Spinal Decompression – Orange County

Case Study: 12mm Herniated Disc with Extrusion with Pre- and Post-Spinal Decompression MRI Images

I have received quite a few requests for case studies showing before and after Spinal Decompression MRIs. This will be the first post of many such Spinal Decompression case studies. I would like to give a special thanks to Omega Imaging in Mission Viejo, CA. They have graciously offered to do post-Spinal Decompression MRIs on many of our patients that initially receive an MRI at their facility. This arrangement has made it possible for us to conduct these pre- and post-MRI case studies without needing a large clinical research budget! Thanks, Omega!

The top set of MRI images should be fairly self-explanatory – before Spinal Decompression she had a large herniated disc and after Spinal Decompression the disc is almost completely retracted. The bottom set of MRI images are views from the top-down. The large, dark oval near the top of the images is the spinal disc. The white circle is the spinal cord and the light gray lines leading up and away from the spinal cord are the nerve roots. You can see on the BEFORE MRI image that the nerve root on the left side (this is technically the RIGHT S1 nerve root – left and right are always flipped on axial spinal MRI views) is wide and uninterrupted. The nerve root on the right side (the LEFT S1 nerve root) is severely compressed. In the AFTER MRI image you can see that both nerve roots are “wide open” and no longer impinged upon.

My intention is for these case studies to also answer the following questions that I have received:

• “Is DRX9000 Spinal Decompression effective for treating a herniated lumbar disc?”
• “Can Spinal Decompression treat a disc extrusion?”
• “Are Spinal Decompression results only temporary or do they last a long time?”
• “Where’s the proof that Spinal Decompression works?”

Sharon W. from Las Flores, CA presented to Irvine Spine and Rehab for an evaluation to determine if she was a candidate for DRX9000 Spinal Decompression.

She reported the following symptoms that began with horseback riding nearly 6 months prior to her evaluation in our office:

1. Severe “Pinched Nerve” pain that radiated from her left low back to her left buttock, left posterior thigh and left lateral calf.
2. Moderate difficulty standing up straight and walking.
3. Moderate to severe pain driving.

Her MRI results were as follows (based on the radiologist report):

1. Herniated L5/S1 lumbar spinal disc.
2. Dimensions of the herniation (sometimes called a Herniated Nucleus Pulposus): 12mm x 9mm x 7mm.
3. The herniated disc was further compounded by a small disc extrusion.
4. The herniated disc significantly displaced the left S1 nerve root posterolaterally.
5. Slight edema surrounding the S1 nerve root at the site of the nerve compression.

Sharon W. received twenty-eight (28) DRX9000 Spinal Decompression treatments over an 8-week period of time. Sharon required slightly more than our average disc herniation patient (usually requiring approximately 24 Spinal Decompression treatments) due to the disc extrusion adding to the severity of her condition. When she completed her treatment she reported experiencing an 85% reduction in buttock pain and a 100% reduction in thigh and calf pain. During a phone follow-up with Sharon approximately 3-months after completing treatment she reported a 98% reduction in all symptoms. She also reported returning to horseback riding which was the event that initially triggered her severe symptoms. The follow-up MRI images were taken at the same facility and read by the same radiologist that performed the initial lumbar spine MRI.

The MRI results showed that 1-year after completing DRX9000 Spinal Decompression her initial Herniated Disc with Extrusion of 12mm x 9mm x 7mm was reduced to a 3mm Disc Bulge. This means that she achieved a 98% reduction in total extruded material volume! She was also completely asymptomatic and had returned to all activities that she performed prior to her injury. Sharon was very pleased with her treatment. Her testimonial can be read on our website at http://www.OCSpinalDecompression.com/testimonials.htm.