I go four times a week to lay on a padded table and and get stretched. It’s not really “a table”. It’s the latest and greatest stretching technology available. It makes the medieval racks look like torture. This DRX 9000 “rack” stretches (or decompresses) the spine at specific discs — it’s not just generically stretching the back or the spine like traction or inversion tables do.
I have had 3 full weeks of the treatment and there are interesting sensations of pain that change throughout the week. The doctor says this is due to the re-hydration of the discs and the change in pressure and position of the discs and nerves. Do I have any pain relief yet? No, I don’t. However, the cure rate for people with back pain is over 85% and the treatment generally lasts 6 to 8 weeks. So I am going to be patient, especially since I am running out of options since I won’t do surgery or narcotics.
It it tough not being able to take any pain killers at all, but I am surviving. I am really not doing much else except work and rest, with as much horizontal rest as I can get. I also use a back brace with ice pack that takes 50% to 75% of the weight off the discs in the lower back. (I have heard this black, stretchy cumberbund also called a “disc distractor”.) I wear this support belt constantly, usually while sleeping too. I change the ice pack every 2 to 3 hours, but the cooling only lasts 30 to 45 minutes. It’s the only “pain reliever” I get to use.
The doctor also made me stop all forms of exercise including walking, but I can see why. I did a couple light CrossFit workouts and it hurt so bad the coach/owner made me take it easy. So I thought maybe some stretching would help so I went to hot yoga and put myself in a lot more pain. Now I credit my hot yoga practice of 18 months with giving me a great deal of flexibility and cleansing, but sometimes “working through the pain” is not the answer.
We have to remember that pain is not just God’s way of irritating us, but it indicates that something is wrong, and we have to pay attention. The pain I generated after CrossFit and Hot Yoga was my sign that I needed to get some medical attention. And that’s how I began decompression treatments.
Will I grow taller? It’s possible since the discs are being rehydrated. Maybe all this stretching explains my high-water pants, or maybe I just need some fashion help. No matter what the reason for my fashion crime, the priority is to address the pain first. I can join an episode of “What Not To Wear” as soon as I am out of this pain.
I will keep you posted on my progress. Feel free to ask questions, and thanks for listening!
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My mom has an inversion table, and I tried using it every day for a couple of weeks when I went to visit. The decompression of my spine felt euphoric (I suffer occasional pain from lower back scoliosis). I can imagine that this “rack” would do wonders for back pain. I look forward to the updates!
This is interesting! I have spinal problems and have lost almost 2 full inches becuz of it. I’m wondering if this would help, I’m sure it would feel great. Where does one go for this treatment? Is this available thru healthcare clinics?
Please look up spinal decompression (also search “DRX9000″). There are doctors in most places that do this now. http://www.empowereddoctor.com/doctor_index_963.html Jeremy Meadows is my doctor!
It is excellent to see people taking charge of their condition. Unfortunatly I see the flip side of this scenario daily in my office. People with back pain are often shuffled around the healthcare arena without ever getting a real answer to the pain they have been experiencing. I see people who have had severe pain for 6 months, 2 years 5 years that have not had proper testing preformed. There are excellent treeatments for back and neck pain available today but I have found that many people get held up by their own doctors inability or non interest in keeping up with the diagnosis and treatment of back pain. In one of my offices I only treat patients with compression related issues; disc herniations, disc bulges, stenosis, ruptured discs, sciatica and others. It is a clinic where we specialize in Spinal decompression and use teh DRX 9000. Everyone not even a patient with the above conditions is always a candidate for this type of treatment, although we are able to treat many successfully that may not have had success in the past.
The thing I tell people if they are not a candidate is they need to continue to search and be their own advocate because unfortunately many doctors, because of managed care, don’t have the time to take your case as personally as you may want. I aplaud sites like this that help teach others to take charge and share information for the benefit of others.
thanks Ray
Jeremy Meadows, D.C.
When my spine was crushed, I lost two inches in height and felt a pain that I can not relate in words. I refused drugs, as I believe pain keeps us from causing further harm to our physical beings. It took 4 and 1/2 years to be free from excruciating pain, but between a few dietary changes (already a lifelong vegetarian) and a daily dose of hanging from an inversion table, I am free of pain AND my spine is in near perfect health. My doctors are shocked and inspired. And on the yoga note: all the docs said if I had not been in such good health spine-wise from a daily yoga and walking regime, then I would most likely have been instantly paralyzed. Pays to be kind to your spine! Namaste.
Rather interesting. Has few times re-read for this purpose to remember. Thanks for interesting article. Waiting for trackback
Oh…how I would LOVE to have one of those. I already feel better just thinking about it.
I think we (with back issues) are all wondering the same thing. I have always had scoliosis and also have a shortage of 2 inches. So I could be a supermodel if my back were straight, lol.
On a serious point I went to a chiropractor for a year and my back was improved and I had gained a 1/2 inch. After 6 months of not going my back went right to it’s original state. so I would think you would have to make it a point to use this as a regular routine.
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I will be reading more about this gizmo.
Most people who go through this treatment then get regular monthly or every-other week sessions (“going to get hydrated”). I am not at that stage yet. I am still in the 2 times per week stage. I will cut back as soon as I look like a super model! (A guy can dream right? I just hope I don’t end up looking like Britney…)
I used this NASA machine a few years ago after being hit with a 800 pound “donkey cart” at a grocery store. I had 2 disc herniations, disc bulges, spinal stenosis, and sciatic. I had 20 treatments along with a healers hands, FrequenSEA, Red Alert, and vits. I was in so much pain I had been given oxycontin and Fentynal patches. I am into Scared healing hallucinogenic plant s and dislike lab meds. I ended up at the Opium den more often and refused to take the lab meds. Anyway, 2 1/2 weeks after the last treatment, i was in Mexico and Jamaica doing the canopy rope slide 250 feet in the air and hiking up Blue Mountian–NO PAIN other than a once in a while “twang” I kept up the daily stretch and yoga+ the supp. and vits. I am doing Parkour now, working out 4 days a week, soccer, horseback riding, snowboarding,etc. It SAVED ME.
Hello Ray,
I am thinking of getting treatments on my low back pain through spinal decompression table. Can you tell me how you are now that a year has passed? Did it work for you? Thank you. Monika
It worked really well. This week at Crossfit I deadlifted 225, and did back squats at 225. No pain in the lower back any more at all except muscle soreness. Definitely a life changer!