In reading about the weight gain, I noticed I wasn't alone. I also have back pain. I have degenerative disc disease and buldging discs. 1 month ago I started a therapy program that uses the DRX 9000 spinal decompression machine. I had my doubts going in, but after 16 visits I'm off the pain meds. I was taking 1 and sometimes 2 Norco a day. I haven't felt this good in years. If anyone wants to check it out, this is the outfit I'm with: http://www.backinactionspinaldecompression.com/ or you can do a search on the DRX 9000. My insurance covers 75% and for those that have Medicare, they cover it also. The big question is, will it last? What this machine does is, it allows your discs to rebuild and lets the buldging discs go back where they belong, taking the pressure off the nerves and the pain is gone. After the rebuilding process, you can exercise to strengthen the lower back to keep it well. They can also help with neck problems. This therapy can also help post-op, but it might fix the problem without surgery. If you check out the testimonials, they sound too good to be true, but from my experience they are true. Check it out, Steve

I have a question about this DRX 9000, do medical doctors use this or just Chiropractors. Not that have anything agenst them, I have used them many times in the past. These days my medical is through the VA. They have most of the latest stuff, I hope they have this one.

Years ago going to my Chiropractor he had this table with straps to hold down your head hands and feet and when the macnhine turned on the straps started this gentle pull, there was also a wheel that rode up the middle arching your back while stretching it. I loved the machine and called it THE RACK. the PT that ran in would get a bit pissed at me because when he called me from the waiting room which was always full I would start saying 'NO NO MR BILL NOT THE RACK' I always knew I was about an inch taller after one of those sessions. I loved that machine.

River

I've had just the opposite results from a machine that was supposed to pull the spine back in place (traction?). Each time I went on it, (a total of 3 times) things got worse. The last session I didn't think I was going to walk out of there on my own.

This was a table that had one part that would slide freely. I would put on a harness for my upper and lower body and lay on this table and it would pull from both ends for a set amount of time. As the sessions went on the pulling power was increased. Needless to say I haven't gone back for any more of that treatment/torture.

P.S. I also went for a round of epidural spinal injections, the last of which was called a radical epidural. None of those have given me the needed relief either.

There are (at least) three types of back pain. 1) muscular, 2) disc problems due to alignment or bone degradation, 3) intrinsic disc problems.

Both 1 and 2 can be helped by all the main recommendations including chiropractors and even acupuncture.

However, I had a friend with #3. Basically there was a "bone spur" (think of a calcium growth) on the inside of the cavity where the disc is. This bone spur continually poked and inflamed the disc. After years of debilitating pain and no relief (since obviously no amount of realignment or muscle relaxant meds would help), a day surgery fixed the problem and complete cure with no recurrance!

Just pointing this out to help anyone who has not seen benefit from the common wisdom regarding back pain.

yep, #3 is what I am dealing with now, a calcium deposit which is laying on a nerve very painful and getting worse by the day. This stuff is no fun, when it hurts so bad you dont even want to move. Christina needs to scream louder and more often as this has gone on way to long.

One thing I have learned with going to doctors, when they ask from 1 to 10 you say 13 even if its a 7. Going to the VA for my medical needs its very true as there are so many vets with major problems. I started this process over a year ago and I am finally getting to see the orthopedic surgon some time in the future, no date yet.

River

Riverwind (imported) wrote: Sat May 13, 2006 7:07 am I have a question about this DRX 9000, do medical doctors use this or just Chiropractors. Not that have anything agenst them, I have used them many times in the past. These days my medical is through the VA. They have most of the latest stuff, I hope they have this one.

Years ago going to my Chiropractor he had this table with straps to hold down your head hands and feet and when the macnhine turned on the straps started this gentle pull, there was also a wheel that rode up the middle arching your back while stretching it. I loved the machine and called it THE RACK. the PT that ran in would get a bit pissed at me because when he called me from the waiting room which was always full I would start saying 'NO NO MR BILL NOT THE RACK' I always knew I was about an inch taller after one of those sessions. I loved that machine.

River

I don't know of any medical doctors that have these machines. Mostly it's Chiropractors or Physical therapists that have them. You should be able to find who has them with a google search.

Christina (imported) wrote: Sat May 13, 2006 8:47 am I've had just the opposite results from a machine that was supposed to pull the spine back in place (traction?). Each time I went on it, (a total of 3 times) things got worse. The last session I didn't think I was going to walk out of there on my own.

This was a table that had one part that would slide freely. I would put on a harness for my upper and lower body and lay on this table and it would pull from both ends for a set amount of time. As the sessions went on the pulling power was increased. Needless to say I haven't gone back for any more of that treatment/torture.

P.S. I also went for a round of epidural spinal injections, the last of which was called a radical epidural. None of those have given me the needed relief either.

Christina, did you have a MRI done prior to therapy. You may have something that will require surgery. I know a guy that is having the nerves that bother him lasered. That sounds kind of scary to me. Like Splitdik said, not all problems can be solved with therapy. You may have the same thing he had. I hope you find a doctor that can give you some relief. I know back pain is no fun.

Hairless (imported) wrote: Tue May 16, 2006 5:41 pm Christina, did you have a MRI done prior to therapy. You may have something that will require surgery. I know a guy that is having the nerves that bother him lasered. That sounds kind of scary to me. Like Splitdik said, not all problems can be solved with therapy. You may have the same thing he had. I hope you find a doctor that can give you some relief. I know back pain is no fun.

Yes, I had an MRI prior to therapy. Funny thing is, all during last year and for the first part of this year (until I saw the insurance doctor about a month ago) no one had mentioned I had a herniated disk. I was only told it was a buldging disk. The insurance doctor was the one who informed me of this news, Needless to say that left me with a less than a high opinion of the doctors who are treating me now. At least I have the backing of the pain managment doctor who feels surgery should be looked at as an option now, and he had done all he could for me.

yep, Christina and I know back pain, and I dont think that machine can or would help either one of us. I just hope we both get some relief soon.

River

Have you tried having a small child walk on it?

Anyone remember the TV show "The Jeffersons" where George had to regularly walk on Mr. Bentley's back?