​HEALING BACK, NECK OR SCIATICA PAIN
How can it be possible that most doctors do not understand the true cause of back and neck pain? Like many people you have been told that the problem with your pain is a specific condition like, Degenerated Disc Disease, Spondylolisthesis, Herniated or Bulging Discs, Sciatica Leg Pain, Stenosis, Arthritis and Scoliosis Spinal Curvature. In 1996 doctors Vert Mooney, MD, Jeffery A Saal MD and Joel S Saal, MD discovered the cause for more than 80% of all back, neck and sciatica pain is the loss of the "Pump Mechanism".  ​I am willing to bet that most readers, doctors included, have never heard of the pump mechanism. 
Our treatment program resolves 75% of all cases in 4 weeks and 85% in 8 weeks. In a 4 year follow up study those successful cases were still symptom free. (1, 2)​​​
REFERENCES
1. Efficacy of Vertebral Axial Decompression (VAX-D) on Chronic Low Back Pain: A Study of Dosage Regimen Ramos G., MD, Journal of Neurological Research, Volume 26, April 2004
2. VAX-D Reduces Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain- 4 year Study Odell R., MD. Ph.D, Boudreau D. DO Anesthesiology News, Volume 29, Number 3 , March 2003
The spinal disc gets nutrition from a mechanical process called the "Pump Mechanism". When this fails a disc is unable to heal and enters a chronic cycle of degeneration, bulging and germination, eventually leading to stenosis (end stage arthritis). Injuries to the spine will usually damage the delicate blood vessels that feed nutrition to the discs and disrupting the pump mechanism. Without this constant supply of blood the discs become ischemic. As the disc continues to degenerate it will leak inflammatory chemicals that produce pain and further injury to surrounding tissues. This is a progressive, degenerative condition. 

​ISCHEMIA IS THE FUNDAMENTAL CAUSE

The above diagram is very important in understanding the true mechanism of most pain and dysfunction. The secret, if there is one, exists in the health of the vascular system. When the blood vessels to the spinal discs are injured they fail to provide the nutrition need to promote healing.
Discs that are degenerated show abnormal vascularity.
-Dr. Michael Martin, MD Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Oklahoma.
The disc continues to degenerate without the vital fluids needed for repair. This is not part of a "Normal Aging Process", but rather a direct result of ischemia. ​
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​SPINAL DISCS CAN HEAL NATURALLY

Many people have been told that the spinal discs cannot heal naturally and this is not true. Spinal discs have the ability to regenerate and heal, please take a minute and read this medical article that supports my statement. This article is written and endorsed by the Dr. Michael Martin, MD, Chris Boxell, MD and David Malone, MD Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Oklahoma.
The Disc itself is active tissue that contains significant mechanisms for self repair.

​SPINE SURGERY HAS A POOR OUTCOME

Less than 25% of low back surgeries will be successful
-Dr. Eugene Carragee MD, Stanford University
You do not want back surgery unless absolutely necessary. Although there are cases that need surgery, our experience is that this is needed in less than 5% of patients.
  • Failed back surgery syndrome is seen in up to 40% of patients who undergo back surgery. It is characterized by intractable pain and varying degrees of functional incapacitation occurring after spine surgery. More risks include infection, nerve damage, deterioration of health and post operative complications. (1)
  • Fewer than 5% of people with back pain are good candidates for surgery. (2)
  • The spinal disc accounts for 85% of all cases of chronic spinal pain. The facet joints 15% and the sacroiliac joint less than 5%. (3)​
References
  1. In Project Briefs: Back Pain Patient Outcomes Assessment Team (BOAT). In MEDTEP Update, Vol. 1 Issue 1, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Rockville, MD, Summer 1994.
  2. John P. Kostuik, MD, and Simeon Margolis, MD, Ph.D. Low Back Pain and Osteoporosis. The John Hopkins White Paper on Low Back Pain and Osteoporosis, 2002.
  3. Vert Mooney, MD, Jeffery A Saal MD, Joel S Saal, MD, Clinical Symposia , Vol. 48 Number 4 1996​

REPAIRING THE SPINAL DISC

As a controlled stress is applied to the small blood vessels that feed the injured disc they temporarily dilate increasing blood flow and helping remove inflammation. Over time as this stress is continued to the delicate blood vessels the body responds by promoting vascularization to the area in need. This increases the blood supply and allows for scar tissue to form in the small cracks and tears (annular tears)  of  the injured disc. We begin to see this process start in the first 2-4 weeks of treatment however a spinal disc requires unto 500 days to completely recover. 
The repair mechanism for the spinal disc, called glycosaminoglycan turnover, takes around 500 days to complete.  -Nachemson, A.L, The Lumbar Spine- An Orthopedic Challenge, Spine, Vol 1, No.1 (March 1976)​​

WHEN A NEGATIVE IS A POSITIVE

EFFECTS OF VERTEBRAL AXIAL DECOMPRESSION (VAX-D) ON INTRADISCAL PRESSURE
Gustavo Ramos, M.D., William Marin, M.D.Journal of Neursurgery 81:350-353 1994 Departments of Neurosurgery and Radiology, Rio Grande Regional Hospital, McAllen, and Division of Neurosurgery, Health Sciences Center, University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas

PUBLISHED RESEARCH

With over 20 years of clinical research VAX-D is the number one non surgical treatment for back and neck pain in the world. Here you can download all the main research. 

​WHEN TO RESUME ACTIVITIES

Even when you feel better the disc will need just over a year to fully stabilize. Any movement that involves torque, such as golf, tennis or bowling will place stress on the disc and hamper this healing process. We give patients a very specific set of instructions to follow during the healing phase so they can enjoy an active life without re-injuring the spinal disc before it is completely stable.​​ Patients ask, "How long before I can do these movements? When can I golf?" The realistic answer is, IT DEPENDS! Certain movements will always place the spinal disc under stress and likely cause injury and degeneration 100% of the time so these are always to be avoided, but with proper post treatment conditioning most patients return to normal in about 3 months. We encourage all patients to start walking immediately as the number one way to assist the healing. Once you are feeling better, you may add in an activity you once enjoyed doing, but only at a 20% level. Using a common sense approach, if you feel okay at a 20% level, stay at that level for a brief period of time and slowly add more in, judging it by how you feel. If you notice an increased level of pain the next day, back off from it and listen to your body.

THE DR. ALLAN DYER LECTURE
This is a lecture I attended where my mentor, Dr. Allan Dyer, MD explains his Vax-D treatment and the research conducted that proves it's usefulness in cases of chronic back pain and disability. For those interested in the "nuts and bolts" of the procedure I recommend you watch the entire lecture first and then if you still have questions feel free to contact me at the clinic or via email. 
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*DISCLAIMER: Dr. Stephen Stokes received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Logan College of Chiropractic in 2001. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. The material provided on this site is for strictly informational purposes only. It is not meant to replace or substitute for the recommendations or advice of your physician or medical provider. The products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information contained in this site should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. If you believe you have a medical condition or problem contact your health care provider. The statements contained in this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  Not every patient has results like those seen in our Video Testimonials. Both verbal information and written records about our patients cannot be shared with another party without the written consent of the patient or the patient’s legal guardian or personal representative. It is our official office policy not to release any information about a patient without a signed release of information except in certain emergency situations or exceptions in which client information can be disclosed to others without written consent. Dr. Stephen Stokes BSc, DC, FIAMA offers no charge consultations as a community service with the goal of reaching out to as many people as possible in order to educate them on the alternative treatments available for pain. If the patient and any other person responsible for payment decides to purchase services or products as the result of this no charge offer, they have the right to refuse to pay, cancel payment or be reimbursed for payment within 72 hours of responding to this advertisement for a no charge consultation. ​