The PDR Spinal Column is a collection of articles written on commonly asked topics at PDR. They are written in a patient friendly format so they are easy to read and understand. We believe in educating our patients as much as possible and the PDR Spinal Column collection is another example of PDR going beyond normal clinical standards. Each article has a abstract about what the article contains so it's easy for you to see which articles you would like to read. These articles are saved in an Adobe PDF format. If you don't have an Adobe PDF reader, you can download it below.

Article #1 - Causes of Back & Neck Pain

This article was written in response to patients requesting information about the common neck and back problems and what contributes to the pain they feel. Basic anatomy of the spinal structure is covered including: the three regions of the spine, the spinal cord, intervertebral discs, degenerative disc & joint disease, trauma to the disc, muscle strains and scar tissue development, and some of the common treatments available.

Article #2 - The Deconditioning Cycle of Pain

Everyone experiences some type of back or neck pain in their lifetime. When you have pain, it is common to eliminate the activity that causes your pain from your daily life. By eliminating these activities, the muscles become weak and deconditioned. As a result, the pain often gets worse, causing more and more activities to be eliminated. This causes even greater deconditioning of the muscles until it feels like every muscle in your body hurts! This is known as the deconditioning cycle of pain.

Article #3 - Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is sometimes referred to as another form of arthritis of the spine. Degenerative disc disease is often described as a "wear and tear" condition. This is because the discs between your vertebrae shrink and cause excessive movement between the discs. Many patients diagnosed with back pain that is caused by degenerative disc disease, are left wondering exactly what this diagnosis means for them. Part of the confusion comes from the term “degenerative”, which is actually a misnomer. Degenerative disc disease is actually not a disease at all, but a degenerative condition that at times can produce pain from a damaged disc.

Article #4 - MedX Treatment for the Back

Isolating the muscles of the back is critical in achieving long-term pain relief. There are many causes of back pain. The most common include auto accidents, work related injuries and lifting injuries. The first thing that must be determined is the severity of the problem. Some problems need immediate attention possibly even surgery. However, the vast majority of back problems do not require surgery and can be eliminated or significantly reduced through conservative treatments. One of the most successful conservative treatments is aggressive therapy with the use of MedX equipment. MedX equipment successfully isolates the muscles of the back, and can dramatically increase your strength and flexibility, which will reduce your pain. MedX equipment isolates the scar tissue that developed from a previous injury, breaks it down, and aids in rebuilding your muscle integrity.

Article #5 - MedX Treatment for the Neck

Isolating the muscles of the neck is critical in achieving long-term pain relief. There are many causes of neck pain. The most common include auto accidents, work related injuries and lifting injuries. The first thing that must be determined is the severity of the problem. Some problems need immediate attention possibly even surgery. However, the vast majority of neck problems do not require surgery and can be eliminated or significantly reduced through conservative treatments. One of the most successful conservative treatments is aggressive therapy with the use of MedX equipment. MedX equipment successfully isolates the muscles of the neck, and can dramatically increase your strength and flexibility, which will reduce your pain. MedX equipment isolates the scar tissue that developed from a previous injury, breaks it down, and aids in rebuilding your muscle integrity.

Article #6 - Medications Commonly used for Back & Neck Pain

Pain medications, whether prescription or nonprescription do not repair or strengthen an injured back or neck. Medications will only help you with your symptoms and provide only temporary relief from your pain. If you have had back or neck pain for over three months, and you have been taking pain medications, it is critical that you treat the underlying cause of your problem because medications may never give you lasting comfort. Medications can be an important part of controlling your pain in the early stages following a neck or back injury if medications are prescribed and used properly. Medications are often recommended to reduce the swelling and pain that accompanies low back pain and neck pains.