Anyone here suffer from Chronic Low Back Pain or Neck Pain? I have been struggling with back pain for the last 4 years. It's been a daily struggle! I've been VERY pro active in trying to get relief with twice a month massages, Anti inflammatory pills, Rehabilitation classes, Chiropractors very frequently, ice on the back, heat on the back and all sorts of contraptions in the car, office, and bedroom. The result was lots of money out of my pocket in exchange for minimal and temporary relief.
Golf has been very difficult for me. Before hitting the turn my back hurts and pain shoots down my sciatic nerve stopping behind the left knee. Sitting in the cart is the most uncomfortable part of it all. My L4 & L5 disc's are degenerative and I was told by many doctors that I would need surgery within the next 5 years. Most doctors have told me It I may need surgery 2 times within my life span on the L4/L5 area. I'm not talking about primary doctors, I have built a team of specialists to help me with this issue.
A friend of mine suggested i visit Dr. Dave Nguyen at the Non Surgical Spine Care Center in Orange County LA. I was very skeptical because I tried everything but surgery, spoke to the experts, participated in back pain forums and just didn't see any solution in sight besides surgery or shots into my spine. I was always stressed about my back issues.
After arriving to the Spine Center we were surprised that the process was a re education on back pain for me. I learned that 80% of people who have had back surgery eventually have major back pain again. I also learned that by separating the bones of the spine reducing the pressure within the disc I can rehydrate and return the discs in question to their original shape. At first I thought great! I have an inversion table at home but was further educated that my inversion table was the cause of my knee problems, the knee was not designed to take 150+ pounds pulling the opposite direction of gravity. Also inversion tables can't isolate the exact discs and your muscles remain tense due to you hanging upside down which in turn is counter productive to the entire process.
I arrived for my appointment at their head quarters in Orange County and they provided a free digital X-Ray of the my lower back. I never had a super high resolution digital X-Ray done in less than 5 minutes before. Following the X-Ray I had a consultation where they plastered my digital X-ray on the big screen and showed me how their spinal decompression therapy would work in my specific situation. It was enlightening as they were not trying to sell me but rather educate me.
I then layed on a hot table for 10 minutes to warm up before getting onto their DRX-9000 decompression machine for 20 minutes. This machine isolates the problematic or degenerative disc and pulls with a specific amount of weight eventually releasing and pulling again in a cycle. During this you have head phones on and a TV above you, I watched Planet Earth in was a comfortable experience.
After getting off of the DRX-9000 I was connected to an electro therapy machine in 4 areas on my butt and lower back. Dr. Nguyen would come in every few minutes to increase the pulse. After the electro therapy the doctor used electronic massage tools to loosen me up followed by stretching me out on a table like I do in rehab centers. The final step of the process was relaxing for 15 minutes on an aqua massage bed. I always fall asleep during that part.
What makes their therapy work so well is not only the DRX-9000 but also the process of going through each of those stations in a particular order. It takes 20-25 visits to the center for total relief of pain and symptoms. I just completed my 5th visit over the weekend and my pain is 100% gone! Played golf for the first time with no inflammation or pain in a long time. I'm going to complete all 25 visits then stop by every several months for maintenance. left feeling very loose and relaxed.
Did my pain go away after the first visit? It did not but I did feel the most relief of any program I have been on and believe me I have been through it all pre shots and surgery. It takes 20-25 visits to the center for in most cases total relief of pain and symptoms. I just completed my 5th visit over the weekend and my pain is 100% gone! Played golf for the first time with no inflammation or pain during or after the round was over. It's been a while! I'm going to complete all 25 visits then stop by every several months for maintenance.
We have set up a free consult for TSG members who live in L.A or plan to travel to Orange County for treatment. It's something I can stand behind and based on my experience there is nothing like it.
I want to end this review with a poll on back pain as many of my golf partners seem to have many of the same problems I have:
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I have been using this type of therapy since 2007. I have stenosis of spine and have had two herniated discs in my neck. The decompression therapy has helped my avoid surgery and relieve any pain. I have probably had 50 treatments in the 3 years. If I get away from them for too long, the issues have crept back, but are much easily corrected by 2-3 treatments.
reply to this commentdude, i’m sorry to hear that but the fact is that for most people the pain is caused by incorrect swing and thats how those problems develop in the first place but of course its tough to change your swing especially if it works well for you. personally i had pretty bad back pain, had to sit down to pick anything off the floor or else shocking pain shot, took some time off then started almost from scratch and hope its gone for good. your problem sounds pretty serious, in my case doctor told me that the pain was caused by nerves being trapped by discs or something like that and he said that if i’m gonna carry on with same movements its only gonna get worse. its gotta be hard for folks out there either with pre-existing conditions or conditions developed pretty far but think about Ben Hogan. he had practically half of his body broken, he made corrections to his swing, sure it took even a guy like him time but the important thing was that he made it work. i wish you well!
reply to this commentHi Anton, The actual problem is usually caused by trama to the area like falling or a car accident and if it isn’t it could be genetic or a degenerative problem. VERY rarely is it the due to the golf swing alone.
In your back issue decompression therapy would work because your nerves need more space allowing the disc to return to its natural shape.
reply to this commentif you have pre-existing condition like you said due to genetics or damage sure but majority of golfers experience back pain because they go against their body. their swing might even have all the correct and well grooved mechanics but its not correct for their body. for me this is simply cause and effect, if i experience pain this is the only way my body can let me know i’m doing or did something wrong and while therapy can provide a relief for me its not gonna do anything about the cause and thus it is something i have to work on myself. since i’m not playing golf for a living i can afford to make changes and suffer game setbacks in order to accommodate my body. folks like Tiger Woods cant afford that so they keep hitting against that left knee or whatever til it eventually gives up and no amount of therapy could have prevented that from happening but thats understandable and makes sense for them. the bottom line for me is that if your body is not screwed up yet due to golf or otherwise try to listen to it and take action to keep it that way.@Tourspecgolfer:
reply to this commentYour Message@Anton:
reply to this comment@Anton:
“majority of golfers experience back pain because they go against their body. their swing…” causes spinal muscles imbalance, hence – back pain. Freespine fitness machine efficiently helps me to keep my spinal muscles balance, I’m 61 and have no lower back problems since I exercise with the Freespine.
Your Message@Anton:
Thanks Anton, I agree with you totally on that.
reply to this commentThe only way you know for sure is to take some x-rays. But, if you are over 50 there is probably some compression in the vertibres due to age. It’s when the space between the vertibres get too tight, touch, or grow arthritis, nerves can be touched which causes joint and muscle stiffness. So, theorectically I can understand how this type of therapy can be effective.
reply to this commentHow much do the treatments cost?
reply to this commentMy doctors keep telling me that surgery is the next step….but i just can’t give up golf for a year at my age. I rather play with some pain than potentially not be able to play. this nonsurgical treatment sounds intriguing. Is there some contact info you could share?
I live in southern Cali.
reply to this commentWhat type of pain are you having, I sure I will have some helpful suggestions for you.Your Message@golfaddict:
reply to this commentI read the above messages new to this site. The decompression treatments will work I see it everyday. Although depending on the severity of the stenosis decompression is sometimes a contraindication. I would suggest to you to go get evaluated by a Chiropractor. There are many things that work well in combination with the decompression, ie PNF stretching in the clinic and you stretching at home. You can also get a TENS unit for home use. After playing golf I would suggest putting ice one the effected area for 15-20 min. There are many things you should ttry before you alow some one to sharpen a knife. i hope this was helpful…
reply to this commentHey Doc,
Yup a Tens unit has helped me at home. Not as great as the professional type electro therapy but it does loosen muscles. I put it on my glutes and lower back. Another thing that works wonders is a glute massage for an hour, really helps relieve tension in my back.
For those who live in Southern California or travel there often I can’t stress enough to visit the orange county non surgical spine care center they have 9 DRX-9000 decompression tables (6 low back/3 neck), 3 hydrotherapy beds and 4 top end electro therapy units.
reply to this commentYour Message@golfaddict:
You seem like a perfect candidate for spinal decompression therapy. Being that you are from Southern California, you should come in for a consultation at our head facility in Orange County. Just know that surgery is not an option and our facility specializes in your type of symptoms. Please contact me directly at davenguyendc@hotmail.com
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