Back pain got you down?
Back pain is one of the leading causes of missed work and missed enjoyment of life. Many times we think it will just go away. We know that pain is not the problem, but caused by something else. If this pain is caused by a problem in the spinal discs it may lessen for a time, but will come back. Most back pain is caused by pressure on the spinal discs. This pressure is also on the nerves in the back, causing the pain.
Have you been told you have a bulging disc, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, arthritis, or simply a “bad back?” Has anyone told you that you need surgery or epidural injections? These may be your conditions and situations, but they are still not your underlying problem.
What is the problem in my spine?
The bones of the spine are called vertebrae. The spinal discs are the cushions between the bones in your spine. At each disc level two spinal nerve roots exit from the spinal cord.
The spinal disc is what allows your spine to be flexible and have motion. The spinal discs absorb shock from movement and spread the vertebrae apart to keep pressure off the spinal nerve roots.
There is no blood supply directly into the spinal discs. The only way the spinal disc receives water, oxygen, and nutrients is by the mechanism within each spinal disc called imbibition, the pumping mechanism of the spinal disc for its health.
As you go about your day, walking and moving, the spinal discs are constantly pumping water, oxygen, and nutrients in and out. In addition, the discs are pumping the waste products out into circulation, keeping the discs healthy.
But what happens if this pump mechanism fails?
As with any tissue, it begins to degenerate, becomes weak, and eventually dies. This causes the walls of the spinal disc to be degraded and micro tears may possibly develop. These are called annular rents or tears.
The weakness in the spinal disc is the cause of the spinal disc bulging and eventual herniation. The herniation can cause even more severe conditions and symptoms, such as dehydration, which may lead to arthritis, spinal stenosis, facet arthropathy, sciatica, numbness, and tingling in the arms, legs, and feet.
When this happens over time, a domino effect also takes place. The result is that the spinal disc above and below will begin to weaken and possibly fail also.
When the spinal disc dehydrates, this leads to degenerative disc disease. The condition of your spinal discs is best seen on the MRI/CT with a radiologist's report.
What's the secret?
NON-SURGICAL SPINAL DECOMPRESSION THERAPY USING VAX-D Here's a hint at the secret. It’s contained within the name of the equipment we use. VAX-D stands for Vertebral Axial Decompression. Cleared by the FDA and invented by Dr. Allen Dyer, M.D., the machine is a medical device used by medical doctors and chiropractors.Our spines are amazing pieces of machinery, but they can cause us very severe pain and discomfort when they fail. What causes that?
Pressure … Your neck and back are under large amounts of pressure. Gravity, weight, intense daily activities, and injuries put a large amount of downward weight on your neck and spine. The discs and muscles in your back serve as wonderful shock absorbers, but over time and often due to injuries, the spinal discs lose vital fluids, dry out, and become brittle.
VAX-D is different from most other treatments, because it not only relieves your pain, but actually allows the body to do something amazing – begin to heal the spinal disc!
VAX-D gently stretches the spine to create a negative pressure in the spinal disc (intervertebral disc) The negative pressure in the spinal disc creates a vacuum, which actually begins to suck the spinal disc back into its normal shape as much as possible. Vital fluids and nutrients are drawn back into the disc, creating an environment that allows the disc to begin to heal, thereby beginning to correct the cause of the problem.
How is VAX-D different from traction or inversion tables? Traction or inversion tables do stretch the neck or low back, but do not produce the desired vacuum effect due to the strength of the muscles and ligaments that surround the joints. As those muscles and ligaments are being stretched, they contract vigorously, which increases the pressure within the spinal disc. This is the exact opposite of what needs to happen.
VAX-D is so effective because the pull curve of the machine is gradual and logarithmic and “fools” the muscles into allowing separation to occur. The result is the reduction in intradiscal pressure and decompression of the nerves and spinal discs. Extensive research has shown this to be true.
VAX-D is the only non-surgical treatment method shown clinically to actually decrease the pressure within the patient’s spinal disc, allowing for the healing of the spinal disc.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VAX-D NON-SURGICAL SPINAL DECOMPRESSION TREATMENTS?
- Relief of acute, chronic and long term neck or low back pain.
- Successful in over 70% of patients*
- No missed work.
- No recovery time.
- Non-invasive and safe
- No patient hospitalization.
Earl E. Gose, William K. Naguszewski and Robert K. Naguszewski. “Vertebral axial decompression therapy for pain associated with herniated or degenerated discs or facet syndrome: An outcome study” University of Illinois at Chicago, published in The Journal of Neurological Research, Volume 20, April 1998.
HOW IS VAX-D TREATMENT APPLIED?
- Patients with neck or low back pain are examined and evaluated to determine if they are candidates for VAX-D treatment. This will include the need for an MRI or CT scan to be evaluated by our doctor.
- If the patient qualifies for the VAX-D treatment, an individual treatment plan will be developed to help with the patient’s individual needs. This will usually range from 25 to 40 treatments, depending on the severity of their condition.
- Sessions may begin with both a chiropractic adjustment, if needed, to correct the alignment of the spine, the cold laser treatment, and physical therapy to help relax the muscles and take pressure off the affected nerves. Adjustments may be done before or after the therapy.
- Patients are then fitted with a harness for the lumbar spine or a neck collar for support of the cervical spine. Patients lie down fully dressed on the VAX-D table and are properly positioned by our trained staff. The controls and settings are adjusted by the staff in accordanc with the doctor-prescribed treatment plan.
- The treatment then starts. The VAX-D device applies a computerized and precisely controlled tension along the axis of the spinal column to distract the vertebral segments and posterior facets of the cervical or lumbar spine and decompress the spinal discs. Each distraction lasts 60 seconds and is followed by a relaxation cycle of similar duration.
- Each session lasts about 30 to 45 minutes.
- After the VAX-D treatment, you will take a bottle of water with you from the refrigerator, as drinking fluids is extremely important in the therapy.
- Patients then return to the front desk and are given the ice pack for their neck collars or lumbar support braces, as it is very important that ice be applied to the affected areas for 10 minutes after each treatment. (Heat is never used.)
When you have completed about half of your treatment plan, a program of light exercises will be suggested and monitored by our trained staff.
COLD LASER THERAPY USING THE MICROLIGHT (ML830)
Using the ML 830 cold laser for my patients has helped to speed up their recovery time. This is the same laser used at Cancer Treatment Centers of America to help promote healing and to reduce pain.What is cold laser therapy?
Cold laser therapy is a painless, sterile, non-invasive, drug-free treatment which is used to treat a variety of pain syndromes, injuries, wounds, fractures, neurological conditions, and pathologies. Cold laser therapy can be used anytime a patient requests or needs a drugless procedure for the control of pain, when conventional therapies have been ineffective or when the acceleration of healing from injuries is desired.
How does cold laser light heal?
Cold lasers supply energy to the body in the form of photons of light. Light is transmitted through the skin’s layers at all wavelengths in the visible range. The light waves, however, in the near infrared ranges penetrate the deepest of all light waves in the visible spectrum. When cold laser light waves penetrate deeply into the skin, they OPTIMIZE the immune responses of our cells. This has both anti-inflammatory and immunustimulative effects. It is a scientific fact that light transmitted in this way has positive effects throughout the whole body, supplying vital oxygen and energy to every cell and tissue.
What should I expect during treatment?
For most patients, cold laser therapy is quite passive. The most noticeable sensation is the touch of the probe head of the laser, as it comes into contact with the skin. There is absolutely no pain or discomfort.
What are the most common conditions treated with cold laser?
Arthritis, back pain, neck pain, herniated/bulging discs, knee pain, injuries, migraine headaches, muscle spasms, whiplash, sprains, strains, swelling, tendonitis, and trigger points are just some of the conditions treated with cold laser therapy. I have personally treated patients with shingles using ML830 Cold Laser with amazing success in a very short amount of time.
How many cold laser treatments will I need?
The majority of conditions treated take anywhere from 15 to 20 visits. The number of treatments depends upon the severity of the condition.
Using the best therapy for you …
Using our “High Tech” cold laser treatment combined with VAX-D non-surgical spinal decompression therapy, our patients are receiving the most advanced and effective non-invasive treatment for neck and low back pain available today.
Questions our patients ask about Vax-D Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Treatment …
- Why so many visits?
Most patients come for treatment 4 days per week and have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. The number of treatments is based on scientific research. The treatment frequency is high because we are providing circulation back to the disc over and over again to allow the disc enough water, oxygen and nutrients to be able to begin to heal and repair. - Will I be completely cured by the end of this treatment?
No, this is not a cure, but it has been shown in scientific research to improve the condition of spinal discs. If you have severe disc degeneration, this treatment will not suddenly produce brand new discs. The treatment will help you improve in most cases and will help keep you from getting worse due to the progression of the disease. - If I already have had back or neck surgery, can you still help me?
Yes, as long as there is no hardware in that area of your spine. - Does VAX-D help with patients who have arthritis of the spine?
Yes. We cannot reverse the arthritis, but if we can allow the disc to heal and repair, the progression of the arthritis may be slowed down. - Can you help me if I have already had spinal injections?
Yes. - How much does the Vax-D treatment cost?
The cost for this treatment is usually between $2,000 and $5,500. When compared with the resulting improved quality of life, cost of back or neck surgery, the recovery time, the lost work, and the pain, this is a bargain. Those who prepay their entire treatment receive an additional discount. - Does my medical insurance cover the non-surgical spinal decompression treatment plan?
Most medical insurance plans will pay for a portion of your treatment. We will figure that for you after the doctor determines exactly what you will need. - Does VAX-D treatment hurt?
This treatment is gentle and safe. In fact, many of our patients fall asleep. - Will I need follow-up treatment after the initial program?
We recommend that patients enroll in a monthly supportive care program after the initial treatment is finished. This supportive care program will help to keep the discs in the best possible condition over time. - Do I need an MRI/CT in order to be accepted into the VAX-D program?
Yes, the MRI and CT Scans are the tests that show us whether the pump mechanism of the spinal disc has failed. Most insurance plans pay for the MRI. Medicare patients will have their primary care doctor order the MRI, but our office will precertify any other MRIs. Have the MRI results faxed to: 614-890- 7353. Ask the MRI company for a copy of the MRI on CD, as our doctor will carefully review the MRI and will show you the important parts of it. If you recently had an MRI or CT scan of the affected area, please bring it with you to your consultation and our doctor will determine whether or not you need another one
The MRI/CT will help us determine if you are a candidate for non-surgical spinal decompression therapy or not.
