Spinal Stenosis/ Disc Herniation Research

Over the last four years, The Morris Spinal Stenosis and Disc Center has engaged in a clinical study to evaluate their unique treatment for these conditions.

Approximately 180 patients with severe spinal stenosis and/or disc herniations were included. They all had failed traditional care including at least two of the following treatments:

Medication including anti-inflammatories, narcotics and muscle relaxants.
Physical Therapy.
Chiropractic.
Acupuncture.
Epidural Injections.
Surgery (usually discectomies and laminectomies. Those with fusions or
hardware were excluded).

The Average Patient Had The Following Characteristics:

The Spinal Stenosis patient's median age was about 70 years, while the disc herniation patient averaged about 35.
All patients had their condition for, at least, 6 months (most developed the problem over several years).
The average ability to stand or walk was less than 11 minutes.
The average disability score, at entry, was 45% (Oswestry Disability Index).

There Were 209 Areas of Significant Nerve Damage

71 areas of partial or complete numbness.
89 areas of partial or complete muscle weakness and/or atrophy.
49 deep tendon reflexes that were diminished or absent.

Treatment included a precise combination of:

Spinal Decompression
Physical Therapy
Electrical Feedback Training of Abdominal and Back Muscles
Chiropractic Mobilization
Exercise Rehabilitation
Yoga Therapy
Inversion (in some patients)
Muscle Therapy (to lengthen shortened and aged tissue)

This program requires a 3-5 month period of time. The results were excellent and unmatched by any other study or approach we've seen.

84% of these severe low back patients improved significantly with this treatment.
Their average pain scale dropped from a 7.7 (out of 10 which is the worse pain possible) in their back to 2.9, and from a 7.7, in their legs, to 2.3. These findings are even more remarkable because most patients were on pain medication at the time of their initial pain scale readings and without pain medication when recording their final pain numbers.
Signs of nerve damage completely reversed themselves 60% of the time.
The patients average standing and walking time was 281% longer than before treatment.
Our four year follow-up showed no signs of loss of therapeutic benefit (measured using the Oswestry Disability Index).

We’ve worked hard to become the leading office in the country for Severe Low Back Disc Disorders and Spinal Stenosis.

If you know of someone with lower back Spinal Stenosis or Disc Disease (Herniation, bulges, degeneration…) and wouldn't mind being included in this study, we encourage you to refer them to our office (call 310-451-5851). We are continuing the study for several years.

If you'd like a scientific abstract, call our office at 310-451-5851 or email us.

Research Resources:

Macario A et al, Treatment of 94 Outpatients with Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain With the DRX9000: a retrospective chart review, Pain Pract, 2008 Mar; 8(1): 11-7.

Macario, A et al, Motorized Spinal Decompression For Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain: Chart Review of 100 Outpatients, Presented at the Am Society of Anesthesiologists, Chicago, IL, 2006.

Ramos G, Efficacy of Vertebral Axial Decompression on Chronic Low Back Pain: Study of Dosage Regimen, Neurol Res. 2004 Apr;26(3):320-4.

Sherry, E et al, A prospective randomized controlled study of VAX-D and TENS for the treatment of chronic low back pain, Neurol Res. 2001 Oct;23(7):780-4.

Naguszewski WK et al, Dermatomal somatosensory evoked potential demonstration of nerve root decompression after VAX-D therapy, Neurol Res. 2001 Oct;23(7):706-14.

Tilaro, F, Miskovich, D, The effects of Vertebral Axial Decompression on Sensory Nerve Dysfunction, Canadian J of Clin Med, 1999.

Gose E et al, Vertebral axial decompression therapy for pain associated with herniated or degenerated discs or facet syndrome: an outcome study, Neurol Res. 1998 Apr;20(3):186-90.

Eyerman, EL, MRI Evidence of Nonsurgical, Mechanical Reduction, Rehydration and Repair of the Herniated Lumbar Disc, J of Neuroimaging, Vol 8, 2, 1998.

Ramos, G, Martin, W, Effects of vertebral axial decompression on intradiscal pressure, J Neurosurg 81:350-353, 1994.

Shealy, C, LeRoy, PL, Pain Management A Practical Guide For Clinicians, Ch 20, 5th Ed, St. Lucie Press, 239-257.