Dr Davis' Back & Wrist Pain Blog

Is There Enough Research on the DRX9000?

San Francisco Chiropractor and Herniated Disc Doctor Comments:

The DRX9000 Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression System is a machine that is designed and built to treat lumbar disc herniations, disc bulges, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease nonsurgically. 

The DRX9000 is able to enlarge the disc space, re-position and re-hydrate the disc, elongate the spine, stretch the spinal ligaments, and often times prevent dangerous surgeries.

Sure it all sounds good, but is there research to support these claims?

Well...Yes and No. There are preliminary research findings from a joint study done by the Mayo Clinic, Duke University, and John Hopkins University. This information has been available for a while now and is summarized in this DRX9000 Special Report. 

The thing is...even though this preliminary research is very favorable, it's not the full blown double blind studies that insurance companies and medical doctors need to fully embrace nonsurgical spinal decompression.

But you know what?...the patients that are doing spinal decompression at Executive Express Chiropractic in downtown San Francisco...and around the world, just don't care. They know decompression therapy is safe,,,they know it's effective from all the positive testimony from happy DRX patients. And they don't want to wait...they want back pain relief now.

At some point there will be full blown double blind research data...but who knows how long this will take? When you consider that nothing is being removed from your body and no chemicals are being introduced...what's the worse thing that can happen?...it doesn't help...and maybe some soreness...and you have a little less money in the bank.

As far as I know...nonsurgical spinal decompression has never caused permanent paralysis or death...it is very safe and gentle...most patients fall asleep during the sessions. And the results can be simply amazing...life changing.

So is the DRX9000 for you? Maybe. Is there enough research to support doing it? That's up to you. Check out the special report, do some homework...and go check it out...maybe even get on the DRX to see what it feels like...you will be amazed.

Then go for it...why?...because life is short and it just makes sense.

To find a DRX9000 doctor near you go to www.axiomworldwide.com, or if you are in San Francisco give Executive Express Chiropractic a call at 415-392-2225 or request an appointment online.

Read some San Francisco DRX9000 Testimonials.

Read the DRX9000 Special Report

Nonsurgical Disc Herniation Treatment with the DRX9000

San Francisco Chiropractor and Herniated Disc Doctor Comments:

We have been helping herniated disc patients in the SF Financial District for over 17 years now with chiropractic care. Overall, we've had pretty good success, but there was always a sub-set of patients with chronic back pain secondary to herniated discs, that chiropractic just could not help on it's own....and neither could anything else.

Well...about 3-4 years ago we began using the DRX9000 spinal decompression system. A state of the art machine that is designed and built to treat neurovascular compression syndromes such as disc herniations, disc bulges, spinal stenosis, and disc degeneration.

The machine we have treats both cervical disc herniations (DRX9000c) and lumbar disc herniations (DRX9000)...and costs around $150,000. Does it work? YES. Does it work on every single person that does it? NO...just most of them. And...we have been on an absolute roll lately with results. I think a lot of it has to do with experience. Over the years we have performed thousands of treatments...and every time we treat a herniated disc we learn how to do it better.

How often should we treat a herniated disc patient? How many lbs. of pull should we use?...for how long? How many DRX9000 sessions does this person need?

Does the patient also need something extra like Active Release Techniques (ART) or chiropractic adjustments? If so, when? What exercises? How often?  What about maintenance care? And on and on. We learn more every day.

They say spinal decompression will eventually be the gold standard for disc herniation treatment. We think it is already, but it has to pass all the double blind long-term studies that the medical profession needs to see...same with insurance companies.

But hey...the preliminary medical research on the DRX9000 is very promising. There is a DRX9000 Special Report that summarizes the research results from a study done by the Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins University, and Duke University...very encouraging.

Anyway, if you are suffering with chronic back pain, sciatica, neck pain, arm pain, weakness, numbness, tingling...that is just not responding to conventional therapies...the DRX9000 or DRX9000c just be might be the answer.

To find out if you are a candidate for care at our San Francisco Spinal Decompression Center...Executive Express Chiropractic...call 415-392-2225 or request an appointment online.

Read some San Francisco DRX9000 Patient Stories

Does Discography Damage The Spinal Disc Making Disc Degeneration Worse?

San Francisco Chiropractor and Spinal Decompression Doctor Comments:

Discography is a diagnostic test widely used to diagnose painful disc degeneration and help select candidates for surgery and other therapies that target the degenerated disc as the source of the underlying symptoms (Lumbar Discography).

A contrast medium is injected into the disc and a radiographic examination is performed to try and recreate the symptoms. The objective is to identify the exact location of spinal disc involvement. The findings often lead to spinal fusion surgeries. 

The thing is...several discs are injected during the procedure which was thought to be relatively safe up until now. Of course...any time you are injecting stuff into the body, especially a spinal disc...while at the same time exposing it to radiation, it's probably not a good thing...at least in my opinion.

Anyway...an award winning discography study conducted at Stanford University appears to have enormous implications for the future use of spinal discography which is currently used over 200,000 times per year in the US. Here is an excerpt from The Back Letter, Volume 24, #7, 2009:

Now, a new study by Eugene Carragee,

MD, and colleagues from Stanford questions

the safety of discography. (See

Carragee et al., 2009.) Ironically, a diagnostic

procedure designed to identify

painful disc degeneration appears to contribute

to the progression of that disease.

The Stanford researchers found that

discography speeds disc degeneration over

a seven- to 10-year follow-up period.

“Modern discography techniques using

small-gauge needles and limited pressurization

resulted in accelerated disc degeneration,

disc herniation, loss of disc height

and signal—and the development of reactive

endplate changes...,” according to the

study.

“We showed that disc puncture, even

using modern discography techniques, led

to structural changes in the disc,” said

Carragee in presenting the study at the

annual meeting of the International Society

for the Study of the Lumbar Spine

(ISSLS) in Miami—-where it won the

ISSLS Award.

“Physicians should carefully consider

the risk and benefits of procedures involving

disc puncture,” said Dr. Carragee.

According to the 10 year follow-up study Discography actually damages the spinal disc and resulted in loss of disc height and signal, end plate (top and bottom of vertebrae) degenerative changes, and progression of degenerative disc disease (DDD)...the same problems Discography is supposed to help treat...Not Good.

 You can imagine the turmoil this is causing amongst spinal surgeons and radiologists...and some say there are holes in the study...I don't know...I'm not surprised. I've never been a fan of discography.

In fact, I have had many patients back out of the procedure and follow through with non-surgical spinal decompression at my San Francisco Chiropractic Center...and most were glad they did.

So...who knows how this will all turn out. Supposedly they are going to be slicing and dicing the research data to provide more answers...but in the meantime, caveat emptor.  

If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for nonsurgical spinal decompression with the DRX9000 at Executive Expresss Chiropractic in downtown San Francisco...call 415-392-2225.  

What Causes Spinal Degeneration? Ask Your San Francisco Chiropractor

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

We have helped thousands of patients with spinal degeneration (osteoarthritis) and degenerative disc disease (DDD) since 1992 at our San Francisco Chiropractic Clinics.

Some of the first words out of a patients mouth right after they take a look at their spinal x-rays as compared to normal are... "How did that happen?"

I remember when I first saw my x-rays 27 years ago...I asked the same thing...it's a great question. There are as many answers to this question as there are experts...so here's mine:

I think spinal degeneration and spinal disc degeneration are the result of two primary causes.

1. The first being abnormal spinal alignment (vertebral subluxations) which typically starts when we are very young...even during the birth process. All the spills and falls we take learning to walk, ride a bike, sports, etc. When the spine is out of position the joints and discs wear abnormally...just like a tire when the front end of your car is out of alignment.

2. The second primary cause of spinal degeneration in my opinion is an unhealthy internal context from poor lifestyle choices. This also usually starts when we are very young as our parents dictate what we eat and drink...and everything else we do until we can make our own decisions. Then we have a tendency to continue on with what we were taught...which is usually not so great as evidenced by our health as a nation.

When you consider that almost 70% of the country is overweight and the childhood obesity rate is skyrocketing...it should be no surprise that spine disease is so prevalent....after-all, extra weight stresses the spinal joints and discs, forcing them to adapt to the extra load which leads to spinal degeneration.  

Abnormal spinal alignment  can happen from poor posture at your workstation, bad mattresses or pillows, sports injuries, car accidents...and as I mentioned above...what about all the spills and falls you took as a kid?  Heck...just about everything we do as a part of modern day living is hard on the spine...which is why chiropractic care is such a great tool. 

I have a 4 year old daughter and I am adjusting her all the time.

Kids respond great to chiropractic care...so do adults. I like to tell patients that while we can't do a whole lot about the spinal degeneration that has already happened...we can slow it down or freeze it and stop it from getting worse by correcting the "subluxations" and adopting a more healthy lifestyle.

And the thing is..the body thrives when you give it what it was designed to have...plant foods, exercise, rest, and proper spinal alignment. 

This is why Chiropractic is the Worlds Largest Drug-less Healing Profession...because we help you give your body what it needs.

It's up to you to do the rest, and we can help steer you in the right direction at Executive Express Chiropractic. Our team of San Francisco Chiropractors have extensive backgrounds in sports, fitness, and wellness.

The best resource I know of for plant based nutrition is www.drmcdougall.com. 

And make sure to get plenty of aerobic exercise...the latest research suggest that your heart fitness or Cardiorespiratory Fitness(CRF) is the #1 factor in determining your overall mortality.

Dr. Eben Davis is clinic director of Executive Express Chiropractic in downtown San Francisco. To make an appointment call 415-392-2225 or request an appointment online.  

San Francisco Chiropractor

Executive Express Chiropractic (formerly Front Street Chiropractic) is located at the downtown SF Embarcadero Center near the Ferry building. We offer walk-in, no-waiting, no hassles service.

Dr. Eben Davis is the clinic director. Dr. Davis has 18 years experience running one of the most successful chiropractic clinics in the country and writes daily on his award winning Back & Wrist Pain blog. 

Some of the conditions that Executive Express Chiropractic can help are:

• Low back pain
• Neck Pain
• Headaches
• Shoulder, arm and wrist pain
• Sports Injuries
• Whiplash
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Herniated cervical and lumbar discs

Clinic supervisor Dr. Adam Jacobs, DC is full body certified in Active Release Techniques (ART)...which is a high-tech method of isloted deep tissue massage with active participation by the patient.

 Executive Express also has a DRX9000 (lumbar decompression) and DRX9000c (cervical decompression) combo-machine which costs around $150,000. The DRX machines are used to help treat conditions such as herniated discs, bulging discs, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD).

This San Francisco Chiropractor clearly has an eye for flair (Executive Express Chiropractic photos) . The clinic is a remarkable combination of 100% eco-friendly building materials such as real leather scraps from shoes and furniture used for the curved leather entry wall, recycled marble chips for the countertop and shelves, and recycled resin materials (and silkworms from families in Nepal) for the dramatic privacy dividers between the chiropractic tables. 

Dr. Davis said "no expense was spared...we wanted to create a masterpiece that patients would talk about to their friends...but at the same time would be healthy for them, our staff...and our planet...even our patient processing, appointment making,  and record keeping systems are paperless.  And...our architects are the best in San Francisco...Martinkovic Milford Architects." 

To schedule an appointment at Executive Express Chiropractic...call 415-393-2225 or request an appointment online.    

   

    

Sciatica can be a pain in the butt

San Francisco Chiropractor and Spinal Decompression Doctor Comments:

One of the more common conditions we treat at Executive Express Chiropractic in downtown San Francisco is sciatica.

Sciatica is defined as pain along the course of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve originates in the low back and travels down your back and buttock, then the back of the legs to your feet. 

The symptoms of sciatica can be low back pain, leg pain, numbness or tingling, abnormal sensations, or weakness in the legs/feet....and yes pain in the buttocks.

Sciatica occurs from physical pressure on the sciatic nerve or nerve roots (radiculopathy) that form the sciatic nerve-that exit from in between your lumbar vertebrae. The primary cause of sciatica is a herniated lumbar disc or a bulging lumbar disc. Degenerative disc disease (DDD), or spinal degeneration (osteoarthritis) can also lead to sciatica by causing a condition called spinal stenosis...which can result in sciatic nerve pain.

There is also a muscle in the buttocks called the Piriformis muscle that the sciatic nerve courses through. If the Piriformis muscle spasms or inflames...as it does with truck drivers sometimes (that have thick wallets), it can cause a sciatica. This is called Piriformis Syndrome. Sciatica can get really bad...and it can become chronic...though most cases don't. 

Anyway...there are many forms of treatments. My favorite of course is chiropractic care which works wonders for sciatica. If chiropractic does not deliver results...say because there is a persistent lumbar disc herniation...than we consider nonsurgical spinal decompression with the DRX9000.

We have been treating lumbar neurovascular compression syndromes such as herniated discs, bulging discs, and lumbar stenosis at our San Francisco Spinal Decompression Centers for over 4 years now with great success. Surgery and drugs are no longer the only options.

Anyway...check out this very informative article from the excellent www.spine-health.com website entitled:

What you need to know about Sciatica (sciatica causes, sciatica treatments, sciatica surgery, sciatica symptoms). It's good to see a medical website include spinal decompression and chiropractic  as treatment options.

If you live or work near downtown San Francisco and would like to find out if you are a candidate for chiropractic care or spinal decompression at Executive Express Chiropractic...call 415-392-2225 or request an appointment online. 

 

Lumbar Disc Disease and Leg Pain

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

Degenerative Disc Disease(DDD) of the lumbar spine is fairly common. In fact, it's so common that some of the medical community wonder if it should just be considered a clinical finding vs. a diagnosis or disease.

Leg pain (sciatica) is less common, but frequently occurs in patients that have DDD. Is it the disc disease that's causing the sciatica? Can the degenerated disc be repaired? These questions are hot topics...but unfortunately most of the answers are just opinions unsubstantiated by facts.

In reality, when someone presents with degenerative disc disease and sciatica, you don't really know for sure if they are connected...according to the latest research.

Heck, there can even be a herniated disc pressing on the sciatic nerve and often times it's hard to prove that that's what's actually causing the leg pain...or so the research says.

Sure...I have my opinions just like everyone else...and I just don't see how there could not be a connection between badly degenerated lumbar spinal bones/discs and sciatica.

The problem is that the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve originate from many levels of the lumbar spine. Pressure anywhere (on any of the nerve roots) will cause (or could cause) some sort of leg pain. And in reality, there are usually several degenerated discs or herniated discs when DDD is present...how do you know which one is causing the problem?...you don't.

This is why chiropractic and nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy make so much sense to me...because we can treat the problem using a more comprehensive approach.

Sure we target the most likely cause of the problem (the primary injured disc)...but at the same time we work on the entire spine and person. And...if we don't see quick results we put focused attention on the other degenerated spinal discs (spinal decompression targets specific spinal segments).

We don't cut anything out or fuse anything together. We measure results by how the patient feels and increased function. How would like like to have spine surgery and still have your symptoms? Well...it's not that uncommon...and you cant reverse it. 

If chiropractic or spinal decompression does not achieve a favorable outcome at least you are still whole...and both are very safe. But the odds are in your favor (see Spinal Decompression Special Report).

So if you have leg pain (sciatica), degenerated discs, bulging discs, or chronic back pain...and nothing is working...consider chiropractic or spinal decompression...or both...it just might be the missing link.

Attention San Francisco Sciatica Sufferers: To find out if you are a candidate for chiropractic care  or spinal decompression at our San Francisco Chiropractic & Spinal Decompression Center...call 415-392-2225 or request an appointment online.

San Francisco Spinal Decompression Treats Disc Herniations Without Surgery

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

We have been helping patients with chronic, debilitating back and neck pain for over 17 years in the SF Financial District (see San Francisco Spinal Decompression). One of the most common causes of severe back and neck pain are cervical and lumbar disc herniations...often thought to be untreatable without surgery.

For the first 13 years in downtown San Francisco I treated spinal disc herniations with chiropractic adjustments, massage, exercise, and conventional traction....with great success. But there was a subset of herniated disc patients (about 20%) that just did not seem to respond to our back pain or neck pain treatment regimens...or to anything else for that matter. They either had to just learn to live with the pain or consider risky surgeries.

Then, about 4 years ago I was introduced to nonsurgical spinal decompression, which is when I bought my first machine. At first I was skeptical (as is my nature), but I did quite a bit of research before I pulled the trigger as these spinal decompression machines are quite expensive. The decompression machine that I use, which treats herniated discs in the neck, and herniated lumbar discs, cost around $150,000...so I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing.

Well...here we are 4 years later and we have helped hundreds of San Francisco disc herniation patients return to more normal lives. Sure the machines have not helped everyone...but success rates are very high (see Spinal Decompression Special Report). And best of all...it is drug-less and nonsurgical...and for the most part painless.

The specific neurovascular conditions decompression therapy may be able to help are disc herniations, disc bulges, spinal stenosis, facet syndromes, and degenerative disc disease. Most patients have combinations of all of the above.

While nonsurgical spinal decompression is NOT a magic bullet, it might just be the answer to your back pain or neck pain nightmare...it's certainly worth consideration.

To find out if you are a candidate for care at our San Francisco Spinal Decompression Center...call 415-392-2225 or request an appointment online.

Got Chronic Neck or Back Pain in San Francisco?

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

If you have neck pain or back pain that just wont go away...you're not alone. During our 17 years of chiropractic service to the SF Financial District...we have helped over 7500 New Patients...most with back or neck pain. It's estimated that over 80% of us will have a bout of serious back pain at some point in our lives...and those are some serious odds.

Hey...if your back pain or neck pain hits...then goes a way...great.

But what if it stays...or what if it comes back in the same spot...over and over? Well...if this goes on for longer than 3 months, you now have chronic neck pain...or chronic low back pain...not good.

And here's the deal...the #1 predisposing factor for chronic back pain is previous back pain. So what can be done to prevent the back pain or neck pain from becoming chronic?

Chiropractic that's what. A visit to the chiropractor at the first sign of back pain is in my opinion...the best thing you could possibly do.

At Executive Express Chiropractic in downtown San Francisco we specialize in back and neck pain treatment. Sometimes the pain is new...sometimes it's chronic. Sometimes we can fix the problem with just a few visits...sometimes it takes a few months...it just depends on the nature and severity of your specific condition.

The last thing you want to do is ignore the problem...because your spine may be out of alignment (vertebral subluxations). If left uncorrected, subluxations (which is what a chiropractor treats) can cause abnormal wear and tear on your spinal discs and joints increasing the odds of your back or neck pain becoming chronic. It can even lead to conditions such as bulging or herniated discs (watch spine-health.com herniated disc video), degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis.

Bottom Line: If you have back pain or neck pain that is new or chronic...visit a chiropractor...it's just the smart thing to do.

To find out if you are a candidate for care at Executive Express Chiropractic at the SF Embarcadero Center...call 415-392-2225

 

San Francisco Chiropractor comments more on chiropractic x-rays

Is there a financial incentive for chiropractors or medical doctors to take x-rays?

Here is another excerpt from April 2009 issue of "the Back Letter" regarding Routine Imaging:

What About Profit Margins?

Early routine imaging does appear to have one potential benefit-an economic one. In-office imaging facilities can be a major profit center for clinical practices and health care systems in arena of lean reimbursement. And there has been a rapid proliferation in physician owned imaging facilities in the United States in recent years.

However, earning revenue from an assessment strategy that has negative consequence for patients obviously raises troubling ethical questions. And this practice may also have important consequences down the road.

Translation: Doctors are exposing patients to unnecessary radiation (and surgeries/treatments) and increasing the overall costs of health-care by taking x-rays that typically offer no useful benefit. The research  continues to show that the conclusions that are being drawn from imaging studies are leading to unnecessary surgeries and medical treatments.

Personally, I have decided (after 16 years of taking x-rays) not to x-ray routinely anymore. I don't even have an x-ray machine at my new clinic, Executive Express Chiropractic in downtown San Francisco. If we feel a patient needs x-rays (the red flags support it), we will send them out to a medical facility where an expert radiologist can read the x-rays and provide a report. 

So far...350 New Patients later (in 6 months), and thousands of chiropractic treatments...we have not had to send a single person for x-rays.

Hey...I love to look at x-rays...but now that I realize they are not the useful, cost effective, medically necessary  tool I though they were...it's no go...and we are fine without them...not as rich...but sleeping better at night.

To find out if you are a candidate for care at Executive Express Chiropractic call 415-392-2225.