While only a trained medical professional can accurately diagnose your back problems and recommend appropriate treatment, a basic understanding of common causes of back pain and how VAX-D works to alleviate them, can help you in making a more informed decision concerning your treatment options.

Understanding How the Spine Works

Your spine is composed of 24 bones called vertebrae.  In between each vertebra is a fibrous disc (annulus fibrosus) filled with a jelly-like substance (nucleus pulposus), which provides flexibility and cushioning to the spine.  The vertebrae protect the spinal cord, which runs through a tube at the back of the spine called the spinal canal.  In the lower portion of the back, spinal

Consider These Facts on Back Pain:

  • On any given day, 6.5 million people are in bed because of back pain.
  • Approximately 5.4 million Americans are disabled annually due to back pain.
  • Back pain is the #2 reason for hospitalization.
  • Up to 85% of the U.S. population will have back pain at some time in their life.
  • After cold and flu, back pain is the next most common cause of work absence.
  • Spine surgery is the second leading surgical procedure in America, with the total number in the U.S. approaching 500,000 per year.
  • An estimated 93 million workdays are lost each year due to back pain.

Lift with Your Legs, Not with Your Back!

Many bulging and herniated discs can be attributed to lifting objects incorrectly.  When picking up an object from the floor, bend a the knees, keeping the spine as erect as possible.  Rise using the strength of your legs, as their sturdy, more simplistic architecture is designed for such exertions.  Putting great amounts of pull or pressure on the spine, when bent forward or backward, can compromise its delicate alignment.  Of course, there is no right way to lift an object that is simply too heavy.  Listen to your body, and if you feel any discomfort while doing heavy lifting, back off and save your back!

nerves exit the spinal canal between the vertebrae and unite as they move down through the pelvis. Some of these spinal nerves join to become the sciatic nerves, which travel down through the buttocks, along the backs and sides of the thighs and calves, and into the feet.

With such a dense network of nerves traveling throughout the back, it is easy to see how great discomfort may be caused by a slight upset in the delicate architecture of the spine.  Accidents and injury may damage discs and vertebrae, putting pressure on nerves.  This results in tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, or even sharp, shooting pain.

Shown in the illustration below are some of the more common diagnoses for back pain.

“I suffered from recurring

low back pain for 14 years.  Chiropractic adjustments had helped on occasion, but they were no longer working and I needed a new solution.  An MRI showed that I had two herniated discs between L4-L5 and L5-S1.  These hernations caused intense pain, which traveled from my lower back down my left leg, ending with numbness in my toes.

It was very frustrating that I could no longer participate in golf, tennis, and hiking.  I work in sales and had to travel on airplanes weekly and my back made traveling miserable.  I had to pay someone else to do tasks I previously did on my own.  I tried to accept that this was just the way it was and I had to deal with it, until I tried VAX-D therapy.

After only one month of treatments I am back to playing tennis and golf.  I have zero pain and can travel for my job without any discomfort.  I have had no recurrences of pain whatsoever.  VAX-D is the only way to go!” —Thomas R.