Questions:
- What causes low back pain?
- If I undergo DRX9000™ treatment, how long does it take to see results?
- How long does it take to complete DRX9000™ treatment?
- What is the success rate of the DRX9000™ Treatment?
- Do I qualify for the DRX9000™ treatment?
- Are there any side effects to the treatment?
- Has the DRX9000™ spinal decompression unit proven to be effective?
- How does the DRX9000™ separate each vertebra and allow for decompression at a specific level?
- Is there any risk to the patient during treatment on the DRX9000™?
- Are the treatment results permanent?
- How does the DRX9000™ treatment differ from ordinary spinal traction?
- Can the DRX9000™ 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?
A number of factors, from injuries to the effects of aging, cause low back pain. The vertebrae, made of bone, protect the spinal cord. Soft discs with a ligamentous outer layer are situated between each vertebra. These discs serve as shock absorbers to safeguard the vertebra and the spinal cord. Many problems leading to back pain result from herniation and degeneration of the intervertebral disc. Degeneration is a process in which wear and tear deteriorates the disc. Herniations, or bulging of the disc, are protrusions from the disc that exert pressure on surrounding nerves, leading to pain or numbness.
If I undergo DRX9000™ treatment, how long does it take to see results?
Most patients experience a reduction in pain after the first few sessions. Typically, they achieve significant improvement by the second week of treatment.
How long does it take to complete DRX9000™ 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.
What is the success rate of the DRX9000™ Treatment?
Extensive clinical testing has proven the DRX9000™ to achieve an 86% success rate in treating herniated and degenerated disc with less than a 4% recurrence rate of your problem.
Do I qualify for the DRX9000™ treatment?
Since I started using the DRX9000™ spinal disc decompression unit, both doctors and patients have bombarded me with questions about the cases it will best benefit. Clearly, proper patient selection is crucial for favorable outcomes, so allow me to clarify the Inclusion and Exclusion criteria so you can make the right decision since not everyone qualifies for the DRX9000™ 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.
Has the DRX9000™ spinal decompression unit proven to be effective?
YES. In a recent outcome study by T. Gionnis (submitted to the Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine), 500 potential patients with back pain and pain radiating into the extremities were treated on the DRX9000™. With treatment success defined by a reduction of pain to 0 or 1 on the pain scale, the DRX9000™ treatment was successful for 86% of the 219 patients included in the study.
How does the DRX9000™ 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 DRX9000™?
NO. The DRX9000™ 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.
Are the treatment results permanent?
The DRX9000™ has an impressive 86% success rate in treating herniated and degenerative discs with a 4% reoccurrence rate after one year. Typically additional treatments are not required after the completion of the treatment protocol. However, as with any treatment, there are always severe cases that involve particular job/lifestyle activities that may require re-evaluations.
How does the DRX9000™ treatment differ from ordinary spinal traction?
Traction is helpful at treating some of the conditions resulting from herniated or degeneration. Additionally, traction cannot address the source of the problem. The DRX9000™ 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. Furthermore, traction and inversion tables, at best, can lower the intradiscal pressure from a +90 to a +30 mmHg. The DRX9000™ 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 DRX9000™ be used for patients that have had spinal surgery?
In most cases the DRX9000™ treatment is not contra-indicated for patients that have had spinal surgery. In fact many patients have found success with the DRX9000™ 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.