Natural Health April 2007
Relief for Back Pain Sufferers
by Dr. Robert Janda, MA, DC
Every once in a while something comes along in the healing arts that upgrades an entire field of therapy. This 'something' has entered the field of spinal disc care, bringing realistic hope where there was little before. Spinal discs are the soft tissue pads between the spinal vertebrae that allow the spine to move and flex. They are subject to rupture, bulging and degeneration, something nearly all of us are subject to at some point in our lives. Even if you do not directly experience disc injury, aging can eventually affect you as the discs slowly dehydrate, loose height and your spine stiffens.
Until now individuals with various disc problems have been a neglected aspect of health care, with little technology to offer real help. The medical field has not developed meaningful treatment, except for last stage therapy, in the form of surgery. Even there the main option has been spinal fusion, which can cause a loss of flexibility and the almost inevitable development of disc degeneration above and below the fusion. Recent surgical developments for artificial discs to maintain flexibility are still too new to evaluate effectiveness.
The chiropractic and osteopathic fields offer a treatment called flexion traction, which is related to, but not nearly as effective as this new development. This therapy involves a table that flexes in the middle allowing the patient to be strapped in and tractioned as the table is flexed. Many disc problems have been healed with this technology, but the problem with traction is that the muscular system will contract during traction to 'protect' the spine, buffering much of the benefit of the traction. Secondly, in severe disc problems flexion traction is not feasible, as it is too painful due to muscular spasm.
The new wonder treatment is called spinal decompression. While it appears similar to traction, it is not. The main difference is that decompression is traction modulated by a computer. The computer monitors any attempt of spinal muscles to contract and releases the traction until the muscles relax. The decompression is then resumed. This occurs every seventeenth of a second, so fast that your brain and reflexes do not know it is happening. The result is that the patient is pulled apart like taffy. It is profoundly relaxing. Most patients feel like they are being sucked into a deep sleep. In fact, many suffering disc patients on this machine report this is the only time they are without pain and can sleep.
Treatment by spinal decompression is not just symptomatic. It actually pulls the disc apart, re-hydrates it, sucks the nuclear material back into the center of the disc, and stimulates the production of new disc fibers to make the changes permanent. Patients end up with a åyounger discπ, like it was 20 years ago. Nerve pains and spinal stiffness will go away.
In a study reported in the Orthopedic Technology Review, Nov/Dec 2003 by Thomas Gionas MD and Eric Groteke DC, 229 people with major symptoms associated with herniated and degenerated disc disease underwent 20 decompression treatments over a six-week period. In 86 percent of the patients the pain levels were reduced to either a rating of zero (no pain), or one (occasional pain). These patients reported complete resolution of pain, lumbar range of motion was normalized, and there was recovery of any sensory or motor loss. After 90 days only 2 percent had relapsed and of the patients with abnormal findings at the end of therapy, only 3 percent still exhibited those findings at the end of 90 days, showing they continued to improve following the decompression therapy.
There are a number of spinal decompression machine makers, and many that call themselves decompression that are really traction. For our office we chose the DRX 9000 C because it also decompresses the cervical spine, has superior craftsmanship, and a patient friendly design. The results weπve had exceeded our expectation and allow us to help patients who had previously been too seriously injured to receive chiropractic care and were surgical candidates. Tell your friends with serious back problems that help is here.
Learn more about this therapy by going to the Web sites www.DRXstopbackpain.com or www.sufferfree.com. Contact Dr. Janda at 949/574-9239 if you have any questions or wish to consider this therapy.
Your Personal Garden of Delight: Planting the Seed for Optimal Health
Now that April has arrived, as flowers bloom and the sun nourishes us with her warmth, we are given an opportunity to transform, restore and renew. It is now when our seeds of motivation and vigor begin to flourish, providing us with a revitalized mind, body and spirit. Spring is the perfect time to embark upon ≥spring cleaning≤ for ultimate health and wellness.
Just as nature is clearing out the impurities of winter, this is our time to aid the body in efficiently detoxifying our internal channels. A detoxification or cleansing program is designed to rid the body of harmful chemicals or poisons and to reduce natural waste products that have built up in the liver, skin and gut. These toxins often cause fatigue, aches and pains, digestive upset, emotional imbalance and less-than-optimal health.
Taking the steps to cleanse and heal your body from the inside out will result in unsurpassed vitality and well-being. Detoxification regimens generally start with the liver, the body's major detoxification organ. When the liver is working efficiently and effectively, other organs often follow suit, including the skin, large intestine, lungs, kidneys, and lymphatic system.
Cleansing and renewing each of these organs is best achieved through an integrative approach to detoxification, utilizing not only our body, but our mind and spirit as well. There is an abundance of expertise in the area of detoxification and renewal, that when used in conjunction, provide ultimate health and vibrancy. Use the following as a guide to aid with your springtime detoxification. Keep in mind that embarking on any detoxification plan is safest when done under the supervision of professionals in the field of health and wellness.
Nutrition : A holistic nutritionist will jumpstart your ≥spring cleaning≤ with an elimination diet, free of white sugar, white flour, chocolate, sodas, milk products, wheat, and caffeine. By incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into your new diet, you will activate the enzymes in the liver that promote your natural detoxification process.
Yoga : Yoga encourages the proper circulation of blood and lymph fluid, enhances digestion, reduces nervous tension, strengthens the endocrine system, lubricates the joints, reduces excess fat and improves concentration.
Manual Lymph Drainage : This gentle massage therapy removes metabolic wastes, excess water, toxins and bacteria from the tissue. MLD also relaxes the sympathetic nervous system, helping to relieve stress.
Acupuncture : This ancient Chinese system of healing increases circulation, boosts your metabolism and assists with digestive imbalances that could be contributing to low energy, bloating and weight gain.
Homeopathy : An effective and scientific system of healing which assists the natural tendency of the body to heal itself, homeopathic medicine will get to the root cause of any imbalances in the body and stimulate the body to detoxify itself naturally.
Naturopathic Medicine : This method restores balance by removing any obstacles keeping your body from healing itself. Naturopathy increases the healing response within so that the body becomes healthier and more vital.
Colon Hydrotherapy : A safe and effective method of flushing out toxic wastes, it involves the infusion of filtered water into the colon (large intestine) through the rectum. A colon hydrotherapy session may be considered a rejuvenation treatment for your body as it aids in efficient removal of waste material.
Supportive Counseling : This will provide you with the space needed to release and cleanse yourself of past hurts, negative emotions and ineffective thought patterns. By ridding yourself of this emotional waste, you will have the ability to create healthy, new ways of dealing with life's challenges.
Seize the beauty of spring for yourself by promoting your health, strengthening your body and revitalizing its ability to cleanse and heal itself. Regain your vitality by taking advantage of an integrative Detoxification and Renewal program offered at Medical Wellness Kliniek:Blossom Into Spring with the New You. This 4-week series begins later this month and will guide you through a detoxification program to obtain total health and wellness. A free informational session will be offered on Wednesday, April 4 at 6:30 pm. For information call 858/457-0191 or visit www.pamperyou.com.