03/05/2022
So often we have patients who come to us with a story just like this one:
"I had three shots in my back for my disc problem. The first shot lasted for about a month. The second shot lasted for about a week. And, the third shot didn't help at all. I don't want to keep having to get shots all of the time, especially now that they're not even working anymore."
Living with regular epidural shots to temporarily try and manage pain isn't really living at all. There is a better way to deal with back pain.
Epidural or pain injections are often used to try and decrease inflammation around injured tissue in the hopes of speeding up the body's ability to heal that area. While shots can often be temporarily effective, they typically do not fix the actual problem. Worst of all, there are some pretty hefty side effects, like:
Osteoporosis with up to 8% loss of bone in four months
Low doses for one year can cause cataract
Elevating blood sugar levels
Suppressing ability to fight infection
Cortisone injections decrease the pain of arthritis in the joint, but they actually speed up the breaking down and permanent destruction of the joints.
So, while they can temporarily reduce the pain when the shots eventually wear off (and they always do), the pain will be waiting. Doctors should be reluctant to give cortisone injections repeatedly.
Listen to what one medical doctor said about epidural injections: "Corticosteroids are the most abused and dangerous class of drugs." ~ Dr. Jeffrey Levy
While shots might relieve pain temporarily, they fail to do the most important thing—they fail to heal. The path to healing requires a more comprehensive approach. This is why we created the Five-Step Spinal Decompression Program. Covering up pain is never going to equal genuine relief. That is only going to happen when we get to the root of the problem and genuinely correct what is causing the pain in the first place.
The five steps include:
Spinal Decompression: Spinal decompression can decompress and reduce disc herniation and bulges and can help to re-hydrate and repair degenerated discs.
Cold Laser: Cold laser brings circulation to the area by supplying it with oxygen and nutrients to speed up the healing time and reduce pain.
Nutritional Supplementation: Nutritional supplements are provided to ensure that the discs and tissues have all the necessary vitamins and minerals to ensure the maximum amount of repair and healing.
Massage Therapy: Massage therapy relaxes muscle spasms and decreases stress and tension to decrease pain and improve patients' overall mood.
Core Muscle Strengthening: Specialized rehab equipment strengthens the spine and surrounding muscles to provide long-lasting relief. This is why 80% of our patients get relief from their pain even when everything else has failed.
Our program can bring FREEDOM from Back and Neck Pain with no drugs, no shots, and no surgery. This is why people constantly refer their friends and relatives to us.
Take a look at what the research tells us about the approach's effectiveness.
Research highlights
The study showed a 71% success rate with spinal decompression alone.
When adding physical therapy, strengthening exercises, and nutritional supplements, the success rate was even higher.
ABSTRACT: Outcomes of Decompression Therapy for the patient with a diagnosis of a herniated disc, degenerated disc, or facet syndrome:
778 cases — Overall the treatment was successful 71% of the time
The average time between the initial onset of symptoms and the beginning of treatment was 40 months
No rehab was performed; only decompression
The pain was rated on a scale from zero to five with severe pain being a five
Average was 4.2, while success was considered 0-1
73% for a single disc herniation
68% for facet syndrome
68% for failed back surgery
Outcome Study: Vertebral Axial Decompression Therapy for Pain Associated with Herniated Discs, Degenerated Discs, or Facet Syndrome. Gose, et al; Journal of Neurological Research April 1998
So, what does this all mean?
If the endless pain and shots are decreasing in their ability to cover the pain, isn't it time for a change? Stop covering the pain and discover spinal decompression therapy and how our five-step approach can help truly regain your health and freedom from pain.