Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

 
What Causes low back pain?

If I undergo Spinal Decompression treatment, how long does it take to see results?

How long does it take to complete Spinal Decompression treatment?

Do I qualify for Spinal Decompression Treatment?

Are there any side effects to the treatment?

How does Spinal Decompression separate each vertebra and allow for decompression at a specific level?

Is there any risk to the patient during treatment on Spinal Decompression ?

How does Spinal Decompression treatment differ from ordinary spinal traction?

Can Spinal Decompression be used for patients that have had spinal surgery?

Who is not a candidate for Spinal Decompression therapy?

Who is a candidate for Spinal Decompression?

Questions About Chiropractic:

 I Don't "Believe" In Chiropractic!

I'm Afraid It Is Going To Hurt!

Once I Start Going I Have To Go For The Rest Of My Life?

 
I Don't Think You Can Help Me!

My pain is Not That Bad - Won't It Just Get Better All By Itself?

Why Should I Choose You If You Are Not  Covered By My Insurance Or On My HMO List?

What causes low back pain?
Low back pain can be caused by a number of factors from injuries to the effects of aging.The spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae, which are made of bone. Between each vertebra are soft discs with a ligamentous outer layer. These discs function as shock absorbers to protect the vertebra and the spinal cord. Many of the problems that cause back pain are the result of herniation and degeneration of the intervertebral disc. Degeneration is a process where wear and tear causes deterioration of the disc. Herniations, or bulging of the disc are protrusions from the disc that press on surrounding nerves, causing pain or numbness.

If I undergo Spinal Decompression treatment, how long does it take to see results?
Most patients report a reduction in pain after the first few sessions. Typically, significant improvement is obtained by the second week of treatment.

How long does it take to complete Spinal Decompression treatment?
Patients remain on the system for 30-45 minutes, daily for the first 2 weeks, three times a week for the following 2 weeks, and followed up by two times a week for the last 2 weeks.

Do I qualify for Spinal Decompression treatment?
Since I began using The DRX9000 Spinal Decompression spinal disc decompression unit, I’have been inundated with questions from both doctors and patients as to which cases it will best help. Obviously proper patient selection is essential to favorable outcomes, so let me explain to you of the Inclusion and Exclusion criteria so you may make the right decision since not everyone qualifies for Spinal Decompression treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pain due to herniated and bulging lumbar discs that is more than four weeks old
• Recurrent pain from a failed back surgery that is more than six months old.
• Persistent pain from degenerated disc not responding to four weeks of therapy.
• Patients available for four weeks of treatment protocol.
• Patient at least 18 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Appliances such as pedicle screws and rods
• Pregnancy
• Prior lumbar fusion less than six months old
• Metastatic cancer
• Severe osteoporosis
• Spondylolisthesis (unstable)
• Compression fracture of lumbar spine below L-1 (recent).
• Pars defect
• Pathologic aortic aneurysm.
• Pelvic or abdominal cancer
• Disc space infections
• Severe peripheral neuropathy
• Hemiplegia, paraplegia, or cognitive dysfunction.
   

Are there any side effects to the treatment?
Most patients do not experience any side effects. Though, there have been some mild cases of muscle spasm for a short period of time.

How does Spinal Decompression separate each vertebra and allow for decompression at a specific level?
Decompression is achieved by using a specific combination of spinal positioning and varying the degree and intensity of force. The key to producing this decompression is the gentle pull that is created by a logarithmic curve. When distractive forces are generated on a logarithmic curve the typical proprioceptor response is avoided. Avoiding this response allows decompression to occur at the targeted area

Is there any risk to the patient during treatment on Spinal Decompression ?
NO. Spinal Decompression is totally safe and comfortable for all subjects. The system has emergency stop switches for both the patient and the operator. These switches (a requirement of the FDA) terminate the treatment immediately thereby avoiding any injuries.

How does Spinal Decompression treatment differ from ordinary spinal traction?
Traction is helpful at treating some of the conditions resulting from herniated or degeneration. Traction cannot address the source of the problem. Spinal Decompression creates a negative pressure or a vacuum inside the disc. This effect causes the disc to pull in the herniation and the increase in negative pressure also causes the flow of blood and nutrients back into the disc allowing the body's natural fibroblastic response to heal the injury and re-hydrate the disc. Traction and inversion tables, at best, can lower the intradiscal pressure from a +90 to a +30 mmHg. Spinal Decompression is clinically proven to reduce the intradiscal pressure to between a -150 to -200 mmHg. Traction triggers the body's normal response to stretching by creating painful muscle spasms that worsen the pain in affected area.

Can Spinal Decompression be used for patients that have had spinal surgery?
In most cases Spinal Decompression treatment is not contra-indicated for patients that have had spinal surgery. In fact many patients have found success with Spinal Decompression after a failed back surgery.

Who is not a candidate for Spinal Decompression therapy?
Anyone who has recent spinal fractures, surgical fusion or metallic hardware, surgically repaired aneurysms, infection of the spine, and/or moderate to severe osteoporosis.

Who is a candidate for Spinal Decompression?
Anyone who has been told they need surgery but wishes to avoid it, anyone who has been told there is nothing more available to help, anyone who failed to significantly respond to conservative options (medications, physical therapy, injections, chiropractic, acupuncture), or anyone who still has pain but wishes to obtain the type of care they want.

I Don't "Believe" In Chiropractic!

Chiropractic is not a "belief" system. It has been helping suffering people since 1895 and has countless scientific studies as proof. So, if you have been misinformed, let me offer some REAL PROOF from some leading experts:

"There is an overwhelming body of evidence indicating that Chiropractic management of low back pain is more cost-effective than medical management… Chiropractic manipulation is safer than medical management of low back pain. Chiropractic management is greatly superior to medical management in terms of scientific validity, safety, cost-effectiveness and patient satisfaction."
Pran Manga, PhD.
The Effectiveness And Cost Effectiveness Of Chiropractic Management Of Low Back Pain. University Of Ottowa, 1993

"There are more than 30 randomized controlled clinical trials studying the effectiveness of spinal manipulation in the relief of spinal pain, the majority of which have looked at acute low back pain. Manipulation has been compared to most non-surgical treatment modalities including placebo, ultrasound, traction, exercise, bed rest, analgesics and corsets. The meta-analyses performed by Anderson et al led to the conclusion that the average patient receiving spinal manipulation is better off than 54 to 85% of the patients receiving the comparison treatment."
Dr. Scott Halderman, M.D., D.C., PhD., FRCP(C), Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine. Presented at the Alternative And Complementary Medicine And The Orthopedic Surgeon, February, 28, 2001

There is much more proof, but, I think you get the picture.

I'm Afraid It Is Going To Hurt!

This one's easy. Chiropractic care should not hurt! Our techniques are extremely gentle and most patients say they either felt only gentle pressure… or… almost nothing at all. The only time there is any discomfort at all is when you are in such severe pain you can not even move or be touched. But in that case, your pain will come from getting to my office… my treatments should hopefully start ending your pain. In many cases - immediately.

If you have been to another Chiropractor and it was painful, they possibly either used the wrong technique for you… or… may not have been proficient in their chosen technique. Most people know Chiropractic has been proven to work wonders with back and neck pain… but… most people don't know is -- there are many different Chiropractic techniques. Last I heard, there were over 300.

What this means is: you can walk into two different Chiropractor's offices on the same block… and… get two very different treatments --- with two very different results! What this also means is: you can give one Chiropractor a try… and if he or she does not produce the results you want… you think CHIROPRATIC failed. And, you give up on Chiropractic altogether.

Nothing could be further from the truth and making that conclusion could lead to many years of unnecessary pain and suffering. I'm not sure why so many people think this way. Everyone knows all dentists are different. One can completely ruin your teeth while another fixes the mess and gives you a movie-star smile.

Have you seen any of those shows where a good plastic surgeon takes a patient that was totally butchered by another surgeon and works absolute miracles? The same is true for heart surgeons, car mechanics and, of course, Chiropractors. But, I think it's even more difficult to choose a Chiropractor that's right for you because of all those techniques and different ways of practicing. Which brings us to…

Once I Start Going I Have To Go For The Rest Of My Life?

No you don't. That's one of the biggest wives tales about Chiropractic. After your complete evaluation, you will be given the best possible treatment plan to get you out of pain as fast as humanly possible. If another Chiropractor told you that you had to keep coming forever, they may not be the right one for you.

I Don't Think You Can Help Me!

We're going to be very honest with you - neither do we - When you come in, we'll be able to tell if you qualify for our program or not. But we can tell you this: we've put together, what we consider to be, the ultimate system for many cases of back and neck pain that you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else (unless you get a little lucky and stumble across another doctor who's gone to the insane lengths we've gone to put all this together). This system can possibly quickly relieve many… if not all… of your back and neck pain…
· No matter how long you've been suffering. It really may not matter. It may take a little more time if you've been suffering for years as opposed to a "fresh" case… but in the end… you can still get tremendous results.
· No matter if you've already had surgery. I have treated many patients over the years… with great success… who have gone through back or neck surgery without results. Some were even made worse by the surgery. Because many times surgery misses the REAL cause of your pain, there is still a good chance I can help you.
· And no matter how old or helpless you THINK your case is. Most of my patients thought they were either too old or hopeless for anything to help them. Many of their previous doctors told them that. Well you're probably NOT. With this system… there is always hope. Many of our patients have told us we were their last resort. Last stop before packing it in and completely giving up. They soon found out that our treatments usually made it astonishingly easy to get relief.

My pain is Not That Bad - Won't It Just Get Better All By Itself?

Usually NOT. I can tell you this: In most cases, back pain does NOT get better all by itself. Research shows that 75% of back pain sufferers will still suffer with either pain or disability or pain and disability 12 months after consulting a doctor without any treatment. And the worst thing is: when you ignore your pain, thinking it will get better all by itself, you run the risk of it getting worse. Sometimes MUCH worse.

What happens if you ignore a little toothache? Does it just "go away all by itself?" Sometimes. But, it always comes back - with a vengeance. Usually to the tune of a root canal, several thousand dollars… and… a whole bunch of pain and suffering. All unnecessary. All 100% avoidable.

Let me be crystal clear on this issue - little back and neck pains… in most cases… do not simply go away all by themselves. Like that toothache, they rear their ugly head again later. And like that toothache, when they come back, it's usually much worse.

But the BIG problem is: When your teeth get bad, your Dentist can give you a root canal… or even… replace your teeth. That is not an option for your back and neck pain. There is no root canal. No replacement spine. Just look around. There are people everywhere… in constant pain… that said to themselves… 20 years ago… "it will just get better all by itself."

Why Should I Choose You If You Are Not Covered By My Insurance Or On My HMO List?

If you are concerned about insurance coverage, you have every right to be. And, I'm going to answer this question very bluntly: Insurance companies are businesses run for profit. Their #1 priority is to make money - not to pay for your best possible health care.

If I am not on your HMO list, it is because I have chosen not to be. I have chosen to treat my patients the best way I know how - with the patient's best interest in mind -- not the way an insurance adjuster tells me to.

There is an old saying: You almost always get what you pay for. And, in this case, it is true.
We will be the first to admit, we are NOT the cheapest Chiropractor around. But "expensive" is always relative. It all depends on what you compare it to. Is our fee expensive compared to possibly a life of pain and suffering? Is it expensive compared to getting worse and being forced to have painful surgery? Is it expensive compared potentially to not doing all the things you want to do because you are constantly in pain? How about compared to a possible life long dependency on all those pain pills you're taking… like Advil, Motrin and Aleve that kill 155,000 people every year. Besides the dangerous side effects… ever add up the cost of popping those pills --- over 20 or 30 years?

The bottom line is: You can go first or second class, that's your decision; but you get exactly what you pay for. If you are opposed to taking personal responsibility for your own health care, frankly, this program is not for you.