Dr Davis' Back & Wrist Pain Blog

DRX9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression. What To Expect.

San Francisco Spinal Decompression Doctor comments:

I have been working with the DRX9000 and DRX9000c for over two years now. And I have to say, I have learned quite a bit. First of all, everyone responds differently. Some patients feel some relief after the first spinal decompression session, and some don't start feeling better until the end. And everything in between. We are all different, and we respond differently even though the treatment is the same. The manufacturer of the DRX9000 and DRX9000c has come up with a basic 20 visit protocol that seems to work for most patients. Recently, we have modified our schedule so that we can do the DRX9000 treatment from start to finish in 5 weeks. Starting today we will do decompression therapy Monday through Thursday (4days x 5 weeks=20 sessions). We have tested the various scheduling options and the 4 day week seems to work best. Then 3 days of rest and recovery. If you can't do the four days we will work with you, it will just take a little longer.

The patients that do the best with decompression therapy are the ones that put the most into it. They keep their appointments. They wear the back support (lumbar decompression). They drink lots of water. They relax and try to take it easy during the sessions, and they don't look for instant gratification. They understand that non-surgical spinal decompression with the DRX 9000 or DRX9000c is a process. They don't get too excited and do too much if they start to feel better right away. And, they don't get upset if it takes a while to get results. It's best to just give in to the spinal regeneration process, focus on your home care, and let the DRX9000 do it's thing. In the end, chances are, you will be glad you did. 

If you live in the SF Bay Area and would like to find out if you are a candidate for care at our Financial District Decompression Center, we have two easy choices:

1. Call 415-392-2225 and ask for a complimentary consultation.

2. Fill out our Free Online DRX 9000 Consultation Form.

Read some San Francisco DRX9000 Success Stories

Neglecting Your Back May Not Be Worth The Price

Spinal Hygiene or Dental Hygiene. Whats More Important?

Well, you do need your teeth. And, they look nice when we take care of them. The dental industry has done a great job of educating us and keeping us on track as far as regular checkups, dental hygiene, and children's care. Visits to the dentist are apart of everyone's normal routine. But, even if you lost all your teeth you could still get by. What would happen if all your spinal bones and discs decayed and degenerated away?  You would no longer be with us, that's what would happen.

You see, the spinal column houses and protects the brain and spinal cord, which is what keeps us alive. In reality, there is nothing more important than taking care of the spine. But, only a small percentage of the population visit a chiropractor on a regular basis for prevention and maintenance care. Don't get me wrong, chiropractors do see a lot of people. And, chiropractic is the worlds largest, drugless healing profession. But, most of the visits are for problems after they happen. We do a really good job of fixing these problems without drugs or surgery, but we need to do a better job of educating the public about prevention and maintenance. This is where we can do the most good.

If you would like to find out if you or anyone in your family is a candidate for care, call 415-392-2225 and ask for a complimentary consultation.

Visit San Francisco for Spinal Decompression

SF Bay Area Chiropractor catering to out of town Disc Herniation Sufferers. Why not come to San Francisco for 5 weeks and work on your Chronic Back or Neck Pain with the DRX9000!

I have noticed something interesting lately. It seems some people like the idea of coming to San Francisco, hanging out for 4-6 weeks, and working on their disc herniations with the DRX9000. I guess it's not for everybody, but nothing is. Why not do it if you can? My Bay Area Spinal Decompression Center is located in the San Francisco Financial District. Not only are there world class hotels and restaurants all around me, Union Square is a mile away, and so is Fisherman's Wharf. You can take the Ferry to Sausalito, check out Alcatraz, and take a few weekend runs to the wine country in Napa Valley.

The DRX 9000 protocol is for 20 hour long sessions. We do this Monday-Thursday for 5 weeks. We are closed Friday. This gives you 3 days to go to Napa, Carmel, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, or just check out the city.

So, if you have the time and the means, why not get away for some DRX9000 spinal decompression in San Francisco. Chances are, you will be glad you did.

If you are interested in coming to San Francisco for Spinal Decompression Therapy, please call 415-392-2225 and ask for a telephone consultation with Dr. Eben Davis.

Can Chiropractic Help Disc Herniations Reduce or Resorb?

San Francisco Chiropractor and Herniated Disc Specialist comments on findings of study:

There are still many in the scientific community that do not believe that disc herniations can be reversed. However, recent research with MRI and CT scans proves otherwise. I have known for a while now that disc herniations can be reduced, or can even resolve completely. And over the years, I have treated hundreds, if not thousands,  of patients with lumbar disc herniations (LDH) and cervical disc herniations (CDH) with traditional chiropractic care. I re-read a study today entitled Can Herniated Discs Reduce or Resorb (that has been around a while), that explains in detail how bulging or herniated discs can heal with chiropractic treatment. Check it out.

For the ruptured disc patients that do not respond to conventional chiropractic, medical care, or physical therapy, there is a relatively new option available in the marketplace...Non-surgical spinal decompression with the DRX9000 or DRX9000c. Spinal Decompression machines are designed and built to target herniated discs that are not responsive to other treatments. I have both the DRX9000 and the DRX9000c at my San Francisco Herniated Disc Center.

So, if chiropractic is not effective in treating your disc herniations, we have the DRX9000 to fall back on. In reality, most of the patients that search me out because they want spinal decompression with the DRX9000, have already tried chiropractic and most everything else. These are the chronic back pain and chronic neck pain patients that are the perfect candidates for the DRX9000 or DRX9000c. 

Actually, you do have to qualify medically for spinal decompression. You can't have any metal in the spine from a previous fusion or implant. You can't have advanced osteoporosis, tumors, or fractures. Healed compression fractures are OK. No aortic aneurysms, cancer, or infections of the spine. Most patients WILL qualify.

The best way to find out if you are a candidate for non-surgical spinal decompression with the  DRX9000 or DRX9000c is to fill out our Free Online Decompression Consultation Form. Or call our San Francisco Decompression Center directly at 415-392-2225, and ask for a complimentary consultation. Chances are, you will be glad you did.

Read some DRX9000 Testimonials

Back Pain Nutrition

What is the Best Diet for a Healthy Back?   

When I ask most of my patients about their diet, they often look at me a little funny. I guess they want me to just focus on getting them out of pain and not worry about what is in their refrigerators. Or, tell them a supplement they can buy that will help cure their problem. I wish it were that simple, but it's not. In fact, molecule for molecule, food is our greatest interaction with our environment. And, the choices we make as far as what we eat, steer us in the direction of health, or in the direction of illness.  OK, how does what I eat effect my back?

Well, for one thing, the typical American diet is loaded with fat and processed carbohydrates. This causes weight gain. Over two thirds of our population is overweight. This puts extra stress on the spinal discs, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Over time this will cause abnormal wear and tear, leading to degenerative disc disease, and even disc herniations. The truth of the matter is, most people need to lose some weight, and they need to keep it off, and what they are eating is usually the problem.

Well, what should I be eating then to keep my spine healthy?

The best way to eat is to give the body the fuel that it was built to run on, plant foods. Yes, a plant based diet is best for spinal health and overall well being. You don't see a whole lot of vegetarians that are overweight. The one's that are, are just not doing it right. They are consuming too much processed carbohydrate and junk food. Just because you don't eat meat, chicken, or fish, does not mean you are eating right. 

   

DRX9000 Spinal Decompression and Sports Injuries

San Francisco Chiropractor and Herniated Disk Specialist comments:

I am asked frequently if the DRX9000 can help sports injuries to the spine, such as disk herniations. The thing is, it doesn't really matter much how the disk was injured, a herniated disk is a herniated disk. Sure, a well conditioned athlete my have a better chance of a favorable outcome with the DRX 9000, but the spinal decompression therapy is applied to the injured spinal disk in the same manner as someone that was in a car accident or just acquired the disk herniations over time. In fact, most spinal disk problems exist for a long time before they reveal themselves. There are millions of people right now walking around with cervical disk herniations, or lumbar disk herniations, and they don't even know it. 

The following is a typical case history at my San Francisco chiropractic and decompression center: 

You take a really bad spill snow skiing and hurt your low back. You develop sciatica (leg pain), which you never had before. You try pain pills and muscle relaxers for a month and you feel the same. You go to the chiropractor for a month and only feel a little bit better. The chiropractor sends you for an MRI and two herniated disks in the lumbar spine are discovered. Now what?  Well, at this point you should possibly consider non-surgical spinal decompression with the DRX9000. Two months is probably enough time to know that the problem is not going to respond to conventional therapies. Plus, the longer the problem is there, the more deconditioned the athlete becomes. This also creates fertile soil for a life long case of chronic, severe, low back pain. Often times, early intervention with the DRX9000 can give the spine a good chance to recover and get back to where it was before the injury. It's worth a shot.

If have been diagnosed with or suspect you may have herniated disks in the neck, or herniated disks in the low back, you may be a candidate for nonsurgical spinal decompression with the DRX9000. To find out if you qualify for care at my San Francisco Spinal Decompression Center, please call 415-392-2225 and ask for a complimentary consultation. Or, fill out our Free Online Consultation Form.

Read some DRX9000 Success Stories

DRX9000c, Chiopractic, and Whiplash Injuries

San Francisco Chiropractor and Soft Tissue Injury Specialist comments on the benefits of Cervical Spinal Decompression for Whiplash Injuries to the Neck:

One of the most common injuries a chiropractor treats is cervical whiplash from an auto accident. In fact, we have great success with whiplash injuries at my San Francisco Chiropractic and Spinal Decompression Center. After fracture and dislocation are ruled out (usually by x-ray), chiropractic adjustments make sense immediately. Just how well someone responds depends on the severity of the automobile collision and the state of the patients spine prior to the accident. If the cervical spine was in bad shape, say there was lots of disc degeneration or some herniated spinal discs, the whiplash trauma could totally push it over the edge. Some patients really end up in bad shape. Nothing seems to help. Pain pills don't help. Physical Therapy does not help. Ice, Massage, or even chiropractic care. What can be done?

Well, for these very difficult cases with underlying cervical disc bulges or herniations, or advanced spinal degeneration, we consider the DRX9000c. The DRX9000c is nonsurgical spinal decompression for the cervical spine. Nonsurgical spinal decompression was designed to offer surgical candidates another option. But, you do not have to be a surgical candidate to benefit from decompression. Spinal decompression therapy is a toll that can be used in many ways. Sure, most of the patients we treat at our San Francisco Spine Center are surgical candidates, but lots of them are just neck and back pain patients that can get any kind of relief, and want to try something else. Many of them are auto accident victims with cervical whiplash and bulging or herniated discs.

The DRX9000c is very gentle, which makes it easy to initiate treatment on patients that are in a lot of pain. The sessions take about an hour. You are on the decompression table for about 30 minutes, then we do some electrical muscle stimulation for 10 minutes, then ice for 10 minutes. If we feel you need anything else, such as relaxation (meditation) coaching or yoga stretches, we consider that as well. And, often times we work together with Pain Management Medical Doctors, who may or may not be prescribing pain medications.

So, if you have been involved in an auto accident and have sustained a cervical whiplash injury, you should consider chiropractic care and spinal decompression with the DRX9000c.

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and would like to find out if you are a candidate for care at our SF Financial District Back and Neck Pain Center, please call 415-392-2225 and ask for a complimentary consultation. Chances are you will be glad you did.      

Spinal Hygiene and Cervical Pillows

San Francisco chiropractor comments:

We hear about dental hygiene and how to eat right, but when was the last time you considered if you slept well: in a way that does not stress the spine? Most of us know it's important to avoid head and neck trauma because serious and devastating injuries can occur. Less understood, are how minor and cumulative stresses over time, can effect the soft tissues in the neck.

If you have never suffered from neck pain (not likely), then maintaining good neck care habits may not be high on your priority list. But, in reality, most of us have had a few kinks over the years, and some of us have chronic neck pain that is probably connected to the way we sleep and the pillow we use. In fact, many neck problems can be prevented with good spinal hygiene, including exercise, chiropractic, and a good cervical pillow.

Keeping your neck supple and flexible with daily stretches can help many patients. Others need to do daily controlled exercises to keep the muscles strong. A chiropractic doctor can advise you on your specific needs. Also, It's important to be diagnosed properly before starting an exercise program so you don't do more harm than good.   

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Gadgets and Alternatives

San Francisco Chiropractor and Carpal Tunnel Doctor comments:

Since 1992, I have personally treated hundreds, if not thousands of cases of carpal tunnel symptoms at my SF Financial District Back and Wrist Pain Center. During this time, I've noticed many patients use gadgets to treat carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Is this a good idea or just another fad? Sometimes our health advice comes from friends, family, and customers at the local health food store. And, I am sure you were given a persuasive story before buying. Late night TV infomercials are used too often for medical advice. If your carpal tunnel symptoms show up at night, you may have fallen prey to these sales pitches. There are lots of snake-oil salesman to take advantage of this often debilitating and frustrating condition which affects millions every year.

It seems like every day one of my San Francisco CTS patients is asking me about some new gadget.    

Copper bracelets and magnets seem to be particularly in style today. But do these and similar gadgets even work?

There are a couple of studies looking at herbs and magnets. According to the research there is very little evidence that these devices do anything. There are no studies on copper-so I guess the jury is still out on that one. However, they don't pass the smell test in my opinion (fishy). These gadgets are probably safe, except for making your skin turn a little green from the copper bracelet.

What about Yoga for carpal tunnel syndrome? Surprisingly, one clinical trial of 51 patients over eight weeks showed that doing yoga improved carpal tunnel syndrome and CTS symptoms better than using a wrist splint, which can become a crutch. What about chiropractic for carpal tunnel?

Fibromyalgia and Disk Herniations

San Francisco Chiropractor and Disk Pain Doctor Wonders...Is Fibromyalgia-Type Pain Caused by Disk Herniations?

   I have found something very interesting at my Financial District Chronic Back Pain Center. It seems that many different disorders, such as fibromyalgia, whiplash, or irritable bowel syndrome have the common symptom of muscle hyperalgesia-more sensitive to painful pressures and stimulations. Obviously, more sensitive patients may find it more difficult to stress their bodies stretching or physical exercise. If you are more sensitive to pain, you may be more likely to consume pain or anti-inflammatory medications. These drugs can have unwanted side effects when taken over the long term.

The European Journal of Pain (May 2007) recently reported on a scientific study of muscle dysfunction called muscular hyperalgesia in patients with disk herniations. More specifically, the muscle nerves were tested to see if they transmitted pain more intensely.

The researchers from Denmark studied whether generalized deep-tissue hyperalgesia could be demonstrated in a group of patients with chronic low-back pain and intervertebral disk herniation. Twelve patients and twelve controls were exposed to painful stimulations at a shoulder and leg muscle. They uses deep pressure and injections of salt water to test how the patient reacted.

Patients with chronic low back pain and lumbar disk herniations demonstrated significantly higher pain intensity, duration, and larger areas of pain referral following stimulations.