Did You Know?

Many patients have told me that their doctors still believe that their back pain was not very serious, that it had little effect on their quality of life, and generally should go away in about a month without any or little treatment at all. Some patients have even told me their doctors said they really had a psychological problem.

Most of the conventional wisdom about back pain is inaccurate. A 2005 article in the prestigious orthopedic journal “Spine” studied patients who suffered with lower back pain and/or sciatica. 99% of the patients were told that they would get either a moderate or great improvement in their quality of life after the surgery. But the study found that in reality 39% did not even have minimally important improvement.

One scientific study from 2004 showed that there was improvement in the short term with injections, but when the patients were checked two years later, over two thirds of these patients had undergone additional invasive procedures? So there was a 2/3 chance that you eventually end up with an invasive spinal surgery following injections.

There’s a term that is used a lot in orthopedic and medical circles – “Failed Back Surgery Syndrome.” The greatest risk factors for having a second back operation is having one in the first place. And the greatest risk factor for having a third operation is having two previous sessions under the knife.

But I have to give a note of caution here

There ARE cases where surgery will be your only and best option but these are called emergencies, such as when a disk ruptures and disc material compresses the nerves so badly in your lower back that you lose bowel or bladder function; or when there is numbness where you sit on your backside-this is called saddle anesthesia or numbness and it’s important to be aware of this type of emergency problem.

But 99% will never experience these symptoms but suffer in a way that is not quite an emergency but feels like an emergency because the pain just never goes away.

As a Disc Centers of America doctor, I want to take a moment to explain the back and leg pain world for those who have not experienced it. The purpose of these emails is to show you the research, the facts that demonstrate what a severe problem back pain is for many of those who suffer from it.

This letter is about facts – not a bunch of hot air. You’ve gotten too much of that already-from caring friends with whatever “worked for them” and maybe even some doctors and therapists who assume that they are always the answer, like that saying, “If your only tool is a hammer sometimes everything looks like a nail”.

I think Disc Centers of America will be a breath of fresh air and hopefully guide to you to a potentially better solution for your severe back or leg pain, one you may not have even considered or even heard of – a treatment your doctor has probably never discussed or even known about and one that is used in a small percentage of clinics in the United States.

Stay tuned for my next email which will go into more detail and if you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact us.

The goal at DCOA is to contain and control Degenerative Disc Disease. Results vary patient to patient based on age, lifestyle, genetics, etc. Spinal Decompression treatment is designed to bring relief so as not to necessitate ongoing therapy. However once the event of decompression is obtained a retention program or maintenance schedule is recommended.It is our recommendation that doctors/patients integrate an active and passive exercise component in addition to a home care protocol designed to teach the patient to strengthen their back.

Disc Centers of America, works with disc cases all over the world. Only DCOA doctors are certified to utilize TDC Therapy. DCOA doctors receive ongoing training, research and are acknowledged by the International Medical Advisory Board on Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and the International Disc Education Association.

The medical information on this page is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions.