BACK, NECK, SCIATIC PAIN

HEALING CHRONIC BACK, NECK AND SCIATIC 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" (1). ​I am willing to bet that most readers, doctors included, have never heard of the pump mechanism. 

THE PUMP MECHANISM OF DISC HEALTH

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 usually injure the delicate blood vessels feeding nutrition to the discs an therefore 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. 

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ISCHEMIA IS THE FUNDAMENTAL CAUSE

Discs that are degenerated show abnormal vascularity...
-Dr. Michael Martin, MD Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Oklahoma.

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ISCHEMIA LEADS TO INJURY AND DISEASE

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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YOUR SPINAL CAN HEAL NATURALLY

Many people have been told that the spinal dics 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.

DOWNLOAD ARTICLE

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SPINE SURGERY HAS A POOR OUTCOME

Less than 25% of low back surgeries will be successful
-Dr. Eugene Carragee MD, Stanford University

• 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​

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HOW TO HEAL THE SPINE

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. (4, 5)​​​

Our treatment stimulates angiogenesis by creating a negative intradiscal pressure (inside the damaged disc). This creates a physiological reaction that accomplishes 2 things:

1. The disc tissue is decompressed which reduces bulges and herniations thus decreasing nerve irritation, see pictures 1-2.
2. This negative pressure or vacuum places a controlled stress on the vertebral blood supply that over time results in the sprouting of new blood vessel branches into the damaged tissues. This controlled stress stimulates formation of scar tissue that seals the damaged disc and reduces the leakage of inflammatory chemicals, see pictures 3-4. 

The process of non surgical spinal disc repair at Advanced Pain Solutions..

REFERENCES
4. 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
5. 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

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REPAIRING THE SPINAL DISC THROUGH ANGIOGENESIS

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VIDEO ANIMATIONS

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REPAIR TIME

As scar tissue forms in the small cracks and tears (annular tears)  the disc will stop leaking inflammatory chemicals. This will immediately reduce pain and you will start feeling better. We begin to see this process start in the first 2-4 weeks of treatment and it will provide some much needed pain relief but the spinal disc will require between 3-12 months before it is completely healed. 

Angiogenesis: New blood vessel growth in a damaged spinal disc.

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)​​

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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 lawn 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.​​ The rule is to avoid flexion and torque (rotation). Patients ask me how long before I can do these movements? The answer is realistically, never because flexion and rotation will always place the spinal disc under stress and cause injury and degeneration 100% of the time. 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 10% level. Using a common sense approach, if you feel okay at a 10% 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. Always remember, Dr. Stokes wants you to avoid flexion and rotation as a lifestyle because those two movements damage the discs.

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NON SURGICAL RESULTS OF OUR TREATMENT

1. L4/L5 Large disc protrusion has been significantly reduced.
2. L5 Disc degeneration has improved dramatically.
3. Normal restoration to the lordosis has occurred.

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IS THIS TREATMENT FOR YOU?

To qualify for our Angiogenic treatment program you will need between 1-3 months of active clinical treatment. During the first month the procedure is applied daily, Monday through Friday, approximately an hour per session.  After the first 4 weeks most patients will be  out of pain however depending on the initial damage treatment is continued three times per week for an additional 4 weeks to reinforce the cartilage growth. After this second month of care patients will return to normal activities, including light exercise. During this time treatment is recommended once per month, in order to maintain the stability of the repair and continue to promote healing. Once a patient gets beyond the 12 month time period the spinal disc will have reached it's maximum potential and stability. In our clinic we have a success rate over 95%, in part because of the way we promote the repair process, we use several advanced modalities including VAX-D Spinal Decompression, Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy (PEMF), 30 Watt Class 4 Laser, and Hako-Med Bioelectrical Nerve Therapy

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SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

There are many effective options to explore before surrendering to spinal surgery or pain managements recommendation of drugs and injections. Schedule a consultation at (239) 275-7575 and learn about your options. My goal is helping people live incredible lives. I am dedicated to changing the perception of what is possible with new ideas and energy. Share this article with someone you know and contact me if I can be of further help. I am yours in service. Say hello by leaving a message or comment below. 

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