Case Studies From Our Office
Case # 2572 Male Patient Age: 37 Weight: 242 Height: 6' 2"
Presenting Symptoms: Low back and left leg pain of 4 months duration
Past Medical Treatment: Nerve block, non-beneficial.
Recent Chiropractic Treatment: None
Lumbar MRI Finding: Moderate disc disease with a broad based left posteriorlateral disc protrusion at L5-S1 causing slight mass effect on the left S1 nerve in combination with bilateral facet overgrowth. Midline annular tear and shallow protrusion at L4-L5 but without nerve encroachment at this level.
Diagnosis: Lumbar Disc Displacement and Facet Joint Arthrosis
Pain rating at initiation of Spinal Decompression Therapy: 9/10
Pain rating after 22 Spinal Decompression Therapy sessions: 0/10
Case # 2577 Male Patient Age: 63 Weight: 216 Height: 5' 6-3/4"
Presenting Symptoms: Right sided neck and shoulder pain with numbness - 3 months duration
Past Medical Treatment: Over-the-counter Tylenol and Ibuprofen, but not beneficial.
Recent Chiropractic Treatment: None
X-ray Findings: Multi-level degenerative disc disease, mild to moderate anterior osteophyte formation C4-C7. Significant bony narrowing of the right C6-C7neural foramen secondary to hypertrophic change of the adjacent uncovertebral joint.
Diagnosis: Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease, Cervical Radiculitis, Cervical Spondylosis.
Pain rating at initiation of Spinal Decompression Therapy: 6.5/10
Pain rating after 18 Spinal Decompression Therapy sessions: 0/10
Case # 2608 Male Patient Age: 82 Weight: 182 Height: 5' 6 1/2"
Presenting Symptoms: Low back and bilateral leg pain - current episode 6 mo. duration
Complicating Factors: Age. 3 previous disc surgeries (1960, '62, '68).
Past Medical Treatment: 3 epidural steroid injections provided partial relief.
Recent Chiropractic Treatment: none
Lumbar MRI Finding: Degenerative changes at multiple levels. Mild extradural deformity is asymmetric to the left side at L2-L3 which may represent mild disc bulge or protrusion. Lateral recess narrowing is seen at the L3-L4 and L4-L5 levels. A small amount of gas is seen adjacent to the exiting right L5 nerve root that is probably related to annular tear. There is some broad based asymmetric osteophyte projecting to the right at L5-S1. Neural foramina narrowing is present at several levels.
Diagnosis: Lumbar Disc Displacement, Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease, Lumbar Spondylosis, and Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis. Pain rating at initiation of Spinal Decompression Therapy: 8/10
Pain rating at initiation of Spinal Decompression Therapy: 8/10
Pain rating after 20 Spinal Decompression Therapy sessions: 0.5/10
Pain rating after 23 Spinal Decompression Therapy sessions: 0/10
Case # 2576 Female Patient Age: 81 Weight: 116 Height: 5' 1 3/4"
Presenting Symptoms: Low back and bilateral buttock pain. History of chronic low back pain for many years, worsened early 2006.
Complicating Factors: Age.
Past Medical Treatment: 3 epidural steroid injection provided good relief of leg pain, but minimal relief of low back and buttock pain. Physical Therapy provided minimal benefit. TENS unit provides partial temporary pain relief. Surgery recommended - patient declined.
Recent Chiropractic Treatment: None
MRI Findings: Severe concentric canal stenosis L3-L4 and L4-L5 disc level largely secondary to hypertrophic degenerative spondylosis of the facet joints with contribution disc osteophytes complexes. At L3-L4 the phenomenon is worsened by anterolisthesis of L3 on L4 vertebra. Hypertrophic degenerative osseous changes at the endplate and facet contribute to at least crowding of the exiting left L2 and L5 nerve roots as well as the exiting L5 nerve root. Moderate concentric canal stenosis at L2-L3 level
Diagnosis: Lumbar Stenosis, Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease, Lumbar Spondylosis
Pain rating at the initiation of Spinal Decompression Therapy 7.5/10
Pain rating after 17 Spinal Decompression Therapy sessions <1/10
Case # 2557 Female Patient Age: 38 Weight: 106 Height: 5' 3"
Presenting Symptoms: Neck and right arm pain - 4 years duration.
Past Medical Treatment: Oral medication and 3 epidural steroid injections - non-beneficial. Surgery recommended - patient declined.
Recent Chiropractic Treatment: None
Cervical MRI Finding: Right posteriorlateral herniation at C5-C6with right foraminal narrowing and slight flattening of the right lateral aspect of the cord, and moderate narrowing foraminal narrowing at other levels.
Diagnosis: Cervical Disc Displacement with radiculopathy.
Pain rating at initiation of Spinal Decompression Therapy: 7/10
Pain rating after 10 Spinal Decompression Therapy sessions: 0.5/10
Case # 2537 Male Patient Age: 35 Weight 167 Height: 5' 7"
Presenting Symptoms: Low back and posterior pelvic pain, and intermittent bilateral leg pain - 2 years duration.
Past Medical Treatment: Two L4-L5 lumbar discectomies ( 2004, 2005) - limited benefit. Epidural steroid injections provided good temporary pain relief. Active Physical Therapy, home exercises, and home inversion therapy provided minimal benefit. Lumbar fusion surgery recommended - patient declined.
Recent Chiropractic Treatment: Yes, but of limited benefit.
Lumbar MRI Finding following second surgery: L4-L5 disc protrusion involving the left L4 nerve root.
Diagnosis: Lumbar Disc Displacement with Radiculopathy
Pain rating at the initiation of Spinal Decompression Therapy 6/10
Pain rating after 20 Spinal Decompression Therapy sessions 1/10
Case # 2565 Female Patient Age: 64 Weight: 172 Height: 5' 1/2"
Presenting Symptoms: Low back and right leg pain - 25 year history of low back pain. Neck pain and headaches - 2 mos. duration.
Past Medical Treatment: Passive and Active Physical Therapy, and home exercise - limited benefit. 4 Epidural Spinal Injection - limited benefit.
Recent Chiropractic Treatment: None
Lumbar MRI Finding: Degenerative disc changes throughout the lumbar spine. L2-L3 circumferential disc bulge with anterior disc protrusion without nerve root compromise. Moderate facet joint arthropathy at this level. L3-L4 minimal posterior disc bulge to the left of midline without neural compromise. Mild to moderate facet joint arthropathy at this level. Minimal posterior disc bulge at L4-L5 and L5-S1 without obvious neural compromise.
Cervical X-ray Finding: Straightening of the normal lordotic cervical curve. Minor degenerative disc changes with osteophyte formation seen in the mid cervical spine.
Diagnosis: Lumbar Disc Displacement, Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease, Lumbar Facet Joint Arthropathy. Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease, Cervical Hypolordosis, Cervicogenic Headaches.
Pain rating at initiation of Spinal Decompression Therapy: 7/10
Pain rating after 20 Spinal Decompression Therapy sessions: 1/10
Case # 2582 Female Patient Age: 63 Weight: 177 Height: 5' 6"
Presenting Symptoms: Low back and left leg pain - 3 mos. duration.
Recent Chiropractic Treatment: Yes, but of limited benefit.
X-ray Findings: L4-L5 Degenerative Disc Disease
Diagnosis: Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease with possible Lumbar Disc Displacement and Radiculopathy
Pain rating at the initiation of Spinal Decompression Therapy 8/10
Pain rating after 21 Spinal Decompression Therapy sessions <1/10
Case # 2561 Female Patient Age: 71 Weight: 212 Height: 5' 1"
Presenting Symptoms: Low back and bilateral buttock pain, and left leg numbness that intensifies with standing - 3 years duration
Complicating Factors: Obesity
Past Medical Treatment: Surgery was permanently canceled due to bleeding disorder. 3 epidural steroid injections - no benefit.
Recent Chiropractic Treatment: None
Lumbar MRI Findings: L4-L5 disc protrusion impacting the right exiting nerve root. L4-L5 disc protrusion flattens the ventral aspect of the thecal sac, and that coupled with facet arthropathy, ligamentous hypertrophy and short pedicles results in significant spinal stenosis. Extension of the disc material is greater on the right than the left. L5-S1 central disc protrusion with extension to the neural foramina bilaterally causes AP narrowing and impaction on the right S1 nerve root greater than left. There is moderate facet hypertrophy.
Diagnosis: Lumbar Disc Displacement, Lumbar Stenosis, Lumbar Facet Joint Arthropathy
Pain rating at initiation of Spinal Decompression Therapy: 9.5/10
Pain rating after 20 sessions of Spinal Decompression Therapy: 1/10
Pain rating after 27 sessions of Spinal Decompression Therapy: 0.5/10
Case # 2597 Female Patient Age: 51 Weight: 156 Height: 5' 5"
Presenting Symptoms: Low back and right leg pain - 6 mos. duration.
Past Medical Treatment: Oral pain medication - minimal benefit. Patient declined epidural steroid injections
Recent Chiropractic Treatment: Yes - minimal benefit
Lumbar MRI Findings: Prominent facet arthrosis lower lumbar spine with left foraminal stenosis at L5-S1 and central canal stenosis at L5-S1
Diagnosis: Lumbar Stenosis
Pain rating at initiation of Spinal Decompression Therapy: 8/10
Pain rating after 23 Spinal Decompression Therapy sessions: <1/10
Case # 2546 Male Patient Age: 55 Weight: 159 Height: 5' 6 1/2"
Presenting Symptoms: Low back and right leg pain - 5 months duration
Complicating Factors: Works 80 hrs weekly as a welder
Recent Chiropractic Treatment: None
Past Medical Treatment: 3 epidural steroid injections - no benefit
Lumbar MRI Findings: Multilevel degenerative disc and facet disease. L3-L4 mild broad-base disc bulge with bilateral neural foraminal stenosis. Mild central canal stenosis consequent to facet overgrowth and posterior ligamentous thickening. Annular tear at L4-L5 level with a small central disc herniation. Neural foraminal stenosis. L5-S1 mild broad-based disc bulge. Mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing. Minimal anterolisthesis of L5 upon S1 and minimal retrolisthesis of L4 upon L5.
Diagnosis: Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease, Lumbar Disc Displacement, Lumbar Spondylosis and Facet Joint Arthrosis, Lumbar Central Canal and Foraminal Stenosis.
Pain rating at initiation of Spinal Decompression Therapy: 8/10
Pain rating after 10 Spinal Decompression Therapy sessions: 3/10
Discussion: Patient's pain level became tolerable and patient discontinued therapy due to work schedule.
Case # 2532 Male Patient Age: 65 Weight: 189 Height: 5' 4 1/2"
Presenting Symptoms: Episodes of low back pain for 4 years with current episode of 6 mos. duration
Past Medical Treatment: Multiple epidural steroid injections - limited benefit. Hydrocodone and Advil - partial temporary pain relief
Recent Chiropractic Treatment: Yes - limited benefit
Lumbar MRI Finding: Multilevel degenerative disc protrusions from L2-L3 through L4-L5 with a large protrusion at L4-L5 with nerve root impingement. Multilevel foraminal stenosis.
Diagnosis: Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease and Displacement. Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis.
Pain rating at initiation of Spinal Decompression Therapy: 9/10
Pain rating after 12 Spinal Decompression Therapy sessions: <1/10
Case 2555 Male Patient Age: 70 Weight: 230 Height: 6'
Presenting Symptoms: Low back and left leg pain - 5 years duration
Past Medical Treatment: 2002 L3 lumbar discectomy - decreased intensity of pain for a period of time following surgery, but pain never completely subside and pain intensified again summer of 2005. Additional surgery recommended, patient declined because of poor results of previous back surgery.
Recent Chiropractic Treatment: None
Lumbar MRI Findings: L3-L4 degenerative disc disease and spondylosis. L3-L4 disc herniation with nerve root compression. L4-L5 right foraminal stenosis crowding the right L4 nerve root.
Diagnosis: Lumbar Disc Displacement and Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
Pain rating prior to Spinal Decompression Therapy: 9/10
Pain rating after 4 Spinal Decompression Therapy session: <1/10
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