SCIATICA? DISC HERNIATION?By Dr. Rick Morris The FDA approved a non-surgical treatment for Disc Herniations (often the cause of Sciatica) that’s 86% effective…and we just purchased one of the few machines in the entire country that performs that treatment! After 29 years in practice, I’m making an enormous change. I’m taking over the entire office just for my patients, remodeling and, most importantly, buying the most advanced spinal decompression machine in the world. What’s Spinal Decompression? More than a decade ago, researchers at NASA found that astronauts were relieved of their low back pain on their missions. In addition, they learned that the astronaut’s disc heights actually increased during their space mission. This prompted a team of physicians and former NASA engineers to develop a computerized system that recreated and improved the spinal decompression that benefited the astronauts. Studies were immediately performed on patients with severe back and leg pain caused by disc herniations, bulges and degeneration (many who were scheduled for surgery). The results were impressive: 86% showed a 70-100% improvement and resolution of their symptoms.1 Another larger study of 778 patients found 72% of patients with multiple herniated discs had a successful response to spinal decompression. In fact, the authors concluded that decompression therapy should be considered as a front-line treatment for degenerative spondylosis, facet syndrome and disc disease..2 This prompted the FDA to approve and patent this treatment for disc herniations, bulges and degeneration. How Does Spinal Decompression Work? The patient lies on a table which gradually applies a cyclical “distraction” specifically to the disc that is herniated or degenerated. The computer reads just the right amount of decompression, the angle necessary to reduce the herniation, and the patient’s response. The treatment is painless and, in fact, usually quite relieving. Many patients find the 30-40 minutes of treatment to be the first relief they’ve had in years. It absolutely is not traction! This is a $100,000 piece of the most advanced medical technology designed specifically for disc disease as a replacement for most disc surgeries. Pressure within the disc is often reduced to below -100mm Hg., which is significantly greater than any form of manipulation or traction..3 Why Is It Important To Decompress The Disc? With injury, bad posture and age, our discs compress, dry up, tear and eventually bulge or herniate into painful areas like the spinal nerves or spinal cord. If you’ve had a bulging disc, you know what I’m talking about. It is not merely a “sore back” that you can stretch out. It’s miserable. In fact, it’s much worse than miserable. It feels as if a knife is going into you, “stabbing” you without notice. Subtle moves, sitting or even coughing can take your breath away. You’re life completely changes. Sports, sitting, playing and just being happy is nearly impossible. Most start a frustrating cycle of pills, shots, physical therapy. Chiropractic treatment is often helpful, but not always and surgery seems to be the only recourse. The success of many back surgeries is less than 50% and they often make the condition worse. It’s hard to imagine being worse than you are now! Spinal decompression is extremely safe. Upon my research, I’ve not found one case where a patient’s condition worsened. Spinal decompression safely stretches the spine apart at the exact right level and angle so that the disc is “sucked” back into alignment. The separation of the joint allows blood and nutrients into the disc that, in most cases, has had it’s circulation limited or stopped. That’s why the disc tear never previously healed. This allows the disc and it’s tears to heal and explains its 86% success rate! That’s why I’m writing you this letter. I want you to know what’s going on in our office and tell everyone you know with a disc problem about our spinal decompression machine. Even if they’ve already had surgery that hasn’t worked, decompression still is often effective!! Due to the cost of the equipment and its recent release, we have one of the only DRX-9000 spinal decompression systems in southern California. In fact, there are not many in the entire country. THAT’S WHY I’VE WRITTEN YOU THIS LETTER. We are adding a new direction to our office. We can only treat 10 patients per month with decompression as each treatment is one hour and 20 treatments are required. Therefore, we can only accept the patients that are most severe, can dedicate the time to the treatment, and who we determine has the greatest likelihood for success. But, if patient’s that are referred by prior patients will have first access. Please stop by and see our newly remodeled office and the DRX 9000 Spinal Decompression machine. I appreciate the years that you have trusted me and I believe that I’m bringing one of the most important discoveries in disc care to Santa Monica. If you’d like to have more information on Spinal Decompression, just call our office or stop by. We’ll send you a DVD or written material. Have a happy and healthy 2006. Yours, Dr. Rick Morris and Chris Souders 1 Gionis and Groteke, Orthopedic Technology Review, Nov-Dec 2003;5(6): 36-39.
THE MORRIS SPINAL STENOSIS & DISC CENTER Rick H. Morris, D.C., C.C.S.P., Q.M.E., A.B.A.A.H.P. 1243 7th Street, Suite B, Santa Monica, California 90401 |
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