Good Neighbor Podcast: Pittsburgh

E103: Rethinking Pain with American Back Centers: From Frustration To Noninvasive Relief

• Leila Carter & Dr. Peter Paduzzi • Episode 103

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What makes Dr. Peter Paduzzi with American Back Centers a good neighbor?  

Ever been told surgery is the only path out of back or neck pain? We sat down with Dr. Peter Paduzzi of American Back Centers to unpack a different roadmap: specialty chiropractic, targeted rehab, FDA-approved spinal decompression, and noninvasive weight-loss strategies that help real patients sidestep the scalpel. Dr. Paduzzi has led a legacy practice in Wexford for over two decades, focusing on tough cases like herniated and bulging discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and even failed back or neck surgery.

Across our conversation, we separate myth from method. Chiropractic here isn’t a one-size-fits-all adjustment; it’s a structured plan that blends manual therapy with progressive stabilization, mobility training, and decompression protocols designed to relieve nerve pressure and restore function. We talk through how to know when conservative care is the smarter first step, the red flags that warrant referral, and why a clear second opinion can change the trajectory for people who’ve already cycled through injections and standard PT without lasting relief. Dr. Paduzzi also shares how targeted weight management and practical nutrition lower spinal load, reduce inflammation, and accelerate rehab gains.

You’ll hear candid guidance on who benefits most, how results are measured, and what early wins to watch for: better standing and walking tolerance, fewer night wakings, and easier daily movement. We also touch on patient education- short, accessible videos and radio segments that demystify terms like “stenosis” and “decompression”- so you can make informed choices with your care team. If you’re wrestling with persistent disc pain or considering surgery, this conversation offers a grounded, hopeful path forward that prioritizes safety, function, and long-term outcomes.

If this helped you rethink your options, subscribe, share with someone who needs a second opinion, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

To learn more about  American Back Centers go to: 

https://www.americanbackcenters.com/

American Back Centers

(724) 220-6066


SPEAKER_00:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Lila Carter.

SPEAKER_01:

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of a specialty chiropractor? One might be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Dr. Peter Paduzzi with American Back Centers. Dr. Padozzi, how's it going today?

SPEAKER_02:

Great, great, great. Thank you for having me today.

SPEAKER_01:

Thanks for being here. We're excited to learn all about you and your business. So please tell us more about your practice.

SPEAKER_02:

So this practice has been around for over 50 years. I per uh worked with this doctor uh who retired for about four or five years and took over the practice. And I've been the owner for over 20 years now, located here in the Wexford area. It's called American Back Centers, and we've specialized in helping people avoid disc surgery. We do chiropractic, uh nutrition, therapy, and rehab, and we just started getting into the weight loss realm as well.

SPEAKER_01:

How did you get into this business initially?

SPEAKER_02:

Um, initially, I've always been into health and wellness and doing things more in a natural method if possible, and um just uh decided that this was my route. Um, I've seen people helped uh by chiropractors, and I see the magic that occurs every day here at our office, and it just came natural to me. And I enjoy every day helping people, uh doing it uh in a natural way if possible. If we can't help them, and of course, we will refer you out to the appropriate specialist. But I enjoy what I do.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, very good. Are there any myths or maybe misconceptions in your industry that you'd like to discuss today?

SPEAKER_02:

Um, yeah, I mean, some aspect uh that uh chiropractors uh uh per se uh just adjust everyone and and they don't do any other type of therapies. Of course, we do a lot of extensive rehab therapy here at our office. We have specialized procedures, uh, whereas a normal adjustment or therapy, we've had patients come to us that have tried epidural injections, they've even had failed uh surgeries. We've been able to help them with the FDA-approved medical procedures we have here that are unique to our office, namely the vertiboaxo decompression. And then we have a lot of non-invasive, non-surgical weight loss uh procedures here that are very effective as well.

SPEAKER_01:

So there's so many different ways that you're helping people. Who are your target customers and how are you currently attracting them to the business?

SPEAKER_02:

Our target customers are anybody in pain, well, namely back or neck pain. We do treat other musculoskeletal issues, shoulders, knees, hips, etc. But our specialty is that patient that's been through chiropractic already, been through physical therapy. They may have been told they need to go get a pain injection shot or they've already had injection shots. They're frustrated, their back or neck pain is not getting better. They've been diagnosed with a hernited disc, bulging disc, failed back or neck surgery, uh, sciatica spinal stenosis, and they don't know where to turn. And they've been told they may need surgery and they want a second opinion. And we've helped countless people avoid the potential permanent complications with spinal surgery.

SPEAKER_01:

So many people are looking for the kind of information that you have to provide here. Have you ever thought about maybe doing your own podcast to get the word out?

SPEAKER_02:

Um, I it's funny you say that. I actually did for a while and um just didn't have time to do it anymore because I also do a radio show on a small radio station out of Greensburg. And then, you know, we're we we do a lot of things. We do videos uh we broadcast on the four big social media, uh educational videos. So we do a lot of things. But yeah, I definitely uh thought about doing it again, doing a podcast again for sure. Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

And outside of work, Dr. Paduzi, what do you do for fun?

SPEAKER_02:

I do various things. I spend time with my kids. I I like to stay active with sports, jujitsu, soccer, um, just you know, enjoy uh exploring new places, travel, um, just having fun, staying active.

SPEAKER_01:

Very good. And please tell our listeners one thing that they should remember about American Back Centers.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, our motto is at the American Back Centers, you have nothing to lose but your pain. And of course you don't. I mean, you have nothing to lose to come in and talk with us and see if we can help you. Uh, at the very least, we're gonna get you out of your pain. We're gonna get you help you avoid a spinal surgery, avoid potentially permanent complications that can occur with any invasive procedure.

SPEAKER_01:

And how can our listeners learn more about American Back Centers?

SPEAKER_02:

They can visit our website at www.americanbackcenters with an s dot com. Or they can uh we have we do have a lot of social media uh outlets as far as our Facebook page, uh, Instagram, uh, Twitter, and X out there where we put videos out all the time, educational videos. But really, the best way is going to our website again, www.americanbackcenters.com.

SPEAKER_01:

Very good. Well, Dr. Peter Paduzzi, I very much appreciate your time today and having you as a guest on our show. We wish you and the practice the best moving forward.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, thank you so much. Thank you for having me. Have a good one.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnppittsburgh.com. That's gnppittsburgh.com or call four one two five six one nine nine five six.