Case Studies - Degenerative Disc Disease
Case Review: Chronic Low back Pain
Treatment of: Degenerative Disc Disease with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
Condition: Low back pain, lower extremity radiculopathy.
Patient: 55 yr old female with chronic constant moderate back pain and associated radiculopathy into the lower extremity.
Objective findings: Moderate disc desiccation and mild diffuse bulge at L5-S1.
Treatment to date: Chiropractic Care and physical Therapy.
Initial Disability Level: 54% on the Revised Oswestry Scale.
Initial Pain Level: 5 out of 10, with ten considered the worst possible pain.
Course of Care: 20 sessions of axial decompression over 6 weeks.
Short Term Outcome: Patient achieved a 100% reduction in pain or a pain level of ‘0’ on the 15th treatment.
Discharge Disability Level: 0% on the Revised Oswestry Scale.
Patient Comments: I love this machine.
Case Study: Recurrent Low Back Pain
Treatment of: Lumbar Osteoarthritis/Degenerative Disc with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
Condition: Patient had two week complaint of low back pain, aggravated by bending and getting in and out of car. He has difficulty sleeping due to pain.
Patient: M.P. is a 39 year old male with complaint of nonradiating low back pain caused by stress and work. He had slight back pain in the remote past.
Objective findings: Lumbar spine X-rays: Degenerative discs at L2-3, L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1. Large osteophyte noted anteriorly at L4-L5.
Prior Treatment: chiropractic
Initial Disability Level: Limited Lumbar Range of Motion
Initial Pain Level: 7.5 out of 10, with ten considered the worst possible pain
Course of Care: 23 sessions of axial decompression over 6+ weeks.
Short Term Outcome: Patient achieved 99% relief or a pain level of ‘1’ in his back by the 21st Axial Decompression treatment.
Discharge Disability Level: This is difficult to state. As patient felt better, he would attempt to do more (ie sit at the computer for four hours straight) and, thus his pain would get aggravated. Lumbar range of motion upon discharge was overall not improved.
Patient Comments: Upon final session he rated his back pain as 0.5 out of 10 and “muscle” pain as a 1.5 out of 10
Case Study: Chronic Low Back Pain
Treatment of: Multilevel Degenerative Disc with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
Condition: Longstanding, non radiating low back pain
Patient: D.P. is a 66 year old male with progressively worsening low back pain over four months. Pain is aggravated when standing, walking and sometimes, lying down. He has associated numbness, tingling and weakness in his legs.
Objective findings: MRI of the lumbar spine reportedly reveals Grade I anterolisthesis of L4 on L5 and multilevel degenerative changes throughout the lumbar spine.
Prior Treatment: None
Initial Disability Level: Back flexion 60 degrees, extension 10 degrees. Gait: antalgic
Initial Pain Level: 3.5. out of 10, with ten considered the worst possible pain
Course of Care: 20 sessions of axial decompression over 6 weeks.
Short Term Outcome: Patient achieved 100% relief or a pain level of `0′ by the 12th Axial Decompression treatment.
Discharge Disability Level: Back flexion greater than 90 degrees; back extension 30 degrees with pain.
Patient Comments: “I don’t need my cane anymore. I’m cured.”
Case Study: Lumbar Radiculitis
Treatment of: Lumbar Degenerative Disc with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
Condition: Lumbar Degenerative Disc
Patient: G.S. is a 64-year-old male with complaint of low back pain associated with right calf pain for several months. He has associated numbness and tingling in the right calf and ankle.
Objective findings: MRI of the lumbar spine reportedly reveals severe disc degeneration at L3-L4 with a 2-3 mm disc protrusion/osteophyte complex…and mild degenerative disc changes at T12-L1 and L4-L5.
Prior Treatment: Epidural injection (with partial relief)
Initial Disability Level: 42% disability as per revised Oswestry Scale.
Initial Pain Level: 6-8 out of 10, with ten considered the worst possible pain.
Course of Care: 20 sessions of axial decompression over 6 weeks.
Short Term Outcome: Patient achieved 100 percent relief or a pain level of ‘0’ by the 5th Axial Decompression treatment.
Discharge Disability Level: Patient reports ability to walk up to one half mile.
Case Study: Lumbar Radiculopathy
Treatment of: Herniated Disc with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
Condition: L5 Herniated Disc
Patient: 46 year old female with a complaint of low back pain which travels down the left leg. The pain is described as being achy, sharp, stabbing, throbbing, and pressure down the entire left leg. The patient has been experiencing this pain for 13 years.
Objective findings: MRI of the lumbar spine revealed at the level of L5-S1 an 8 mm disc protrusion with moderate to severe neuroforaminal narrowing bilaterally impinging on the L5 and S1 nerve roots bilaterally. There is also a 2-3 mm disc protrusion at the level of L3-4 and 3-4 mm disc protrusion at the level of L4-5.
Prior Treatment: Recurring pain management for 13 years, 4 sets of epidural injections, physical therapy, and acupuncture.
Initial Pain Level: 62% according to the oswestry questionnaire.
Disability Level: Unable to put weight onto left leg without severe pain.
Course of Care: 5 times a week for 2 weeks, 2 times a week for 2 weeks, 2 times for 4 weeks.
Short Term Outcome: Patient, after 5 weeks of non-surgical spinal decompression, reported being at a 29% on the oswestry questionnaire.
Discharge Disability Level: Patient reports being able to walk for 3 hours without any pain with only a day or two in the week with minimal pain.
Patient Comment: I can put pressure on my left side for the first time, able to accomplish everyday household stuff.