Dr. Boydston's Back Pain & Sciatica Blog

How Does DRX9000 Spinal Decompression Therapy Work?

Dr. Robert Boydston, a Chiropractor in Fresno...utilizing the DRX9000 Spinal Decompression System, Explains:

At my Fresno Spinal Decompression Center, we treat lumbar disc problems everyday. We use the DRX9000 Spinal Decompression Machine to naturally repair herniated, bulging, and degenerated discs.

How does it work you ask.

The DRX9000 gently pulls apart the vertebrae that surround an injured disc. As it gently pulls the lumbar vertebrae the intradiscal pressure (the pressure inside the disc) is dropped. As the pressure inside the disc becomes negative...a vacuum effect is created...promoting diffusion of water, oxygen, and nutrients into the spinal disc. As it unloads it pushes acid waste products out of the disc.

For a herniated or bulging disc...this decompressive force pulls the disc material back inside...moving it away from pain sensitive nerve fibers and spinal cord tissue. The diffusion of oxygen, nutrients, and water into the disc promotes healing of the disc through fibrogenesis...effectively repairing the disc...and getting right to the root of the problem.

Degenerative Disc Disease sufferer's do not always have bulging or herniated discs. Degenerative disc disease suffers have buildup of acid waste products within the disc...acid actively eats the disc tissue away. The diffusion of water, oxygen, and nutrients in this case...pushes the acid out...and re-hydrates and adds height to the disc. A perfect recipe for Non-Surgically healing a lumbar degenerative disc.

Here is a link to a video that demonstrates How The DRX9000 Spinal Decompression Machine Works.

The amazing thing about the DRX9000 Spinal Decompression Machine is...just a few years ago...doctors said that degenerative discs and herniated discs could not be repaired without surgery. Now Fresno and Clovis residents have the most advanced disc technology...right in their own backyard.

Do you suffer with chronic back pain, sciatica, or a herniated disc...and would like to see if the DRX9000 and the ATM2 Back Pain Machine can help you? Call the Boydston Institute...in Clovis, CA...just 2 blocks east of Fresno...at 559-297-9218. Ask for a Spinal Decompression Consultation with Dr. Robert Boydston. 

What Causes Degenerative Disc Disease?

Dr. Robert Boydston, a Chiropractor in Fresno...utilizing the DRX9000 Spinal Decompression System, Explains:

Your lumbar spinal discs...are cartilage structures...that act as cushions for your spine. Cartilage is a tough, durable tissue...in large part because it does not have a direct blood supply. Since the discs don't have blood vessels that go directly into them...they have to use a different process to stay hydrated and healthy.

This process is called imbibition...the pumping action in the discs and tissues. With every movement of your spine...you move fluid, oxygen, nutrients, and wastes, in and out of the discs. It is this gentle pumping action that brings the good nutrients in and takes the toxic waste products out.

When there is an injury to the disc...the disc's function is damaged. When the disc gets damaged it begins to lack the ability to pump.

Here is where the story gets good. Let’s use a short analogy...think of your lumbar discs like a clear, beautiful pond.

When you have a healthy pond...there is a stream coming in and a stream going out that circulates the water.

This circulation brings the good stuff in (nutrients) and takes the toxic waste out. Creating a healthy environment. You can picture it now: the fish, lily pads, frogs, and other LIFE in the pond. This means the water is more alkaline and livable.

Let’s look at it another way.

If this pond of yours...and it has it's incoming stream dry up or slow down to a trickle (this simulates an injury)...what happens to the pond water and the life in it?

The pond begins to dry up...that green slimy stuff is all over...and it starts to stink. The water gets murky, stagnant...and all the life in the pond begins to die.

This is exactly what happens to your discs. After an injury, your discs lose the ability to pump (circulate fluids). That allows them to slowly dry out, crack & tear.

The pond water becomes more acidic too, just like your discs. It is this acidity that leads to Degenerative Disc Disease or DDD as it is often referred to.

How does acidity lead to degenerative disc disease?

Well, acid, by nature, eats things. Basically all of the acid from the stagnant disc (the toxic waste that couldn’t be pumped out is held inside the disc), slowly, hour by hour, day by day, week by week, and month by month is slowly eating away your discs.

It causes inflammation as it DESTROYS and damages the tissues.

When the tissues in your back are so acidic, you can do all the exercises in the world and you won't...you can't fix the problem. As your discs dry up more pressure is created. This increased pressure accelerates the problems and the damage in your back. It's a viscious cycle.

I have patients who bring in multiple sets of x-rays. As we sit down together and review the x-rays we see a common pattern...the degeneration of the discs has progressed with each consecutive year. We then have to ask..."What is causing this problem to progress?"  Then I sit down and explain what I just explained to you.  

Often times the patient feels that they have been doing the right things. They may be exercising and even recieving regular chiropractic spinal manipulation.

The problem is...we need a way to pump the acid out of the disc, and bring oxygen, fluid, and nutrients into the disc...or the disc is going to continue to degenerate.

In my Fresno Spinal Decompression Center, we use the DRX9000 Lumbar Disc Repair System. The DRX9000 uses a very precise, computerized, decompressive force...that gently separates the lumbar vertebrae. The decompressive force creates a negative pressure inside the disc, a vaccum-like effect, that pulls nutrients into the disc, and pushes acid out. Through this process we can restore normal motion and rehydrate the disc. Not only halting the degenerative process...but actually reversing the problem.

Before the invention of DRX9000 Spinal Decompression just a few years ago...there was no way to non-surgically repair degenerative discs. Now with advanced technology we can not only stop the degenerative disc disease process...we can reverse it.

Do you suffer with degenerative disc pain, and would like to see if the DRX9000 and the ATM2 Back Pain Machine can help you? Call the Boydston Institute...in Clovis, CA...just 2 blocks east of Fresno...at 559-297-9218. Ask for a Spinal Decompression Consultation with Dr. Robert Boydston.

What Does Spinal Decompression with the DRX9000 Cost?

Dr. Robert Boydston, a Chiropractor in Fresno...utilizing the DRX9000 Spinal Decompression System, Elaborates:

I get calls every day at my Fresno Spinal Decompression Center, about the cost of DRX9000 Spinal Decompression Therapy. The number one question we receive by phone or email is..."Does insurance cover the DRX9000?"

I can easily answer that question...insurance...Medicare and private PPO plans alike...currently consider Spinal Decompression experimental. There is no codes for the DRX9000...therefore they do not pay for it.

The next question we receive is..."how much does treatment on the DRX9000 cost?" There is no way we can tell a person the cost of treatment...before we have examined them...before we review MRI and X-Ray studies. Not everyone is a candidate at our clinic...you have to be accepted as a patient first...and we cannot tell you this over the phone.

No two patients are alike. Some patients have multiple disc herniation's...others have one focal herniation. Some patients are older...other patients are young. Some patients require Boydston Brain Based Rehabilitation, to help central nervous problems in spinal muscle control...and still others require ATM2 Spinal Rehabilitation...in addition to DRX9000 Spinal Decompression.

We are Fresno's leader in Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression because we take such a comprehensive...individual approach. We have a lot of experience with the DRX9000 Spinal Decompression System...and we have perfected our treatment protocols over the years...through lots of experience.

So we don't know what exactly it is going to take to fix your sciatica, disc herniations, or chronic back pain...until we completely evaluate you...and we can't do that over the phone. Rest assured we are going to design a complete program that is going to give you the best chance to fix your back condition.

Spinal Decompression is a great tool....when performed by an experienced doctor...and in conjunction with proper adjunctive therapies...like Brain Based Rehabilitation...and the ATM2 Spinal Rehabilitation.

Would like to see if the DRX9000 and the ATM2 Back Pain Machine can help you? Call the Boydston Institute...in Clovis, CA...just 2 blocks east of Fresno...at 559-297-9218. Ask for a Spinal Decompression Consultation with Dr. Robert Boydston. 

DRX9000 Spinal Decompression vs. Inversion Table Therapy

Dr. Robert Boydston, a Chiropractor in Fresno...utilizing the DRX9000 Spinal Decompression System, Elaborates:

I consult with sciatica, back pain, herniated disc, and spinal stenosis patients every day in my Fresno Clinic. A common question I am asked is..."what is the difference between spinal decompression with the DRX9000 Lumbar Spinal Decompression System versus the inversion table I can buy for $200 online?"

There are a lot of differences. I hope to shed some light on the differences between the DRX9000 Spinal Decompression System vs. Inversion Table Therapy...so you can make your own choice about your back treatment needs.

First let's talk about Spinal Decompression and what unique attributes make it effective in the treatment of back pain, degenerative discs, herniated discs, and sciatica.

The truly significant feature of spinal decompression is it's ability to create a negative pressure inside the lumbar discs. The negative pressure, which acts like a vacuum, draws water, oxygen, and nutrients into the disc....re-hydrating it...and pulling bulging disc material away from the spinal cord and nerve roots.

The problem is...manufacturers of both the DRX9000 Spinal Decompression System and inversion tables...claim to achieve this same goal. Why does an inversion table come with a $200 price tag while a DRX9000 comes with a $100,000 price tag?

The obstacle that must be overcome...In order to distract the vertebrae enough to create a negative pressure inside the disc...is the muscles. The spinal muscles stabilize, move, and protect the lumbar spinal discs and joints. If an outside force is applied to the spine...the protective mechanism in the spine, called a proprioceptive response...causes the spinal muscles to contract. This muscle contraction prevents separation of the lumbar vertebrae...which means a negative pressure is not achieved...therefore no decompression is achieved.

Medical engineers at Axiom Worldwide, the manufacturer of the DRX9000, overcame the natural muscle contraction problem when they designed the DRX9000. They were able to accomplish this in a couple ways.

First, when they designed the DRX9000, they programmed it to pull on a logarithm. For those that are not math teachers, a logarithmic pull means that the machine approaches its maximum pull...very slowly...fooling the spinal muscles into not resisting the pull.

Second, the decompression force is cycled. It cycles through its maximum and minimum force throughout the treatment. It loads and unloads the discs. The muscles can never adapt to the decompressive force...because the force is constantly changing.

Third, the DRX9000 has a very sophisticated computer that monitor's the decompressive force. It actually monitor's the force 20 times per second. If it senses any resistance by the spinal muscles...it immediately makes an adjustment...by decreasing the force of the pull. As soon as it detects the muscles are relaxed it begins pulling again. This means the machine is never fighting the muscles. This results in relaxed muscles...separation of the vertebrae...and a healing decompressive force applied to the spinal discs.

Fourth, the DRX9000 has the ability to adjust the angle of pull to target a specific lumbar disc level. If there is a bulging disc between L4 and L5 then we can set the angle of distraction to target that disc.

In summary the combination of a logarithmic decompressive pull, the cycling of the force, computer aided feedback, and the ability to treat specific disc levels is what separates the DRX9000 Spinal Decompression System, from other devices, like inversion therapy, that claim to do the same thing.

Inversion tables cannot create the type of force necessary to create a negative pressure inside the lumbar discs. Inversion tables lack the mechanisms needed to overcome the natural muscle contraction response of the lumbar spinal muscles. It may create a stretch on the muscles...but it's not able to repair a bulging, herniated, or degenerated disc.

Does this mean that inversion tables have no value? Of course I am not saying that. I AM saying that it is not the same as spinal decompression. Inversion tables definitely have their place, as many people who have used them with success will tell you.

If you have a bulging disc, herniated disc, or sciatica, then it is important to consult a doctor who specializes in the non-surgical treatment of lumbar disc problems. If disc problems are not properly addressed, they can lead to future physical limitation, pain, and possible surgery. It is important to receive proper treatment...before you are staring surgery in the eye.

Ultimately, it is up to each person to decide what is right for them. Your health is the most important thing you have. Most people don't realize this until they lose it. Don't let a lumbar disc problem turn into a problem that limits your physical abilities because you want to save a few dollars on proper treatment. Your health and well being are not worth risking.

Do you suffer with chronic back pain or a herniated disc, and would like to see if the DRX9000 and the ATM2 Back Pain Machine can help you? Call the Boydston Institute...in Clovis, CA...just 2 blocks east of Fresno...at 559-297-9218. Ask for a Spinal Decompression Consultation with Dr. Robert Boydston. 

When Should You See A Doctor For Sciatica?

Dr. Robert Boydston, a Chiropractor in Fresno...elaborates:

Sciatica is severe and debilitating for some...for others it is a minor irritant. Some experience sciatica on and off for years, others have sciatica pain with them constantly. When is the problem serious enough to seek the help of a doctor trained in diagnosing and treating sciatica?

I see sciatica patients everyday at my Fresno Spinal Decompression Center. Some of the patients I treat in my clinic wait until the pain is so bad that they can't hardly walk without a cane or a walker. These patients are often faced with a serious decision...risky surgery or Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression. Some sciatica suffererers wait too long and then surgery is truly the only option.

Other patients I treat are not surgical candidates...but their sciatica keeps them from doing things they love...like lifting children, performing work duties, or working out at the gym. They may experience frequent pain...that can be severe at times...but the pain is not considered severe enough to warrant surgery. These patients suffer the most...because they are not usually given any effective Non-Surgical treatment options.

A common sciatica myth is that sciatica will usually go away by itself...just give it a month. Sometimes this is true and other times it is not. If the symptoms DO go away in a month...that doesn't mean the problem is gone.

Sciatica is usually caused by a disc bulge, disc herniation, or underlying degenerative disc disease in the lumbar spine. The sciatica symptoms may come and go...but the underlying spinal disc problem does not...it will continue to progress if not addressed.

If you develop sciatica....even for a short period of time...it is good evidence you have an underlying disc herniation or disc bulge. This is reason enough to call a doctor who specializes in the Non-Surgical Treatment of Sciatica from disc bulges and disc hernations. An early intervention could prevent a surgery down the road...and keep you from getting to the point where you need a cane or a walker.

I use the DRX9000 Lumbar Spinal Decompression System to treat sciatica and lumbar spinal disc problems. It is an FDA cleared medical device that is designed for non-surgical disc repair. Prior to the DRX9000 being made available...just a few years ago...it was thought that lumbar disc problems could not be repaired without surgery. The DRX9000 Spinal Decompression System changed everything.

The DRX9000 very precisely separtes the lumbar vertebrae...creating a negative pressure inside of the disc. The negative pressure creates a vaccum that pulls bulging disc material back inside the disc. It is a phenomenal piece of medical equipment. Plus it does all this without side effects...and without pain. The process is so comfortable patients will take a nap occasionally during their treatment.

So my advice to sciatica sufferers is...if you develop sciatica...even if it is not to the point of creating major limitations in physical ability...get evaluated for treatment on the DRX9000. Getting to the root of the problem early, before you become a surgical case, will save you pain, time, and help you avoid future limitations.

It breaks my heart to see people in pain and physically limited because of Sciatica. When a nagging sciatica problem affects a person's ability to work, play with children or grandchildren, or be physically active...life is not fun.

Do you suffer with Sciatica and would like to see if the DRX9000 and the ATM2 Back Pain Machine can help you? Call the Boydston Institute...in Clovis, CA...just 2 blocks east of Fresno...at 559-297-9218. Ask for a Spinal Decompression Consultation with Dr. Robert Boydston.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options For Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Dr. Robert Boydston, a Fresno Chiropractor...elaborates:

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a compression of the spinal nerve roots and spinal cord in the lower back. Symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis include: sciatic leg pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the legs. Symptoms are usually relieved by flexing forward, which opens the spinal canal. Symptoms typically develop gradually over time, usually not till after age 50.

What causes spinal stenosis in the first place?

The narrowing of the spinal canal in spinal stenosis is usually caused by, arthritic changes in the lumbar joints and ligaments, and disc disease.

Immediately behind the spinal cord is your posterior spinal joints and your ligamentum flavum, a large ligament that runs from vertebrae to vertebrae inside the spinal canal (It is the yellow ligament shown in the picture). As we age, many people develop arthritis changes that enlarge the ligaments and joints, leaving less room for the spinal cord and nerve roots.

Most spinal stenosis patients also have degenerated and bulging lumbar discs. These small disc bulges may be clinically insignificant in a younger patient, but combined with bony changes in the lumbar joints, it contributes to the narrowing of the spinal canal, creating numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain.

For lumbar spinal stenosis patients that have a significant contribution from bulging discs, spinal decompression with the DRX9000 Lumbar Spinal Decompression System, may be the perfect non-surgical solution to fix the lumbar disc problem.

The DRX9000 gently distracts the lumbar discs, creating a negative disc pressure, allowing the disc to infuse with fluid and oxygen, and pulling bulging disc material back into the center of the disc. A reduction in disc bulges and an increase in disc height can free enough space in the spinal canal to give relief of spinal stenosis symptoms.

I treat Spinal Stenosis patients with disc problems everyday in my Fresno Spinal Decompression Center. Most of the time patients are told they have spinal stenosis, but that haven't had someone sit down and review their MRI with them. Often surgery is the only option given to spinal stenosis patients, leaving them without a non-invasive solution.

After a consultation, exam, and review of previous MRI's, we find that Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression with the DRX9000 is a great option for spinal stenosis patients. 

If you suffer with numbness, tingling, and pain due to lumbar spinal stenosis, then you may have a non-surgical option. If you  would like to find out if you are a candidate for the DRX9000 at The Boydston Institute in Clovis, just 2 blocks East of Fresno...simply call 559-297-9218. Ask for a Spinal Decompresssion Consultation with Dr. Robert Boydston. If you have question Contact Us.  

Is Holiday Stress Increasing Your Back Pain?

Dr. Robert Boydston, a Chiropractor in Fresno...Explains:

The holidays are a wonderful time. Families get together. People take time to reach out to neighbors and friends. It is a time I thoroughly look forward to each year.

For many the holidays can also be very stressful. Shopping, crowded stores, cleaning, cooking, and travel creates a lot of undue stress.

I had a patient tell me today, "you know I notice my back hurts a lot more when I get stressed." The reason for the increase in pain is not always apparent. How does stress affect the discs, muscles, and joints in the back? How is stress and back pain connected.

Stress creates a cascading release of chemicals in the body. Cortisol levels increase, leading to increased insulin, which leads to more cortisol, which leads to more insulin...it is a viscious cycle.  Cortisol is toxic to the brain...it causes a decreased frequency of firing of the cerebellum.

The cerebellum is the posterior part of your brain. It is responsible for controlling the tiny muscles that attach to the vertebrae and move the spinal joints. When the cerebellum decreases its firing, the msucles of the back spasm and lock up the spinal joints...increasing your back pain.

To successfully eliminate back pain...some patients require that we strengthen and rehabilitate the cerebellum with Boydston Brain Based Rehabilitation. With other patients Spinal Decompression with the DRX9000 is all that is needed. Usually a combination of spinal decompression, ATM2 spinal rehabilitation, and Brain Based Rehabilitation, are needed to eliminate chronic back pain.

We are Fresno's leader in non-surgical back pain treatment because we take a comprehensive approach. We understand that the pain can originate in the spinal joints, discs, or muscles. With our DRX9000 Lumbar Spinal Decompression System, ATM2 Back Pain Machine, and Boydston Brain Based Rehabilitation, back pain doesn't stand a chance.

During this holiday season, take a step back from the hussle and bussle of shopping and cooking, take a few deep breaths, and try to remember what the holidays are all about. Take time to help out a friend, family member, or neighbor.

If your back pain is keeping you from enjoying the season then it is a perfect time to take the next step and see if you are a candidate for our non-surgical back pain treatment program.

Would like to see if the DRX9000 and the ATM2 Back Pain Machine can help you? Call the Boydston Institute...in Clovis, CA...just 2 blocks east of Fresno...at 559-297-9218. Ask for a Spinal Decompression Consultation with Dr. Robert Boydston. If you have a question Contact Us.