People who suffer from severe, chronic pain know how it can utterly disrupt one’s life. Pain can make it hard to enjoy even the simplest daily activities, and make it a challenge to carry out an exercise routine and other healthy activities. Chronic pain is one of the most debilitating health conditions. Back pain is a very complicated personal experience.

The severity of pain from lower back injuries may be unrelated to the extent of the physical damage present. Many back pain sufferers live a life of compromise in their activities. Many patients find that as they grow older, episodes of low back pain become more frequent, their pain worsens in intensity and it takes longer for them to recover.

There are many different terms to describe lumbar disc pathology. The terms include: annular tears, bulging disc, disc protrusion, slipped disc, herniated disc, ruptured or extruded discs, sequestered disc, disc degeneration (or degenerative disc disease), pinched nerve, sciatica etc.

The lumbar discs are the cushions between the lumbar vertebrae. They are refer-enced as L1-L2, L2-L3, L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1. Damage can occur when the disc is subjected to increased disc pressures (load) accompanied by rotation and sheer forces. Degenerative changes occur within the discs as part of the natural aging process. It is estimated that over 90% of compressive disc injuries (herniations etc) occur at L4-L5 and L5-S1.

VAX-D Therapy combines a number of patented treatment principles. The treatment is designed to relieve pressure on structures that may be causing back pain generally associated with bulging or herniated discs and degenerative disc disease. VAX-D is safe and effective without any of the risks associated with surgery, injections or anesthesia.

Patients receive an average of 20-25 treatments, once daily, a minimum of five days per week. The number of sessions needed varies depending upon the severity of the condition and the patient’s response to the treatment.

Patients with pathology at multiple levels may require more sessions. Once in remission, it is recommended that patients continue to receive one session per week for four weeks. For patients that must shorten their treatment schedule, treatments may be administered twice daily. These should be scheduled as far apart in the day as possible. Patients are fitted with a patented ‘pelvic harness’ and then the treatments are administered on the VAX-D Table and console by a trained technician. Each session is approximately 45 minutes in duration. Patients find VAX-D to be comfortable and relaxing. Many experience a relief of their pain and symptoms during the VAX-D sessions, and then a gradual reduction of symptoms as treatment progresses.

All patients are treated fully clothed. Two-piece clothing that separates at the waist, and that can be loosened at the wrists and neck is most comfortable. Patients should refrain from activities that significantly increase intradiscal pressure during the course of treatment (lifting, bending, certain exercises etc).

In addition, as part of the overall therapeutic protocol, patients with an inflammatory component to their condition may require the concomitant use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) or other medications.

Patients with certain conditions such as tumors, bone fractures, or osteoporosis are not candidates for this treatment. For further information on this, please see the section on ‘Indications and Contraindications for Treatment’ in this website.

You can also find links to some of the individual VAX-D center websites under ‘VAX-D Links’. Contact one of the treatment centers listed under ‘VAX-D Centers’ for more information about the treatment and for information regarding your particular insurance coverage.

One call can change your life.

• Back Pain
• VAX-D stands for Vertebral Axial Decompression
• Issues With Regard To Surgery
• How can VAX-D help?
• VAX-D therapy is not traction

Nationally, VAX-D is successful in approximately 75% of all cases. Our success rate is over 92%.

How?

• Our protocol is physician directed.
• Our protocol engages other modalities (as needed on a case-by-case basis).
• We have over eight years experience.
• We screen out and decline candidates who’s medical records and evaluation indicate we are unlikely to be able to help them.

Back Pain

• 85% of Americans will suffer lower back pain at some point in their lives
• For people under age 45, back pain is the major cause of disability and lost time from work
• Back pain is the second most common ailment seen by general practitioners each year
• Costs Americans $80 BILLION annually

VAX-D is the non-surgical alternative developed for the treatment of serious low back pain

VAX-D stands for Vertebral Axial Decompression

• Relieves pressure on vital structures of the spine, including discs and spinal nerves
• Does not just treat symptoms
• Alleviates the underlying problems that cause low back pain
• Non-Surgical
• Patented
• FDA Approved
• Over 75% effective
• Endorsed by Assistant Surgeon General of U.S., Dr. Robert Channey

The spine is made up of a series of bones called vertebrae Each vertebrae is cushioned by a soft, shock-absorbing disc The lumbar spine – or lower back area – is the most troublesome of the entire spine because it receives the most stress and strain More spinal problems occur in the lumbar region than anywhere else
This is a picture of the spine from “above” – looking down the spinal column from the top of the body. The soft, shock-absorbing disc between the vertebrae is the oval shown in blue and red. The blue portion is the outer ligamentous tissue which is tough and strong. The red portion is the center jelly like tissue which allows the disc to be compressed. Together they allow the vertebra to move back and forth while protecting the open spaces in the spine through which the nerves run out to the entire body.
As we age, the outer blue portion of the disc begins to get thinner and “dry out” making it more prone to injury. Additionally, the inner jelly like substance is composed of some 80% water and begins to harden and become irritated. Even in young adults, lifting and twisting in just the wrong way can tear or rupture the outer fibrous wall of the disc. When the outer wall of the disc is injured, the jelly like substance in the middle leaks out. This is called a herniation. Sometimes this is incorrectly referred to as a “slipped disc.” Since the disc is attached to the vertebrae it cannot physically slip out of place.

This is what the herniation looks like from the side.

As the fluid in the disc’s nucleus leaks out it puts pressure on the nerve. This pressure is what causes the pain in your back – or, in the case of sciatica, the pain or numbness that runs down your leg.

Additionally, the chemical composition of this fluid is an irritant to the nerve.

Issues With Regard To Surgery When physical therapy and other treatments fail many doctors suggest surgery because they do not realize there is an alternative. All surgeries involve risk. In addition to hospitalization and recovery time, there is the: Risk of general anesthesia Risk of infection Risk of scarring and associated complications Risk of general loss of mobility Risk of failed surgery (or only partially successful)

When surgery IS successful it often only offers temporary relief. When a disc is surgically altered it can put pressure on both the disc above it and the disc below it. This can lead to future back problems and additional surgeries.

How can VAX-D help? Requires 20 to 30 non-invasive treatments Each treatment is approximately 45 minutes long All the patient has to do is lie comfortably on the table, fitted with an adjustable nylon harness while holding onto handgrips
The table slowly divides under computer controlled, carefully monitored conditions. This gradually decompresses the spine. As you lie on the table the pressure within your discs is measured at 75mmHg – that’s 75 millimeters of mercury positive. VAX-D therapy reduces intradiscal pressure to between minus 150 and minus 200mmHg – or up to 200 millimeters of mercury negative.

This reduction in pressure creates a vacuum like state within the disc that helps retract the leaking nucleus.

This vacuum like state also pulls in fluids from the surrounding tissues and re-hydrates the disc. Additionally, this process speeds up the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the disc so that it gets what it needs to heal itself.

VAX-D therapy is not traction.

The VAX-D table is an FDA approved Class II medical device. Traction can cause the muscles in the back to contract which actually puts more pressure on the disc. Also, a traction device can only be calibrated to a particular setting at any one time.

The VAX-D table and its computer work with each individual patient, adjusting back tension which in turn adjusts intradiscal pressure moment by moment. The computer adjusts the tension in imperceptibly small amounts so that the muscles in the lower back do not spasm or contract during treatment which allows decompression to take place.

A herniated or ruptured disc will not show up on an x-ray.

These are MRIs taken before and after VAX-D therapy.

BEFORE	AFTER

Notice how the leaking herniation has retracted back into the disc, relieving pressure on the nerve.