What
Causes low back pain?
If
I undergo DRX treatment, how long does it take
to see results?
How long does it take to complete
DRX treatment?
Do
I qualify for the DRX Treatment?
Are there any side effects to the
treatment?
How
does the DRX separate each vertebra and allow
for decompression at a specific level?
Is
there any risk to the patient during treatment on
the DRX?
How
does the DRX treatment differ from ordinary spinal
traction?
Can
the DRX 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 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 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 DRX treatment?
Since I began using the DRX 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.
How does the DRX
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?
NO. The DRX 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 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 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 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 be used for patients that have had spinal
surgery?
In most cases the DRX treatment is not contra-indicated
for patients that have had spinal surgery. In fact
many patients have found success with the DRX
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.
