Southern California Spine Center

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.