Innovative back treatment spares patients from surgery, drugs

Physicians have discovered a non-surgical spinal decompression therapy for lower back pain that is garnering attention from patients looking to avoid going under the knife or taking medication.

The breakthrough treatment, offered at Spinal Aid Centers of America in Raceland, is designed for more complicated cases such as herniated discs, bulging discs, sciatica, stenosis, facet arthrosis and degeneration.

“Decompression is believed to relieve pressure built up on the discs and nerves,” said Raceland’s clinic director Bryan Dufrene. “Drawing areas of bulging or herniated disc material back into place would restore integrity to the disc and relieve pressure.”

“As disc material is returned to a normal position, the outer ligament bands holding the disc material in place are able to strengthen to prevent it from reoccurring,” he said.

A graduate of Nicholls State University and Texas Chiropractic College, Dufrene has been offering lower lumbar and orthopedic/chiropractic services to the Tri-parishes for more than 23 years, most of which has been spent in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.

Nearly three years ago, Dufrene purchased a Spinal Aid Centers of America franchise. The company offers the only national franchise dedicated to the treatment of severe and chronic lower back pains.

“For years, we’ve seen patients suffer despite multiple opinions and therapies,” Dufrene said. “We’re thrilled to be able to alleviate our patients’ pain with this state-of-the-art treatment.”

The pain-free procedure avoids drugs and surgery and allows patients to regain range of motion and agility in their lower back, according to the doctor. The success of the treatment relies on a series of treatments for four to six weeks.

First, the spine is decompressed. The patient lies on a table while a computerized machine sends negative pressure inside the disc, creating a vacuum suction to hydrate the disc and pull the back into place. Dufrene said the session lasts 20 minutes.

This is followed by a lower-level laser therapy that helps to reduce inflammation in the disc, helping to speed the healing process. The ATN2, a new type of rehabilitation equipment, helps reestablish the communication between the nervous system and the muscle functions in the back.

University of Florida physicians developed the final phase, called the MedX core strengthening process, which builds strength in the lower back and, ultimately, increases the agility.

“This is the most advanced rehabilitation program that’s currently available,” Dufrene said, noting the treatment has an 86 percent success rate among all its patients.

Eighty-three-year-old Raceland native Carroll Breaux, the center’s Patient of the Month, has regained some range of motion after receiving treatments from the Raceland Spinal Aid Center. Unfortunately, he is not a candidate for advanced treatment, Dufrene said.

For the past three years, Breaux has relied on his walker and walking cane to get from place to place. His only relief was pain medication.

“My life has been limited to watching television and lying in bed all day,” Breaux said. “I suffered with pain 24 hours of day.”

Breaux feared he was getting worse. Then he came across an advertisement for spinal decompression treatments at Spinal Aid Centers of America in Raceland. After an initial free consultation, however, Breaux found out that he was not a candidate for decompression therapy.

“Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy is a wonderful advancement for many people with chronic or severe back problems, but not everyone is a candidate,” the doctor said. “In this case, we have other effective treatment options available without using medication, injections or surgery.”

Dufrene determined that Breaux was a great candidate for light force chiropractics.

“The light force adjustments are done with a hand-held instrument,” the doctor explained. “This advancement allows the spine to be adjusted without any ‘cracking’ or ‘popping.’ It is gentle, specific and painless.”

All Breaux had to do was sit down while the painless procedure was performed to his lower back.

“My first week of care, I was able to not rely on my walking cane or walker,” Breaux said. “I am well satisfied with the clinic services and the nice people that work there. If I were to tell other people anything from my experience, I would say ‘Don’t wait like I did.'”

Dr. Bryan Dufrene purchased a Spinal Aid Centers of America franchise in Raceland about three years ago. The center offers drug-free, non-surgical treatment for more complicated cases such as herniated discs, bulging discs, sciatica, stenosis, facet arthrosis and degeneration, Dufrene said. * Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN