Vertebral Distraction Pump

FROM THE DESK OF: Gregg C. Anderson, D.C., Sacramento, CA

The Amazing Truth About Safely Relieving Disc Pain

Dear Friend,

If you are looking for solutions to relieve your chronic back pain, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, or a herniated or bulging disc…you’re going to love this letter. It is entirely possible this letter will give you the hope and encouragement you have been praying for. You’ll learn about a fast, safe, effective and reasonably priced treatment option that more people are discovering every day.

Even If you think you’ve heard it all before, please read on…

It was summer of the year 2000. I had been in private practice for about 4 years and still as curious as my cat. I was reading through a stack of Health Journal articles, when I came across an article that I found completely amazing. I was inspired to learn more. So I investigated.

In the Journal, Dr. Bruce Broughton from Southern California published the impressive results he observed by utilizing a revolutionary strategy. It was a new technique that he personally created. With his technique, he was able to relieve the pain and problems in over 200 disc patients and see dramatic favorable changes on MRI’s.

When I read his journal article, I knew it was something that my patients could benefit from, and that I desired to get my hands on. Indeed, I had been frustrated with the slow progress of some of my patients with disc issues.

When I called Dr. Broughton’s office for more information about his new technique, I was pleased to learn that he was making his patented and FDA registered instrument, called the Vertebral Distraction Pump, or “VDP” available to doctors for the very first time. I immediately ordered it for my practice.

I could hardly wait. It was exciting to think about how I could help more people than ever with those stubborn and difficult to treat disc problems. I was hopeful, but honestly still a bit skeptical as I awaited my VDP to arrive.

When I finally got my hands on it, I had many discussions over the phone with Dr. Broughton regarding his protocols and technique. He was excited too, since I was one of the first field doctors in the country to begin using it. Within a few days, I met Dolores. Amazing lady. She had been seriously injured at work. and had been declared permanently disabled for 8 years.

Dolores had to use a cane full-time to walk, suffered from severe back pain, had little to no feeling in most of one of her legs and severe leg weakness. Her MRI and X-Rays looked awful and she had been recommended for surgery, which she had declined.

Within a few short weeks of treatment three times per week, her back pain subsided significantly and she started to regain feeling in her leg again. In addition, the size and strength of her leg muscles gradually improved. Within three months, the cane got left behind and she was well on her way to better health. I was truly amazed and encouraged.

While I was treating Dolores, my friend Mark’s dad, Masami, came in with a 25-year history of low back pain, arthritis, disc problems, leg pain and weakness. He was in his late 70’s. His recovery was incredible. Within THREE visits, his back pain was essentially gone! With ongoing care with the VDP, he slowly regained leg muscle strength and size and he resumed all his normal activities including bowling.

His medical doctor whom he had been seeing regularly was also quite amazed and asked him all about his care in our office. He has been very gracious by referring other patients of his to our office for care.

Fast forward to 2008…

I have now helped hundreds of patients, young and old, with a variety of disc problems, including discs in the neck area. People have come to me from all over the region, state and even other countries, desperately seeking a non-surgical solution. Up until very recently, I have been rather content with serving people basically by referral only. I have come to realize that there is something bigger that I should be doing with my time, expertise and

practice. Too darn many people don’t know about the VDP and out of sheer desperation, make treatment choices that are at the least simply ineffective, but at worst, an unnecessary risk. A surgery can never be undone!

So…I am in the process of re-vamping my office procedures, opening up the schedule book, and streamlining things so I can frankly serve more people with the strategies I have learned. Maybe YOU are next!

Over the years, I have seen each patient respond a bit different. No two exactly alike. Some cases seem very simple and then take longer to respond. Others, like the patients I mentioned above seem almost miraculous. I never, by the way, offer up false promises or hope. With my experience, I know when it’s time to refer out to medical specialists, either for testing and diagnosis I feel is necessary or for treatment. There have been many people who have unfortunately not been good candidates for the VDP, and that we have not been able to help. Fixing up severe back problems is challenging.

It has brought me great pleasure these past 8 years to help save many patients from having a date with a spine surgeon in the Operating Room. While I know some really nice surgeons, I myself would rather not visit them at work! While there is a time and a place for surgery, I think we can all agree, it is best avoided if possible.

In contrast, the VDP is very safe and I believe should be tried by many spinal surgery candidates who have disc problems.

How The Vertebral Distraction Pump Works

needles. Most people have heard of disc problems. Many unfortunately also suffer from them.

Younger, healthier folks, when they hear the term disc likely think first of their computers discs: floppy discs, compact discs, DVD’s or hard discs!

Others think of "slipped discs," "bulging discs," "blown discs" or "herniated discs." What these latter terms are referring to are the inter-vertebral discs of the spine that are irritating nerves and causing problems.

A little anatomy lesson is in order here:.

First of all, there are 24 movable segments in the spine called vertebra. Nine strong ligaments hold the vertebrae together. One of the ligaments is called the "Great Retaining Ligament," also known as, the intervertebral disc or "IVD." The 23 IVDs live in between the vertebra, allowing ample spacing for the nerves to safely exit the spinal cord, as well as serve as sponge-like stabilizers for the vertebral column.

The anatomy of IVD’s is quite interesting. They have two parts, sort of like a cream filled donut. The "cream part" is in the center and is called the nucleus pulposus. The "donut part" surrounds it with about a dozen tough layers of fibers called the annulus fibrosis.

Another interesting thing about IVD’s is their physiology. They do not have a direct arterial blood supply.

I know you must be wondering how in the world the cells of your precious IVD’s will get their fair share of the nutrition provided by the healthy meal you recently ate.

The answer is that the normal loading and unloading from movements of the adjacent vertebra "imbibe" them with the goodies they need as well as carry away their waste products. Sounds like great service to me!

This great service will last a lifetime unless the vertebrae are subjected to an injury or chronic stress such as being overweight. When that happens, the vertebrae get subluxated or "stuck in their ways," so to speak. There are abnormal restrictions to natural movement. This is bad!

The core stabilizing back muscles then also weaken and the back becomes increasingly vulnerable to failure. When the vertebrae don’t move normally, the poor IVD no longer experiences regular imbibition to facilitate the convenient goodies and waste products exchange. As a result, the annulus will dehydrate, develop fissures or cracks and degenerate.

A degenerated IVD then becomes less able to contain the nucleus and thus more likely to bulge through the annular fibers and into the all too sensitive nerves. Ouch! At this point, it is usually referred to as a herniated IVD and is best diagnosed clinically and with a MRI.

The most common area for a herniated IVD is the low back between the fifth lumbar (L5) and the sacrum. The most commonly affected nerve is the sciatic nerve, which extends down the back of the legs to the feet. The mid-neck area (C5-C6) is also a common area for a disc herniation. There it affects the nerves going down the arms.

Great! You made it through the anatomy lesson! Now, this is what you really need to understand…

Most of the time, when backs and discs go bad, prudent doctors of all disciplines recommend conservative management for at least a month or two before a surgical intervention is explored, except in extreme, rare cases.

Chiropractic care has been the conservative approach of choice for a long time. The VDP is a very specialized instrument for reducing IVD herniations, pumping goodies back into dried-up IVD’s, and eliminating the need for surgery. With their hands-on specialized skills, the doctor of chiropractic is a natural practitioner of choice for the application of the VDP.

The VDP has truly revolutionized my strategies for helping people. It’s like when dentists were blessed with high-speed drills. Clearly, dentists are now much better able to restore teeth that have decayed, instead of pulling them out!

The course of care with the VDP varies patient to patient. It depends on many factors such as the severity of the herniation, chronicity, stage of arthritis, age and extent of neurological compromise. I have seen many people of various ages, even in their 90’s, who have responded very nicely,

and have had many that were given surgical recommendations that were able to avoid it.

A Big Problem In Health Care Today Is Confusion!

There are many other potential solutions that exist for dealing with disc problems. The alternatives include:

Medication:

The pro is pain relief and/or muscle relaxation. The con is potential re-injury due to numbing of the pain, chemical dependence and organ damage. It may interest you to know that even seemingly benign Tylenol can cause severe side effects. It is now the leading cause of acute liver failure. Scary!

Supports/Bracing:

The pros are rest and stabilization of the area. The cons are temporary relief only and the risk of atrophy of the area muscles. I have yet to see a study that recommends prolonged use of back supports.

Injections:

The pros are potential reduction of severe pain and inflammation. The cons are temporary, not permanent relief and potential side effects. They also can be expensive and can only be done a few times before the risks go way up.

Physical Therapy:

The pros are strengthening of the core muscles. PT can be a significant help, but usually only after the back and disc has been stabilized, and when prescribed by the doctor. The cons are potential exacerbation of inflamed nerves, additional pain and possible damage if done at the wrong time.

Activity Modification:

The pros are avoiding activities that may exacerbate the area. The cons are temporary relief only, without correction. You can only lie on the couch for so long. Every day on the couch and inactivity leads to progressive weakness and atrophy of the stabilizing back muscles.

Surgery:

The pros are relief of pressure on nerves and pain relief. It can be very helpful, especially when bony stenosis is present. Cons are many including risks of destabilization, re-injury and general surgical risks such as infection, poor healing, death, etc.

Outcomes studies of back surgery are not encouraging. There is also much variability among techniques and practitioners. Many folks, even with severe back and disc problems, are not even good surgical candidates due to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other disease complications.

Spinal Decompression/Traction:

This alternative is becoming more widely available. It is machine based. The machines are called the DRX9000, VAX-D, SpineMed, Lordex and a few others.

These treatments endeavor to separate the vertebra by typically harnessing the hips with straps and essentially pulling the torso away from the hips (for a low back) allowing the IVD to decompress. Each treatment typically takes 20-30 minutes.

The pros are that there are some case reports that indicate that it can be a safe, effective, non-surgical alternative. Despite the high cost and awkwardness, I know that I personally would do it, and just about anything including bungy-jumping by my ankles off the Golden Gate Bridge, if I could possibly decompress a bad disc and avoid risky surgery.

The cons are that the treatments are generally expensive, and prolonged. A machine does the actual treatment. Additionally with the decompression machines, it can be difficult to isolate the specific disc that needs decompression.

Vertebral Distraction Pump

The VDP makes the most sense to me. It is the logical first choice when it comes to effectiveness, cost and comfort. It is safe, conservative, painless, and often very effective. Properly applied, it can often deliver fast results within a handful of treatment sessions.

It is a truly remarkable technique for reducing IVD herniations, replenishing nutrients to the IVD, and often eliminating the need for surgery.

The skilled doctor applies the hand-held instrument on top of the skin and very specifically at the level of the disc problem. With a gentle squeeze by the doctor, it nudges the adjacent vertebra apart, creating a 2-millimeter separation between them. It also opens the facet joints, which can also relieve a lot of pain and pressure.

This gentle opening creates a centripetal (towards the middle) force, which behaves like a vacuum, essentially "sucking" the herniated IVD material back into its normal anatomical position.

This can relieve the pressure on the nerve and the associated pain and dysfunction, and allow the disc to decompress and heal.

The obvious pros are that a skilled doctor applies the gentle decompression/traction by hand and can actually feel the subtlety of how it is working. It takes skill and is applied to one specific IVD at a time. The doctor is intimately involved the entire time.

The cons are, like any treatment, there may be soreness after the first few treatments, as atrophied muscles are stimulated to start working again. Another con is that it may also be difficult to locate a doctor who uses this newer technique.

I have found that a comprehensive plan that may include gentle adjustments of the adjacent joints, application of the VDP, personalized stability ball exercises, foot orthotics, and even a few good anti-inflammatory food supplements has worked very well for many patients.

In my office, every patient is treated as the unique person they are. Special attention is paid to their specific and often complex problems. The VDP is not a cure-all, and not all patients are candidates for it.

Well, if you read this far, I’m impressed. You should get a diploma or some kind of award! You probably have a pretty good idea if this VDP thing is the answer to your problem or that of a loved one. Maybe you have some questions. I hope you do.

It is always a pleasure to serve people in my office who have done their homework, considered the alternatives, and made the decision to do something. It makes my job a lot easier. I’m just like you. I’m a savvy shopper, read things like Consumer Reports, and use the brain God gave me to make smart choices.

I don’t know your particular condition or circumstances yet, but as my way to help you overcome what may be your biggest hurdle at this point, I’d like to make you a Special Offer. By the way, do you know what nation causes the biggest problems in the modern world?

Procrasti-Nation! Yes, it is a major killer. It may also be your biggest hurdle to overcome. You probably know what I’m talking about. It’s related to the another condition that can really make your life miserable; Someday-itis! “Someday, I’ll quit smoking.” “Someday, I’ll use that Nordic thing in my living room!” Someday….

CALL 916-485-5433. When my assistant answers, say, “I just read the doctor’s letter and I’d sure like to find out if he and the VDP can help me regain my health. I want to be able to (fill in the blank) again without pain.”

(Be sure to add this): “The doctor told me to tell you, that since I read his big wordy letter, and since I don’t want to be associated with those procrastinators, or catch someday-itis, I’d like to take him up on his

“Special Offer.”

Be sure to tell my assistant, that the doctor wrote at the end of his letter that he will provide you with a FREE CONSULTATION appointment. There is no obligation to spend any money or do anything. The purpose is to give you the information you need to make a smart choice.

What you can expect at the FREE CONSULTATION

1. You will complete a comprehensive health history. You will be asked to bring any images, including MRI’s, CT scans and x-rays, reports and test results for my review.

2. You will meet with me personally about your problems. I may even be able to give you a few suggestions to help reduce your pain right away.

3. You will have the opportunity to ask me any questions you have. Together, we’ll agree if it makes sense to use the VDP and take the next step.

If together we agree that you may be a good candidate for the VDP, we’ll schedule for a Comprehensive Evaluation.

This evaluation will include:

1. A very thorough and comprehensive examination including, nerves, muscles, joints, discs, etc. It also includes some functional tests including range of motion, gait and balance. I also look very carefully at your posture and strength.

2. A Review of your MRI’s or other test results. If no images have been done, or if they are old, you may be referred to a local imaging center. In many cases, this will be mandatory

3. A recommended action plan and report of findings. I will explain everything to you and provide you with the most accurate prognosis possible. By the way, there are many things I will show you how to do (like core-stabilizing exercises), provide for you, and prescribe in addition to my specific treatments. If you are not a candidate for the VDP, I will let you know where you may be better served.

The entire comprehensive evaluation process, which takes as much as two hours of my time, and about an hour of yours, is normally charged at $217.

For a limited time, for those of you who are still with me in this letter, I again would like to make you an additional Special Offer.

Since we all like to take advantage of great opportunities, and with the hope of helping you overcome any procrastination and “excuse-osis” you may be experiencing, I will reduce my charges to $77.* Not sure how long I will do this, but for now, that’s the deal.

I know that the most serious people, who really are sick and tired of their poor health, will respond right away. You won’t put this off and miss out. You have really nothing to lose but your pain.

Call: 916-485-5433

Sincerely,

Gregg C. Anderson, B.A., M.A., D.C.

P.S. We promise to treat you special and with respect. My office is warm and comfortable and my staff is very encouraging and helpful.

P.S.S. I sincerely look forward to meeting you.

*Unfortunately, this does not apply to beneficiaries who are covered by a federally administered program, including, but not limited to Medicare. (Their rules, not mine).

3517 Marconi Ave., Suite 102 Sacramento, CA 95821 (916) 485-5433 www.andersonchiro.com