What Causes low back pain?
If
I undergo DRX 9000 treatment, how long does it take to see results?
How long does it take to complete DRX 9000 treatment?
Do
I qualify for the DRX9000 Treatment?
What is the difference between the DRX9000 and the VAX-D?
Are there any side effects to the treatment?
How
does the DRX 9000 separate each vertebra and allow for decompression
at a specific level?
Is
there any risk to the patient during treatment on the DRX 9000?
How
does the DRX 9000 treatment differ from ordinary spinal traction?
Can
the DRX 9000 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?
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 DRX 9000 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 DRX 9000 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 the DRX9000 treatment?
Since I began using the DRX 9000 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 the DRX 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.
What
is the difference between the DRX9000 and the VAX-D?
The DRX is three generations past the initial VAX-D table developed
years ago. Actually, the former North American distributor of VAX-D
is the present manufacturer of DRX who had requested upgrades to the
VAX-D unit but was refused, which explains why the VAX-D hasn’t
changed in twenty years. So he and other decompression spinal practitioners
brainstormed the problems with VAX-D, and with the help of many engineers,
the DRX 9000 unit was developed just a few years ago.
The most obvious differences between the DRX9000 and the VAX-D would
be their success rate and the comfort levels while a patient is being
treated. Below are some side by side comparisons.
DRX9000
- Patient
lays on back (supine)
- Harnesses
prevent any stress to the shoulders or arms.
- The
amount of decompression can be targeted to the specific disc level
by varying the angle of traction.
VAX-D
- Patient
lies face down (prone) which can be very uncomfortable
- Required
patients had to hold on with their hands causing severe shoulder/arm
problems
-
Nonspecific for disc levels with its straight-line traction
How does the DRX 9000 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 the DRX 9000?
NO. The DRX 9000 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 the DRX 9000 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. The DRX 9000 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. The DRX 9000 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
the DRX 9000 be used for patients that have had spinal surgery?
In most cases the DRX 9000 treatment is not contra-indicated for patients
that have had spinal surgery. In fact many patients have found success
with the DRX 9000 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.
