Treating a patient with chronic low back pain can often be one of the most challenging situations for any practitioner. Low back pain (LBP) has become one of the most significant medical and socioeconomic problems.
In today’s world. The statistics on the magnitude of the problem are overwhelming and the number of chronic back cases continues to grow each day. In fact, low back pain that is related to work is the most common complaint presented to primary care physicians and workers compensation.
VAX-D is a non-invasive treatment for the management of patients with chronic back and leg pain from lumbar disc and facet joint pathology (disease). VAX-D is an effective and safe procedure without any of the risks associated with surgery, injections, or anesthesia. Time off work or in recovery is minimal, and resolution of symptoms may be long lasting.
In the majority of patients, acute back pain symptoms resolve on their own in one to two months. Those that fail to resolve are then routinely referred to orthopedists or neurosurgeons.
Back pain is frequently treated in an episodic manner, with a multitude of treatments such as drugs, heat and cold, bed-rest, chiropractic/ manipulation, physical therapy, exercises, acupuncture, TENS, epidural injections, prolotherapy and the various types of surgery.
“Surgical decompression” of intervertebral discs has been established for the management of low back pain and sciatic pain in selected cases. Surgery may disrupt the natural biomechanical functions essential to preserve pain-free spinal mobility. The majority of LBP patients are not ideal surgical candidates, and surgery in the poorly selected patient can lead to ‘failed back syndrome’. Before resorting to a surgical approach, it makes sense to try a conservative procedure.
VAX-D can relieve the pain associated with herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, posterior facet syndrome and radicular (nerve root/leg) pain. Now, primary care physicians can effectively manage acute and chronic low back problems conservatively and effectively in their own offices
If low back pain symptoms have not resolved within four weeks, VAX-D may be considered (in the absence of contraindications) for those patients with a diagnosis of discogenic pain; including those with radiculopathy.
VAX-D: Indications and Contraindications for Treatment
Treatable Conditions indications for VAX-D
- Low back pain, unilateral or bilateral
- Sciatica (leg and foot pain and numbness)
- Post-surgical patients with failed back syndrome
Non-Treatable Conditions Contraindications for VAX-D
Current plain x-rays and/or CT Scans are required to rule out contraindications.
- Spinal tumors
- Vertebral Fractures
- Spondylolisthesis
- Osteoporosis
- Severe medical conditions
- Significant shoulder injury
- Pregnancy
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Spinal Fusion with retained hardware
- Spinal infections
VAX-D Treatment – How Does It Work
VAX-D is a non-invasive treatment for patients with acute or chronic low back pain and radicular pain and symptoms (leg pain and numbness) from herniated or degenerated discs and posterior facet syndrome. Patients who have had back surgery and continue to have pain (Failed Back Syndrome) may also benefit from VAX-D.
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 ‘pelvic harness’ and then the treatments are administered on the VAX-D Table and console by a trained and certified 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. 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 “VAX-D: Indications and Contraindications for Treatment” in this website.
More than 3000 patients a day now receive VAX-D therapy in the USA, and studies on the efficacy from all of the independent sources (hospitals, private clinics, clinical studies) consistently report similar levels of success in the range of 70%. VAX-D has recently become available in Australia.
VAX-D is not a treatment modality of choice for all patients who have lower back pain. It is however, another treatment modality available to our practitioners, and when used appropriately in conjunction with other therapies and exercise, can be most beneficial to the patient’s discomfort.
At Spinal and Sports Care, our Chiropractors and Physiotherapists are highly trained to assess suitable conditions that may benefit from VAX-D, then plan and administer appropriate treatment and rehabilitation programs to effectively manage acute and chronic low back problems conservatively in their own offices.