Question
QUESTION: Maybe I blurted out too much information. I felt like the kid from the movie the christmas story. I have been trying to educate myself only to make myself whole again. I read some of your responses to spine fusion that included dorsoflexion?, vitamins, physical therapy and such.  In your opinion, would those treatments be beneficial for me to look into? Do you know of anyway to relieve pain from "drop foot", and sciatic that might benefit the situation I am in?  I am feeling much of the pain possibly because I have cut MYSELF back from medications because I do not want to live on them the rest of my life. If you thought you could of helped me, I would of traveled to see you!  I have private insurance, and my entire claim is approved by BWC including all amended items from staff infection, to "drop foot", to carpel tunnel.  You are very informative and seem very helpful.  Is it just me you don't care for? Nobody wants to help someone who has had a surgery gone wrong, I am hearing that all of the time now. Please sir, please have compassion. I am a very desperate young women who wants to get back to her life. I am only a few credits away from my BA in Healthcare Adm and I have a career waiting for me to come back as a billing analyst. Sciatica is terrible to have. I have been disabled totally. Thank you for your time!

ANSWER: No Maria,

Fusion Wreck received an answer from Dr. Starbuck and another alias asked me the same question. It's not that we don't have compassion but once the surgeon ruins lives, there is nothing that can be done. There is an outside chance that flexion/distraction can reduce any new protrusions but scar tissue proliferation is the main enemy.
Flexion-Distraction Therapy - What is it?


Flexion-Distraction, (F/D) is a gentle, chiropractic treatment procedure utilized for back and neck pain. Flexion-Distraction is a safe alternative to back surgery for those 95% of patients whose conditions do not demand surgical intervention. The doctor is in control of the treatment movements at all times.

Flexion-Distraction is utilized for many conditions such as:

Failed Back surgical Syndromes
Disc Herniation/Ruptured Disc / Bulging Disc / Herniated Disc
Sciatica / Leg pain
"Whiplash" injuries
Stenosis
Arm Pain
Neck Pain
Failed course of Steroid Injections
Chemical Radiculitis
Spondylolisthesis
Headache
Transitional segment
Many more conditions?
How does Flexion-Distraction Work?

For Disc related conditions:

Increases the intervertebral disc height to remove annular tension on the annular fibers and nerve by making more room and improving circulation.
Allows the nucleus pulposus, the center of the disc, to assume its central position within the annular fibers and relieves irritation of the spinal nerve.
Restores vertebral joints to their physiological relationships of motion.
Improves posture and locomotion while relieving pain, improving body functions, and creating a state of well-being.
For Non-Disc related conditions:

Patients with other conditions causing back pain (facet syndrome, spondylolisthesis, sprain/strain, scoliosis, transitional vertebra, sacroiliac restrictions and misalignment, certain types of spinal stenosis), Flexion/Distraction provides all of the above benefits plus the ability to place the spinal joints into normal, painless movements so as to restore spinal motion without pain:

The posterior disc space increases in height.
F/D decreases disc protrusion and reduces stenosis.
Flexion stretches the ligamentum flavum to reduce stenosis.
Flexion opens the vertebral canal by 2 mm (16%) or 3.5 to 6mm more than extension.
Flexion increases metabolite transport into the disc.
Flexion opens the apophyseal joints and reduces posterior disc stress
The nucleus pulposus does not move on flexion. Intradiscal pressure drops under distraction to below 100mm Hg. On extension the nucleus or annulus is seen to protrude posterior into the vertebral canal.
Intervertebral foraminal openings enlarge giving patency to the nerve.

Reference: Cox JM, Feller JA, Cox-Cid JA: Topics in clinical Chiropractic 1996; 3(3):45-59



If you have stabilization hardware in your spine then this can't even be helped because ultrasound is contraindicated. I would go ahead with the lawsuit, what they did to you is criminal. Often experts get blamed because questioners don't like the answer. It's not our fault, we are not going to lie and say there is a fictitious fix. Your surgeon needs to answer for your results. Find another one that doesn't live around you to give an opinion, or find a lawyer that works with one that will testify. Once they cut and run you are on your own, that's why we are so against having surgery in the first place, it isn't necessary 90% of the time!


Good Luck!

Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Do you have any suggestions that may relieve the sciatica pain, and "drop foot" pain that I may try at home while I wait for my wounds to heal? I am still in the stage where I can only sit/stand for 30 minutes at a time. I take a multi vitamin and coral calcium 2 x's per day.  Are there other healthier suggestions that may help especially with the formation of scar tissue?  I assume that correct posture is essential also so that I don't heal in a hunchback sort of way. I have been able to grab hold of a more positive outlook and instead of being a complainer, I am trying to be pro active in my healing process.  Thank you so much for your time, you are very much appreciated!

Answer
Coral calcium is a sham!

Do not take it! It is known to contain heavy metals! Please read about it online. Scargaurd can be purchased at Walgreens, use it as long as the wound is closed. Drop foot atrophy is treated with lowvolt muscle stim at any Chiropractor or PT office. Sciatica is treated with F/D as described above.

If you want to talk about this, give me a call at 708-466-9994


Dr.T