Southern California Spine Center

Chronic low back pain can be SEEN as well as felt

I place great importance on strengthening the low back muscles following successful treatment with the DRX 9000 True Spinal Decompression system.  I would put the same significance on low back strengthening and rehabilitation following successful low back surgery as well, although I don't believe surgery is a smart choice for most patients.

Here are some very eye opening points from research about your low back muscles and how they are involved with chronic pain.....

• Low back muscle strength is lost at the rate of 3%-7% per day of rest.  Muscle strength improves 0.5%-1% per day with appropriate training.  Think about the number of days you have been laid up, not being active, due to back or leg pain!
• Low back muscles will atrophy (waste away) due to disuse or because the nerve supply to the muscle is being pinched as commonly seen with disc bulges and herniations.  When muscle atrophy occurs the muscle will be replaced with infiltrating fibrous tissue and fat.  This is best seen on MRI, your muscle will be full of fat instead of looking like a healthy lean steak.  The amount of fat we see will help us decide on how much exercise would be most appropriate for the you.  You can get the muscle back in most cases!
• Low back muscle atrophy is seen in over 80% of chronic low back pain sufferers!  It is also highly linked to sciatica.
• Low back spinal muscles respond best to endurance based strengthening.  The primary muscle (the multifidus muscle) is a slow twitched muscle designed to stabilize the spine and maintain your posture.  Programs that focus on muscle endurance first and then progress to strength and power are going to give the best results.

There is oodles and oodles of research that shows us that chronic low back pain is linked to low back muscle weakness and atrophy.  The Southern California Spine Center takes the extra step to establish the degree of atrophy by looking carefully at your MRI and then designs your strengthening and rehabilitation program around achieving the specific outcome.

Note: Specific low back conditions like disc herniations and sciatica should be addressed prior to beginning the strengthening program.  Spinal Decompression specifically addresses problems that involve the lumbar discs.

As you can see, low back strengthening is important for everyone! It is the number one way to prevent low back problems and mandatory for treating all low back pain sufferers, even post surgical patients!

Medical Radiologist and researcher gives his opinion of the DRX 9000 Spinal Decompression System

Dr. William Martin M.D. is a Stanford trained clinical Radiologist who has been involved in research and treating with non-surgical spinal decompression since 1993.  He was the researcher that spearheaded the study that proved that spinal decompression can decrease the intradiscal pressure within the lumbar disc to a negative pressure.  This lead to healing and changes in the disc itself!

He has also been doing pre and post MRI's on patients who were treated with the DRX 9000 True Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression System and has documented the changes.  He has found demonstrable decreases in disc herniations and extrusions including increases in disc height.  The benefit and relief to the patients, as we also see with the patients we treat here in San Diego, have been profound and long lasting!

I think you will enjoy this podcast and recognize the credibility and efficacy that the DRX 9000 enjoys.

Enjoy, and feel free to comment.

http://www.axiomanswers.com/2008/08/renowned-decompression-therapy-advocate.html

Chronic Low back pain?

It is very important that people recognize when a treatment is failing to deliver the result they want.  Chronic low back pain is low back pain of any quality that persists for more than 12 weeks.  Most low back pain is functional or structural in nature (muscle strains, muscle imbalance, joint pain and fixation)  and should respond quickly to appropriate care.  If the cause of your pain falls into that category you should start to feel better within 2-3 weeks of conservative care with a trained Chiropractor or Physical therapist.  If you have undergone 4 weeks of treatment with no change in your symptoms of if your condition has become worse, beware!   Your body is telling you that they're is something missing from the diagnosis.  You probably have a deeper problem that needs to be established by getting a MRI.  Disc bulges, herniations, annular tears, ligament injuries are just some of the conditions  that may need a different treatment to get the results that you will be happy with.  I meet alot of clients who have suffered for many months, even years going to a treatment that is giving them no relief because their doctor told them to.  Recoginze when it is time to move on and don't be afraid to get another doctors opinion.  Doctors and  HMO plans in particular are very hesitant to request an MRI because of the cost associated with it.

I am treating a patient who went to her primary doctor with chronic low back pain and was told it was a muscle strain.  She was treated with Physical therapy that aggravated her condition and resulted in her running to the emergency room,  she was told again that it was a strained muscle and given more medication.  She decided to act on her own and came into see us.  Upon examination it was readily apparent that she had a disc injury, we ordered an MRI for her.   She had a large disc herniation in the low back and was happy that she finally knew what the problem was and that we were going to address it with out surgery.  She took the MRI  to her primary who told her she needed emergency surgery or she would be paralyzed.  She chose to treat with us using non-surgical spinal decompression and is doing much better only 2 weeks into her treatment. 

Recognize when a treatment is not working, be diagnosed correctly by getting the diagnostic best used for these types of injuries (MRI).  Always consider your options, and act in your own best interest....surgery should always be the last option. 

Spinal Decompression Researchers talk

Spinal Decompression, especially with the DRX 9000 true spinal decompression system, has been getting very good results.  We at the Southern California Spine Center have been using these systems in conjunction with a comprehensive rehabilitation program for 4 years.  Our results are great.  The difference is not the  machine but in 1) Dr. Mountain selecting patients that stand the greatest potential for getting a great result 2) only a doctor performing all aspects of the treatment.

Studies are now validating the results that doctors have been getting using the DRX 9000.  Patients especially with single level disc herniations or disc bulges with or with out sciatica have been getting results that are just short of miraculous.  You can learn more about this study and the researchers associated with it at www.axiomworldwide.com/specialreport. 

There is now no need to suffer with chronic low back pain or lancinating pain that runs down your leg.  DRX 9000 technology is now leading the way with conservative treatment for disc injuries and sciatica.  Remember to give your self the greatest opportunity to end your suffering, be evaluated by a doctor with experience and who is careful in choosing patients for this treatment.  The doctor should also apply the treatment because there are subtleties that will effect your results that only an experienced doctor will be able to apply.  Low back strengthening and rehabilitation afterwards is very important, it helps prevent re-injury.  Feel free to call the Southern California Spine Center if you have any questions or would like to be evaluated.  Ask for Amy or Jennifer  619-692-0712

Has a Medical Doctor told you that if you don't undergo low back surgery then you will become paralyzed!

I seem to be meeting more and more patients whose Primary doctor or Orthopedic Surgeon have scared them into surgery because they have been told that if they don't have surgery then they will become paralyzed. 

James Weinstein - Is the head of Orthopedic Surgery at Dartmouth Medical School, Editor for Spine medical journal and author of the most recent and thorough study on effective treatments of disc herniations.  His study looked at 1200 patients with disc herniations who were treated conservatively or with surgery.  In all 1200 cases he did not see one person who became paralyzed and considers it to be an absolute rarity. He also found,  looking at outcome measurements, that surgery was not superior to conservative treatment. 

In my clinic, the Southern California Spine Center, I have met with well over 3000 disc injury patients and in all this time I have seen only one case that could be described as paralysis or Cauda Equina sydrome.  Contrast that to the number of patients I meet that were scared into surgery that are now worse off.  I meet at least 2-3 people a week who are looking for relief from ineffective, commonly botched low back surgeries.   Many of these patients are wheel chair bound or walking with canes as a result of surgery.  I have also met patients who are paralyzed following surgery, one even was paralyzed in one leg following an epidural injection that destroyed the nerve.

The Mayo Clinic study showed that Spinal decompression is effective approximately 9 times out of 10.    Therefor I believe this therapy should be considered the most appropriate conservative treament for disc herniations or bulges.  Surgery should always be the last option and every day our patients tell us how thankful they are that they were not scared into surgery, but instead took charge of their health and chose our Spinal Decompression and low back strength and health program!

Spinal Decompression: Risk vs. Benefit

This is an easy topic to comment on because the risk is next to nothing.  The real and only risk that is there potentially for patients is getting no benefit from the treatment.  I have taken care of and successfully treated hundreds and hundreds of  low back and sciatica cases and in all that time I have seen only one patient get worse.  Her pain level which became worse,  occurred as a result of my own inexperience.  She was one of my first patients' approximately 5 years ago.  Fortunately her increase in pain was only temporary.  But, it helped to guide my conservative approach to care with spinal decompression.  I also quickly realized as my skills in applying this treatment therapy improved so did my patient results.  That is why some 18,000 setups later, I continue to be the doctor (along with the other doctor in the clinic) that applies the therapy.  Our clinic has approximately a 90% success rate, except for that one case the other 10% does not get worse, their condition stays the same or gets better but not to the level that they are happy with.  This is in stark comparison to surgical results.  The risks are much greater and the results are less favorable.  The benefit of our spinal decompression program to low back pain sufferers is a no brainer.  Great results, no lost work days, no expensive recovery time, practically no risk and nobody ripping open your back.  For people who are active and health conscious, this treatment is the obvious choice. 

I had a really nice lady come in last week in a wheel chair.  She had undergone a 5 level laminectomy 4 years ago.  She was told that 6 weeks after surgery she would be back to playing tennis with out pain.  She had low back pain and leg numbness prior to surgery that made playing tennis uncomfortable but she could still play.  The surgeon made it seem that it was an easy surgery with good results a certainty.  She has been using a walker or a wheel chair ever since. 

Are you willing to jeopardize your quality of life when you don't have to? ....or are you looking for the healthy choice, a treament that will get you out of pain and back to living the life you choose!   Call and let's see if our spinal decompression and low back rehabilitation program is right for you!  619-692-0712

Spinal Decompression or laser spine surgery, which is a natural Remedy?

I just read a blog entitled "Natural Remedies" that discussed laser spine surgery as a "magical Natural treatment".  Talk about a misleading, contradiction in terms.  What a load of rubbish.  I watched an entire laser spine surgery and I can tell you that there was nothing natural about it.  I even think it is a heck of a stretch when the term "less invasive" is used in it's description.  A natural remedy, by definition, is not associated with medication or surgical intervention.  Natural remedies facilitate and assist the bodies ability to heal itself.  To suggest that; splaying open the back, pushing over the spinal muscles or in some cases cutting through them, drilling a hole into the bone of the vertebra, cutting ligaments, pushing the spinal nerves to the side and then cutting out the herniated material of the disc is a natural remedy, is a monstrous distortion of the truth.

On the other hand - Spinal Decompression, which creates an environment that allows the body to heal itself by creating a negative pressure within the disc, is indeed an effective natural remedy.  By creating a vacuum effect within the disc,  nutrients, oxygen, water and disc material is moved back into a concentric (central) position away from the irritated spinal nerves.  This ends the suffering of the patient.  When a low back strengthening and rehabilitation program is added to that, you have a treatment that addresses the two fundamental parts of low back conditions.  The pathology ie. disc herniation, disc bulge, disc degeneration, sciatica........and the loss in function ie. low back strength, muscle balance, flexibility etc.  I want the public to be aware of treatment options and most of all not to be mislead by discussions that associate surgery with Natural Remedies.

A prominent Medical Doctor and former head of  Pulmonology here in San Diego had this to say following his completion of our program. "I wanted to thank you for helping me with my back pain and in strengthening my back.  I was particularly pleased that Dr. Mountain does the exercises with his patients.  Back pain is a very debilitating condition, and too many doctors, and knife happy surgeons prey on people who suffer with this malady.  You have a program that works.  I hope you get the word out that there is an alternative to back surgery."             Jim V.  M.D.,  F.A.C.P.,  F.C. C.P.

Just so you know, prior to being treated at the Southern California Spine Center, this doctor had tried physical therapy, another type of spinal decompression system and laser spine surgery...all of which had failed!

The perfect back pain solution

For people who suffer with disc bulges or disc herniations there are always two parts to their low back problem.  The pathology (disc injury and the way it effects the spinal nerves) and the breakdown in the way the low back functions ( changes in; muscle balance and patterning, muscle strength, proprioception, flexibility, etc.).  A perfect solution to back pain should address both parts of the problem.  It maybe difficult to figure out if the change in function happened first that ultimately led to the injury to the disc or whether the disc injury occurred and that led to change in the function. Sometimes its the chicken or the egg dilemma, sometimes the history makes the answer obvious.  Regardless, the solution, if it is to be long term must be comprehensive in its approach because no one treatment can fix both parts of the problem.  Low back surgery removes the pathology but in a lot of cases actually makes the functional part of the problem worse, adding instability and scar tissue into the equation.  Medication goes with out saying, it manages the pain-nothing else.  Spinal Decompression addresses the disc injury in a very non-invasive way, as long as it is followed by a comprehensive low back strengthening and rehabilitation program........it is the perfect low back pain solution! 

How long will the effects of Spinal Decompression last?

This is the 3rd question that is most commonly asked at our treatment center.

How Long Will the effects of Spinal Decompression Last?

"I have been treating low back disc bulges and herniations using the DRX 9000 spinal decompression Machines in our clinic since 2004.  I still here from patients who treated with us 4 years ago who continue to be pain free.  It is my experience,  at least to  date, that this treatment has great longevity. 

But, I also differ from doctors who are using the spinal decompression medical technology only.  I  believe that spinal decompression when used in conjunction with a comprehensive, cutting edge low back strengthening and rehabilitation program, gives the patient the greatest opportunity to sustain the benefits of this treatment.  Correct posture, spinal muscle strength, stability and flexibility along with increasing the strength and co-ordination of core muscle stabilizers is vital to offset disc pressures that can lead to re-injury.  I would go as far as to step on a few toes and say that if rehabilitation following spinal decompression is not apart of the treatment program then the Doctor has failed in his responsibility to the patient."

I heard from the wife of a patient who I treated in early 2006, just this Monday.  She called to set up an appointment for her father.  Her husband, my former patient, presented in 2006 with a severe L5 disc herniation.  He had severe low back pain as well as lancinating pain and numbness down his leg from his buttocks to his foot.  He hobbled into our office with a cane, bent over to one side and tears in his eyes.  He was in his late twenties and a tall, strong guy.  He was scheduled for two things in the 6 weeks following our first meeting.  Marriage and surgery.  He was hell bent against the latter because he thought it would affect his wedding and he wasn't convinced by the surgeon that it was the only way to go.  Long story short,  he was pain free for his wedding and called the surgeon to cancel his appointment.  His wife told me this week that he continues to be pain free and that he also does the home exercises I gave him to keep his spine healthy and safe!

Cost? Is your Spinal Decompression therapy and low back Rehabilitation program covered by insurance?

This is another of the top 3 questions I here in my clinic.

Cost?  Is your Spinal Decompression therapy and low back Rehabilitation program covered by insurance

"the spinal decompression program which includes; 20 visits on one of our DRX 9000 True Spinal Decompression systems, followed by 6 or 12 low back spinal strengthening sessions - one on one with a doctor working out on our state of the art rehabilitation equipment, our program also includes a 6 month follow-up and maintenance package (5 office visits over 5 months reviewing and developing your home exercise program, on the 6th month-5 days{1 week} of decompression therapy).  All of this, 7-8 weeks of intensive treatment,  with a 6 month follow-up goes for between $4800-$5800.  The price variance depends on choosing 6 or 12 rehabilitation sessions and how you pay for the program."

This treatment is not covered by insurance, any insurance including Medicare or the California State Workers Compensation system.  Our program is considered an elective treatment only.  Our program finds itself in a similar situation as Lasiks corrective eye surgery or to a lesser degree cosmetic surgery procedures.  The Lasiks procedure is effective but people continue to pay out of pocket to have it done.   People choose to pay for this procedure because it is important to them not to wear glasses or contacts.  Similarly, people will pay large sums of money to enhance their looks.  I think I can make a pretty sound argument that if you suffer with intense low back and/or leg pain that its equally, if not more important to you than looking good, to end your pain.  The risks and costs associated with low back surgery make our program very desirable.  The  loss in income alone for many during the recovery phase following surgery will exceed the cost of this program.  For others their co-pay will be equal to or more than this treatment program.    But it is not for every one.  Some will find it cost prohibitive or will inaccurately believe that surgery is an easy option.  My usual patient is informed, cares about their health and does not mind spending a little on themselves to end their suffering, and looks at surgery as ultimately a procedure to avoid if they can.

Note: if you qualify for care, understand we have no-interest financing available as well as finance programs with monthly payments as low as $110/month.