Southern California Spine Center

Will spinal decompression help me?

I see about 60-70 consultations/month for our low back spinal decompression and rehabilitation program.  There are 3 questions that are the most common amongst the consultations.  I am going to share those questions and my answers just in case those reading these blogs also share these questions.  I think they are the most obvious and logical questions, so I hope you have these as questions for yourself.  I will discuss the three questions over three blog posts....

1) Will Spinal Decompression help me?  "I don't know, but I will have a very good idea after discussing your individual condition with you, performing a orthopedic and neurological examination, and reviewing recent MRI's to evaluate your condition.  Once I have that information I will consider your condition based upon experience,  having treated close to 1000 patients successfully with our program. If after consideration, I think that your condition will respond favorably and you will get the outcome that you will be happy with, then I will suggest the treatment.  If I have any reservations, then I won't suggest this treatment.  It's all about doing what is going to best serve you and ending your suffering"  ...as a side note; out of those 60-70 patients we consult with, only about 50% are told that this is a viable option to relieve their suffering.  But the good part of being honest is...we receive a lot of referrals from consults who were not candidates for decompression....they refer in their friends and family.  These new, referred in consults, commonly tell me that they trust that I won't put them on this program if it isn't right!

Don't Open that can of worms, unless your prepared for the consequences

We have noticed that the number one reason people opt for low back surgery is money.  Their insurance will pay for it...so why not do it.  In the last 6 months I have had 10 people who chose low back surgery over our program because they did not want to come out of pocket.  All of which who within 2-3 months called and said that they were worse off, in more pain, and would I be able to help them now that they have had surgery.  The answer to their question is I can't touch you for 6 months and at that point we will look at a new MRI and see what we can do.  Some of these patients had had cosmetic surgery, corrective eye surgery, cosmetic dentisty and had no problem reaching into their pockets for those procedures.  They looked for the easy, cheaper road and were hood winked by the surgeon in believing that surgery was their only option.

There are a small group of people who should undergo surgery.  But the majority, specifically the group under the age of 60 who suffer with low back and leg pain due to disc bulge or disc herniation, should absolutely not be going under the knife.  The reasons are many and they are listed all over my website at Southerncaliforniaspinecenter.com.  But, let me say this, once you go down that road you begin a cascade of events that will impact the on going quality of your life.  Failed surgeries, instability and weakness, more surgeries.  I have come into contact with so many people wanting our care who we cannot treat because of the amount of scar tissue and the destruction of the low back structures.  People who start out having a simple microscopic laser discectomy, that quickly are looking for more relief and ever more invasive surgeries.  I meet people in their 30 and 40's who have had  4-8 low back surgeries and are in agony...it breaks my heart.  For god sake people, respect your body, make the conservative choice first...our success rate is off the chart for these conditions.  Don't you think it makes more sense to have a conservative doctor who treats severe low back conditions tell you when surgery is appropriate, rather than a surgeon........... whose only means of treatment is surgery.

Sciatica and Spinal Decompression

Sciatica is commonly a diagnosis given to patients we consult with.  The problem is,  sciatica only describes the leg symptoms of pain, numbness and tingling that descend down the back of the thigh from the buttocks and commonly into the calf.  It can end its journey by giving people numbness and tingling into the toes...in different combinations.  It does not tell you what is causing the sciatica.  A lot of doctors are telling patients that they have sciatica...but nothing is done to find out where the source of the injury is.  Your sciatic nerve is formed by 5 different spinal nerves as they leave the spine and come together at approximately the buttocks area.  Sciatica can come from disc bulges, disc herniations, disc protrusions, arthritic changes, inflammation in any of these different areas that pinch the nerves as they exit the spine.  There are other problems that can cause one of these spinal nerves to be pinched that will give you sciatica but are less common.  The problem can also come, not from the spine but from pinching the nerves that form the sciatic nerve as they pass by or pass thru the piriformis muscle.  Therefore,  it is the appropriate step that all cases of sciatica have an MRI  ordered and its finding should be compared to an appropriate neurological examination.  Don't settle for less because the doctor or insurance is trying to cut costs.  Having all the information is the only way to know what is the best way to treat your problem.

Spinal Decompression treats disc problems, nothing else.  So after the MRI has been evaluated and the examination has ruled out other possibilities such as piriformis syndrome.  Then spinal decompression may be your most favorable non-surgical approach to care.  A recent study performed by the Mayo Clinic showed a success rate of treating disc injuries with the DRX 9000 to be just shy of 90%.  It is a logical choice if surgery is not a option for you and you want to treat the problem rather than just manage or mask the pain with drugs or steroids.

Ceremonial crutch burning following the DRX 9000 Spinal Decompression treatment

We recently had a patient who flew in from Las Vegas for treatment.  It was quite a commitment for Omar to leave his family behind for 6 weeks and fly to San Diego.  It was also quite a compliment and a testament to the great reputation the Southern California Spine Center has developed.  This was a privilege for us to treat a patient with a severe, low back disc herniation who could of chose any of the hundreds of other decompression facilities that exists in and between Las Vegas and San Diego.  A privilege we did not take lightly.  When this big, strong gentlemen walked in using a crutch and fighting back the tears from his low back and leg pain, we treated him as we treat any of the 25 other new patients we treat each month.  Maximum value and service, directed at achieving excellent results, delivered in a friendly, compassionate and cutting edge health care facility.  After week one Omar did not need the crutch and it was ceremonially  burned.

By the 3rd week he was pain free!  The last week of decompression solidified the changes and we proceeded to strengthen and re-condition his core and low back spinal muscles.  This would prevent him from re-injuring the area.  Here is what Omar had to say on his last day..."I thank the amazing staff of the Southern California Spine Center for restoring my ability to walk, stand and sleep pain free!  Thank you Dr. Mountain for guiding me towards wellness and health and preventing low back surgery!" Omar it was our pleasure!      Dr. M

Is core/spinal strengthening important following Spinal Decompression

It's an absolute must!....Spinal decompression using the DRX 9000 True Spinal Decompression machine will 9 times out of 10 successfully treat the disc injury whether it is a bulge, herniation or protrusion.  That is great because you will end your suffering and feel better.  Spinal rehabilitation on the other hand re-instates the functionality of the low back.  In other words, by strengthening  the different layers of the spinal muscles you will return the flexibility, stabilizing and curve to the low back.  This will of course improve your posture as well as give you the confidence to get back to doing the things you love to do prior to becoming injured.    More importantly it will give you the strength and function that we know prevents re-injury in the future.  By going through an appropriate program that addresses all the needs of your low back like the program offered at the Southern California Spine Center, you will end your pain today and ensure its health for the future!

Is Spinal Decompression right for you?

Non-surgical spinal decompression using the DRX 9000 True Spinal Decompression System has been shown to be very effective treating specifically; herniated discs, disc bulges,  and sciatica caused by a disc problem.  It also has good results with spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease, but these cases require a greater level of assessement.  Proper examination and neurological evaluation of each case along with a review of the MRI's help us make the appropriate clinical decision.  The fact that the Southern California Spine Center has treated almost 1000 cases successfully gives us alot of clinical experience to reflect upon and helps us to best serve the patient who are suffering with these conditions.  We are also looking for certain markers that would disqualify patients from care or potentially lead to a negative result.  Our results are excellent and one of the reasons we are San Diegos leading non-surgical spinal decompression center. 

We have heard from many patients a contradictory opinion as to whether or not spinal decompression will help them from their orthopedic surgeons.  To give you an idea of the feed back from orthopedic surgeons, of the patients who asked their spine specialists if they should consider this treatment, 95% said don't bother.   Keep in mind that the mayo clinic published a study that showed an 88.9% success rate using the DRX 9000 on herniated discs.  What can I say it's a competition thing....the ortho's don,t want to lose the business.  Fortunately these patients acted inspite of the Surgeons recommendation of surgery.  They made this choice because what we explained to them made sense and it was what they were most comfortable with, gladly they avoided surgery and are feeling great.  Here from some our patients by going to www.southerncaliforniaspinecenter.com and watch the testimonial DVD. 

Hooray for Spinal Stenosis Surgery?

There has been well over 100 articles and blogs on the lastest statistics/research that showed that surgery for spinal stenosis is effective past 2 years.  What is evident is that all those peforming low back surgery are more than happy to climb to the tallest mountain and say, "thats right surgery works!".   I am thankful for that result because spinal stenosis is one of the more complex conditions to treat effectively using non-surgical spinal decompression.  But, what I find interesting is the very few articles and blogs that discussed the same researcher and disc herniations.  The research showed that  patients who underwent surgery for low back disc herniations and bulges,  at the two year mark, were feeling no better than those who chose not to have surgery.  Those who perform low back surgery were pretty hush-hush about that finding.

On the other hand non-surgical spinal decompression success is at an all time high based upon a research study performed by the Mayo clinic! 88.9% .....on top of that...Clinical experience along with experience applying this therapy also play a major role in the success of the patients.  I commonly have patients who have undergone surgery or who have had previous non-surgical spinal decompression without success,  who go through our program and end up getting a successful result.

When should you stop listening to your Doctor

Now that's a loaded title isn't it.  But, what motivated me to write on this subject was recognizing the number of patients who have been talked into a life time of pain and suffering.  Low back pain and sciatica (leg pain) affect a huge number of people every day.   The majority of that number will go to their Medical doctor who will start by offering them what is at their disposal.  Pain medication, anti-inflammatories and physical therapy.  If these don't work...then the next step is the referral to the orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon.  The normal approach of these specialists is again offering what it is they have been trained to do.  Cortizone shots, epidurals and if these fail......then, low back surgery.  At some point you may consider going outside the box with alternative approaches realizing that the journey towards surgery is beginning to look inevitable.  But, if you share your thoughts with your doctor or the specialists, commonly they will poo-poo on all other considerations.  If you have strong reservation against epidural shots or surgery...they leave you with the miserable option of taking on-going pain medication and/or living with the pain.

Why would you ask these doctors, who have a rather narrow perspective on treatment options and who are unwilling to look outside the box, their perspective on an alternative treatment.  It doesn't make sense.  When considering alternatives...always look at the training of the healthcare professional, whether what they are saying makes sense, look at the results of others and go with your gut. Because unlike surgery most if not all other treatments are non-invasive and pose no additional health risks.

As the leading spinal decompression specialist in San Diego it is great that we have successfully treated medical doctors with our program and we receive referrals weekly from other medical doctors.  I am just asking you to realize that at some point in time if a doctor is not helping your condition and not giving you options that you feel comfortable with, then perhaps it is time to make a choice and act independently of your doctors recommendations.  This also applies to chiropractic care if you suffer with a disc herniation, disc bulge or sciatica.  If you are not starting to feel an improvement within 12 chiropractic visits, then it is time to consider alternatives. 

Be self empowered and act always in the best interest of your health.  Listen to all doctors, but be prepared to act outside of the box.  Your the one suffering, not them.  I saw another patient yesterday who was really suffering but had had 5 low back surgeries ...nothing could be done due to all the scar tissue....food for thought!

Surgery should always be the last option and spinal decompression has a study based success rate of 88.9% with low back disc herniations. 

Can my disc herniation be diagnosed on x-ray

I perform between 15-20 new patient examinations a week on people who suffer with disc injuries of various types.  They can present with disc herniations to disc bulges to annular tears to degenerative disc disease.  But, one of the craziest things I here daily is how these patients have been told that they have a disc herniation after their Medical doctor or Chiropractor took an x-ray.  X-rays are designed to visualize bone not to look at disc injuries.  An MRI shows us the disc, nerves, muscle, ligaments, bone and much more.  An MRI or in a small number of cases a C.T. scan is the most appropriate to diagnose a disc problem with or with out sciatica (leg pain, numbness and weakness).   75% of the time I examine these patients the diagnosis of disc herniation off of the x-ray is incorrect and very commonly the problem is at a different lumbar level! 

Case in point- a patient came in two weeks ago who had been treated by both an M.D. (anti-inflammatories, vicodin and 8 sessions of physical therapy) and her chiropractor (15 sessions) for an L5-S1 disc herniation...diagnosed from an x-ray.(L5-S1 area was thinner and more degenerated than the rest)  I ordered an MRI and found no herniation at L5-S1 but an L4-L5 protrusion with an annular tear. She has been receiving spinal decompression for two weeks and is pain free after suffering for 7 months. Please make sure that you are being evaluated properly and that the doctor orders the best diagnostic study to visualize your problem.  From that blossoms the direction for treatment.....and you deserve to be treated properly.

Spine Surgery, S.P.O.R.T. research, Spinal Decompression

The recent information coming out of the Dartmouth Medical School and "SPORT" or Spine Patient Outcomes Research trial has certainly shed some light on the efficacy of spinal surgery.

Here are some facts from the trial and summations that were made by the head researcher Dr. James Weinstein on his MPR interview.....

• Spinal surgery for disc herniation or disc bulges has short term relief for a small number of patients.
• On the other hand looking at this same group at the two year mark following surgery.  The group that underwent surgery is no better off then the non-surgical treatment group.  (commonly at the two year mark a high percentage of patients who have had surgery will need another)
• It would appear in certain cases of spinal stenosis that surgery was effective at the two year mark. (we have found that on certain cases that spinal stenosis responds very well to non-surgical spinal decompression)

It is important to understand what is effective and what is not effective when considering invasive low back surgery.  I am commonly asked what is the longevity associated with spinal decompression?  I have been performing this treatment along with spinal re-strengthening for 4 years now, we were the first clinic to offer treatment with the DRX 9000 in San Diego.  I still talk to many of my first patients who continue to live pain free lives!   The Southern California Spine Center has a very high success rate treating low back disc bulges and herniation.  It has been our experience that the results are long standing.  I do qualify patients carefully for care,  which appears to be a big difference with my clinic as compared to others.  The follow-up re-strengthening is mandatory for long term effects.