisconsin resident. Credentials and Certifications: • Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) • Functional Dry Needling • Functional Movement Taping • FMT Blades IASTM • Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS)
Dr. Peda Moua grew up in Green Bay, WI, where he spent most of his childhood growing up in the shadows of Lambeau Field. Having played multiple sports as a child, he took his background in sports and paired it with his ambition to understand human performance by graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a degree in Kinesiology. After his undergraduate studies, he attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. At Palmer, he saw an opportunity to treat athletes and active adults through chiropractic care and became a sports rehab intern during his time as a student clinician. Upon completing his studies at Palmer, he moved back home to northeastern WI, where he practiced for over 4.5 years before joining Rehab Lab Wisconsin. During his free time, Dr. Peda enjoys golfing, spending time with his wife and four dogs, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers. He is excited for the opportunity to stay close to home and help his community reach their goals of improving quality of life, function, and performance through patient-centered care. Dr. Peda is currently taking coursework to become a certified chiropractic sports physician (CCSP) this year to better serve his patients at Rehab Lab Wisconsin. Credentials and Certifications: • Advanced Soft Tissue Rehab • Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) • Functional Movement Screening (FMS) • IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization) • Active Release Technique • Dry Needling Certified
Dr. Mike Giammarco is a Milwaukee native and developed a love for sports and human performance at a young age. This passion led him to attend UW-La Crosse where he obtained a Bachelors in Exercise and Sport Science. This experience working with athletes to improve their performance gave him a foundation on which he would build out the rest of his career. Following undergrad, he attended Northwestern Health Sciences University where he earned his Doctorate of Chiropractic degree. He was able to gain clinical experience working with professional football (Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Vixen) as well as performing sideline work and rehabilitation as part of a member of the school’s Human Performance Center. After graduating in 2016, Dr. G moved back to Milwaukee and has been treating patients in the community since. He has also spent time as the Official Chiropractor for the MKE Wave and UW-Milwaukee athletics programs. He also has taught Anatomy and Physiology at the undergraduate level since 2018. Through his years in practice, Dr. G prioritizes helping his patients not only overcome pain but become more resilient than they were before getting injured. When not in the office Dr. G is watching his favorite sports teams, improving his clinical expertise, and doing activities with his family. Dr. Giammarco is constantly pursuing knowledge and has held several degrees and certifications: -Doctorate of Chiropractic -Bachelors in Exercise and Sport Science -Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist -Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) -Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS-ET) -Functional Range Conditioning (FRCms and FRSC) -Dry Needling -Graston -FAKTR -Blood Flow Restriction Training -Adjunct Professor in Anatomy and Physiology