RenuvaDisc

The Non Surgical Path to Pain Free Living

Our Purpose

To offer more permanent, affordable treatment options to help local patients suffering from neck and back pain that are:

•Non-surgical•Non-invasive•Have no side effects

Our Goal

• Improve the cost and effectiveness of treating low back and neck pain

• Improve the quality of life for neck and back pain sufferers

• To make Australian doctors world recognized specialists in back and neck pain

Australian Back Pain Statistics

In Australia• Chronic low back pain is increasing faster than

any other disability. • Five-to-seven percent of the population report

their back problem as a chronic condition. • Back pain disability lasting for longer than 4

weeks accounts for 50% of work loss.

Australia Back Pain Cont….

• Chronic low back pain affects more than 1,900,000 Australian individuals

• Costs Australia more than 10 billion dollars each year (4).

• Prospective Randomized Controlled Study of VAX-D and TENS for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain. Eugene Sherry* MD FRACS Department of Orthopedics, Sydney University. Peter Kitchener** M.B. B.S. FRANZCR. Russell Smart*** M.B.Ch.B. (Otago) *Senior Lecturer in Orthopedics, Sydney University, ** Consultant Radiologist, ***Medical Director, VAX-D Australasia PTY Ltd. NSW, Australia

Back Pain Becoming Epidemic in Australia

• It is a common reason for pain among younger and middle-aged adults, but can start in childhood [3] .•One study of people with long term back problems reported 14% experience constant or persistent pain •86% experience pain one day per week [4].

•Manek NJ & MacGregor AJ 2005. Epidemiology of back disorders: prevalence, risk factors, and prognosis. Current Opinion in Rheumatology 17: 134-140.•Quittan M 2002. Management of back pain. Disability and Rehabilitation 24:423-434.

Back Pain Becoming More Prevalent In Adolescents

In Australia, • back pain is one of the most common long-term health

conditions reported by teenagers and young adults (9.1% for 15–24-year-olds and 15.3% for 25–34-year-olds).6 

• Back pain experienced by children and adolescents is associated with disability in up to 94% of cases,14 

• Is of imminent concern as increasing prevalence of back pain in adolescents, suggesting a growing burden into adulthood15

Getting Worse: Sitting

• Poor Posture• Sitting at

Computer • Sitting all day long• Sitting at dinner• Sitting in the car

Text Neck- An Actual Diagnosis

Prevalent among kids

• Texting, video games,

Computer, poor posture

Too Much Weight

• 2/3 of population is overweight• 1/3 is obese• Every extra pound of weight

can add up to 8 extra poundsof force on the joints

Are We On the Right Track?

• Why are incidents increasing despite new drug and surgery options?

• Is it possible we are not doing the right thing?

The Discs - #1 reason for back pain

Many specialists think 75%-80% of back and neck pain come from the discs

Treatments Specific to the Discs

• Physical therapy – No• Chiropractic – No• Exercise – No• Drugs – No• Acupuncture – No

• Massage – No• Surgery – Yes,

can cut out part of the disc (risks, side effects, scar tissue, invasive)

Disc Related Causes #1 Reason for Back Pain

2 Main Causes of Disc Problems• Disc Degeneration• Disc Herniations , Disc Bulging,

Slipped Discs

Discs 101

• Direct blood supply to the discs dies off at 12-14 years old

• No direct circulation• Blood supply outside the disc• Force inside through specific

movements to maintain its health

Imbibition - Nutrients In, Waste Out

No direct blood supply into the disc Pressure squeezes out water and

waste Grabs Oxygen, nutrients Discs maintain health, hydration

After Injury or With Age

• Patients stop moving• No imbibition occurs• Waste products build up• Discs dry out• Discs thin and degenerate

1) Degenerated Discs

1) Degenerated Discs/Arthritis

• Disc degenerates - no shock absorption

• Transfers 75% of weight bearing off the discs and onto facet joints

• Causes bone spurs around facet joints and in the spinal cord canal

• Nerve and Cord compression

Disc Degeneration

2) Disc Herniations – (Bulging/Slipped Discs)

• Chronic poor posture• Long periods of sitting• Improper lifting (same as up to 4x

force)• Loss of Cervical Curve

*** Most Common ***Lifting with twisting (pick up a golf ball, child, suitcase etc.)

How Back Pain Has Been Treated

• Pills- Muscle relaxers, pain pills• Surgery- cut out disc material• Epidurals - temporarily numb

nerve• Physical Therapy - strengthens

muscles• Exercise

Only Surgery addresses the Discs

Pain Killers

Side Effects• Addiction - more die than

from car accidents• Seizures• Constipation• Unusual fatigue, bleeding,

bruising• Decreased sex drive

Opioids- Oxycontin

• Victorian coroner reveal prescription drug overdoses have reached record levels

• More people died from prescription drug overdoses than on Victorian roads in 2014

Anti-Inflammatories

“There’s an epidemic of adverse drug reactions to NSAIDs. The Food and Drug Administration believes anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 deaths each year are the result of severe bleeding caused by NSAIDs. It’s a big problem.”

Quoted from Dr James F. Fries, one of the country’s leading arthritis experts and professor of medicine

at Stanford University School of Medicine

Ibuprophen, Aleve, Celebrex

Side Effects Include:• Nausea, vomiting• Headaches• Constipation,

diarhea• Kidney failure• Liver failure• Ulcers

Physical Therapy – Pros and Cons

Proso Great to stretch & strengthen

spineo Increases flexibility

Cons o Doesn’t specifically treat discso Often makes disc problems worse

Laser Spine Institute – “The Next Big Thing”

• Some experts warn is ineffective, expensive and potentially dangerous

• Lack of independent research to show that their variations lead to better outcomes than traditional surgery

• The institute has had trouble recruiting academics to examine “Success Rates”

• Charges $30,000 for each procedure

Laser Spine Surgery – “The Next Big Thing”

• Insurances don’t cover–”lack of research to confirm safety and effectiveness”

• Up to 2X the malpractice rates than national averages for surgeries (Zurich North America)

• Has Doctor Investors– “increases surgeries performed by up to 87%” (Journal Health Affairs)

“Alarming Rate of Failed Back Surgeries”

• "The world of spinal medicine, unfortunately, is producing patients with failed back surgery syndrome at an alarming rate…Despite a steady stream of technological innovations over the past 15 years—from pedical screws to fusion cages to artificial discs—there is little evidence that patient outcomes have improved.”

(The BackLetter, vol.12, no. 7, pp.79 July, 2004. The BackPage Editorial, The BackLetter, pp. 84, vol. 20, No. 7, 2005.)

“On average about 53% of L5-S1 surgeries fail to produce relief of

symptoms.”

(Radin, E.L. "Reasons for failure of L5-S1 intervertebral disc excisions." International Orthop 1987; 11:255-259.)

Patient Dissatisfaction with Surgery

Among spinal surgery patients, 1 out of every 4 patients is

dissatisfied with their surgery two years post-op.

(Surg Neuol 1998 Mar; 49(3): 263-7)

Surgery Success Rates

Eugene Carragee MD, of Stanford University performs spinal surgery on only a select group who he carefully screens.

His conclusions: Less than 25% will be completely successful

(even after careful screening) For the majority of the patients, the surgery does

not have a dramatic impact on their pain or mobility A patient’s prospect for a future free from back pain

is “fairly poor”

Post Surgery - Less Likely to Return to Work

• After two years, just 26 percent of those who had surgery returned to work. That’s compared to 67 percent of patients who didn’t have surgery.

• 41% increase in the use of painkillers, specifically opiates, in those who had surgery.

(University of Cincinnati College of Medicine)

(Failed Back Syndrome: The Disturbing StatisticsBy Lisette Hilton : Special To DG News)

Surgery Leads to More Surgery

• Dr. Belanger, a skilled surgeon, recognizes that even “successful” surgeries might require follow-up surgery in the future. “Revision surgery,” as it is called, is according to him also “highly likely to be ‘successful.’” 

• 72% of patients may need further surgery (April 8, 2002. New Yorker online)

Treatments Specific to the Discs

• Physical therapy – No• Chiropractic – No• Exercise – No• Drugs – No• Acupuncture – No

• Massage – No• Surgery – Yes,

can cut out part of the disc (risks, side effects, scar tissue, invasive)

Are We Doing the Right Thing

Looking at those statistics

is it possible we are not

doing the right thing?

Spinal Decompression

How Back Pain is NOW Being Treated!

Spinal Decompression - THE Back Pain Solution

• Until Now, Drugs & Surgery Were the ONLY Options for Back Pain

Today Spinal Decompression is Emerging as a Leading Solution for Your Back & Neck Pain

Current Medical Model

• 8000+ spinal decompression tables in the USA and Canada

• 1,000,000+ successfully treated• Recently Introduced into Russia,

Singapore, England, Mexico and more

• 10+ Research articles

Everyday Pressures on Disc

Astronauts and NASA

• Even astronauts knew when there was no pressure on the discs their back pain went away

• Doctors and researchers looked for a way to decrease the pressure inside the discs

• This lead to specialized tables which are today known as

Spinal Decompression Therapy!!

Decompression Produces Negative Pressure

In a Study Published by The Journal of Neurosurgery, Researchers Placed a Pressure-Sensor in a Disc creating spinal decompression forces

Found that the Disc Pressure Dropped to

-100 mm hg

What Spinal Decompression Treats

• Herniated Discs• Degenerated Discs• Facet Syndrome• Sciatica• Chronic Neck and Back

Pain

Typical Treatment Protocol

• Treatment is 12-15minutes

• Comfortable, safe• Patients into 80s• Up to 350 lbs• Everyday for 2 weeks• 3x week for 2 weeks

Contraindications

• Pregnancy• Cancer in the spine• Abdominal Aortic

Aneurysm• Surgical Fusion

How It Works - Herniations

• Creates negative pressure inside discs• Negative pressure acts like a

“vacumn”• Draws in herniations and bulges

Sciatica

Reduction In Disc Herniation SizeJournal of Neuro Imaging 1998 Volume 8 Number 2

Subjects Condition• Herniated Discs, Degenerated

Discs, Torn Annulus

Prior to Treatment• Pain in back and down the leg• Numbness in legs, weakness• 5 week protocol• 20 treatments

Reduction In Disc Herniation SizeJournal of Neuro Imaging 1998 Volume 8 Number 2

• Up to 90% reduction of nucleus herniation in 71% of patients • Torn annulus repair is seen in all• Virtually all subjects have sufficient relief to return to work.• 71% had significant pain relief and complete relief of

weakness • 90%+ had numbness in the leg disappear• 86% had “good” to “excellent” relief of Sciatic and back pain• 28% had rapid relief in as few as 3 treatments• 85% improved clinically• Only 6% recurrence rate at 1 year

Reduction In Disc Herniation Size - Case ReportEuropean Musculoskeletal Review: Management of Low-back Pain with a Non-surgical Decompression System (DRX9000™)

Post Treatment• Pain went from a 10 on a scale of 1-10 down to a 1• No longer felt the burning sensation in the buttocks

or legs • Improvement in muscular strength 

MRI revealed • Decreased herniation size• Increased disc height at multiple lumbar

levels

Reduction In Disc Herniation Size – Case Report

Size of Herniated Disc

Pre-Tx MRI Post-Tx MRI 4 Oct 2007 28 Jan 2008

 L5–S1 2.5 (left) 2.0 (left)

5.1 (centre) 2.2 (centre)

2.5 (right) 1.6 (right) L4–5 4.5 (left) 3.3 (left)

5.1 (centre) 4.1 (centre) 4.8 (right) 3.5 (right) L3–4 5.0 (left) 3.2 (left)

5.9 (centre) 4.1 (centre) 5.2 (right) 5.0 (right)

How It Works – Disc Degeneration

Specialized traction forces• Create negative pressure inside

discs• Draw in Blood, Oxygen, Nutrients• Rehydrate and promote repair

Causing• Discs to become taller• Pressure to be taken off nerves

Disc Degeneration

Research Shows Increase in Disc Height - Case ReportManagement of Low-back Pain with a Non-surgical Decompression System (DRX9000™)

Pre- and Post-treatment MRI Measurements

Pre-Tx MRI Post-Tx

MRI 4 Oct 2007 28 Jan

2008  L5/S1 10.2 mm 11.9

mm L4/L5 3.3 mm 5.1 mm L3/L4 6.4 mm 8.4 mm L2/L3 6.1 mm 8.1 mm

Research Summary

7 Week Protocol - 22 Treatments

Post Treatment • Pain went from a 10 on a scale of 1-10 down to a 1• No longer felt the burning sensation in the buttocks or

legs • Decrease in the frequency of burning in the right

inguinal region• Improvement in muscular strength

MRI revealed • Decreased herniation size• Increased disc height at multiple lumbar levels

The Journal of Neurological Research (April 1998)

• 778 Patient Cases• 40 Month Avg. Time of Symptoms• Avg. Pain was 4.2 out of 5• Success Considered a 0-1 out of 5

(little or no pain whatsoever).• Overall, Treatment was

Successful with 71% of the Patients

Mayo Clinic Study

PRESENTED AT : American Academy of Pain Management AAPM 18th Annual Clinical Meeting

Prior to Treatment: • Average pain score was 6.4 out of 10• Pain for more than 6 months• 20 Treatments were given over 6 weeksSept 27-30, 2007 | Las Vegas, Nevada and New York State Society of Anesthesiologists - 61st Post Graduate Assembly in Anesthesiology December 7-11, 2007 | New York, NY

Sept 27-30, 2007 | Las Vegas, Nevada and New York State Society of Anesthesiologists - 61st Post Graduate Assembly in Anesthesiology December 7-11, 2007 | New York, NY

Mayo Clinic Study – Post Treatment

• Significant pain relief in 88.9% of patients• Average pain decreased from 6.4 to .8 Out of 10• Required fewer analgesics after treatment• No Safety Issues• No Adverse Effects

Sept 27-30, 2007 | Las Vegas, Nevada and New York State Society of Anesthesiologists - 61st Post Graduate Assembly in Anesthesiology December 7-11, 2007 | New York, NY

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression for Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain As Reported at the American Academy of Pain Management Sept 7-10, 2006 Orlando, FL

• Patients reported a mean 90% improvement in back pain, and better function as measured by activities of daily living.

• On a 0 to 10 scale patients rated the DRX9000 an 8.98.• No patient required more invasive therapies (e.g. surgery)• 100% would Recommend Decompression to someone else• Require fewer analgesics after treatment• Achieve better function after treatment• No patients contacted required surgery

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression for Chronic Discogenic Low Back PainAs Reported at the American Academy of Pain Management Sept 7-10, 2006 Orlando, FL

Subjects had a mean painscore 5.99 on a 0 to 10 scale(0= no pain 10=worst pain) at time of initial presentationthat decreased to 0.87 afterlast treatment

A Study in The Orthopedic Technology Review (Nov 2003)

• 219 Patients with Herniated and Degenerated Discs

• 86% Showed Immediate Improvement

• 92% Improved Overall• Only 2% relapsed within 90 Days

But Will The

Results Last?

Long Term Results – 4 Years Later

• 91% resumed Normal, Daily Activities• Over 80% showed 50% or Better

Pain Reduction at the End of the 4 Year study.

• Greater than 50% Still Had a Pain Level of Zero!

The Anesthesiology News (2003)

Long Term Results – 4 years later

More than 50% of Patients Still Had

a Pain Level of

Zero!

Comparison

• No Side Effects• Long-Term Results• Fixes the Problem rather than

Masking It

• 71-86% vs. 25-50% Success Rate• 10% the Cost of an Average Surgery• Little Risk of Making Condition Worse

Decompressionvs.

Drugs

Decompressionvs.

Surgery

A Pain Management Doctor in Pain

“I was amazed at the results. I was astounded. I have now treated hundreds of patients including myself and am continually impressed with the results.”

Dr. Donald Bailey, M.D., Pain Management, Savannah, GA

An Orthopedic Surgeon Talks…

“As an orthopedic surgeon and peer reviewer, I see many patients who are significantly worse after back surgery. In many cases I believe that if they had been treated with spinal decompression before surgery they would have resolved completely.”

Dr. Howard Berkowitz, M.D., Orthopedist, Atlanta, GA

“Before Surgery…”“Manipulation, acupuncture, steroid injections,

anti-inflammatory agents and muscle relaxants all fall short of addressing the underlying problems associated with intervertebral disc lesions.  “Spinal” Decompression should be utilized in all patients who are poor surgical candidates and before surgery is undertaken except in the emergent conditions.”

Dr. Gustavo Ramos, M.D., Neurosurgery, McAllen, TX

“More Effective Than Surgery…”

“Spinal decompression is a more effective treatment than surgery, is a safer treatment than surgery, has fewer side effects than surgery and may have beneficial side effects.” 

Dr. David Duncan, M.D., Anesthesiology, Tulsa, OK

Ancillary Services

• Class IV Laser - Speed Up Healing time• Supplements - Provide disc with

nutrients• Rehabilitation - Stretch and strengthen

for longer lasting effectiveness• Weight Loss - Take pressure off discs• Itrac- Fix the cervical curve for best long

term results

Does Not Increase Doctor’s Time

• A technician can do all the work

• Unattended therapy• Doesn’t require a lot of space, consumables• Little ongoing expenses

Gives You a Distinct Marketing Advantage

• Technology• Computerized• “Wow” factor• Safe, comfortable• Research proving its effectiveness• 1000s of patient and doctor

testimonials

“Neurologists Like Myself…”

“Neurologists like myself have long known that we should do everything possible to help our patients avoid back surgery. Now with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, we finally have a very effective way to treat back pain without surgery. The vast majority of even our worst cases experience significant, long-lasting relief if they complete the entire treatment regimen.”

Dr. Orlando Maldonado, MD

“Treats Not Just the Symptoms…”

“The addition of spinal decompression to my practice has been a most impressive and rewarding experience…..treats the underlying etiology of common causes of acute/chronic low back pain, and not just the symptoms … should be tried prior to undergoing surgery in all chronic low back pain patients who meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria.”

Dr. Gerald Weiss, M.D., Neurologist, Norwalk, CT.

Saves Doctor’s Hands, Neck & Back

• No “hands on” work• No bending, twisting, lifting• Table does all the work• Many physical therapists and chiropractors are physically

“burned out”• Saves the doctor’s hands, neck,

back and shoulders

Successful Clinics Usually Have

• The Right Equipment• The Right Training• The Right Marketing

With the Right Training

• 75% to 85% Success Rate• In 12-20 visits• Dramatic results• Happy Patients who refer their friends• Patients come from all over to see the

“Australian Back Pain Specialists”

The Right Training

• 10+ hours of videos• 350 Power Point Slides• Ongoing Phone Support• Seminars/ On Site

Training

The Right Training

• Contraindications - What patients can’t do decompression

• Proper patient set up and technique• “Disc Herniation 101” - Everything you need

to know about the discs

• Annular Tears- When would a ruptured disc not benefit?

The Right Training

• The 5 things to look for on a MRI to determine a patients chance for success.

• How long before I should start seeing results on a patient? At what point will I know they are most likely not going to respond

• Which Orthopedic tests will give me the most amount of useful information to determine my treatment parameters?

The Right Training

• What supplements should all decompression patients be on to ensure the best results? How Much? Which Ones? Vit D? Magnesium? Fish Oils? Multi vitamin? Antioxidants? Glucosamine Sulfate?

• Rehabilitation Exercises- When, how often, how many

• What daily activities should patients avoid while doing spinal decompression treatments?

The Right Training

• Back braces – which ones, for how long, how often

• What about Cold Laser and Ultrasound?

• Which therapies benefit disc patients the most? What about MedX? What about the ATM2? What about the SpineForce? What about vibration therapy?

The Right Marketing

Ensure a Steady Stream of New Patients

• Websites• Newspaper Ads• Commercials• Clinic Brochures• Research Pieces• Phone Scripting

The Right Marketing

• Front Desk Training• Consultation• Exam• Seminars for patients• Referral Packets

1 Spinal Decompression Table

• Treatment time = 12 minutes• 4 patients per hour • 32 patients per day per table• 32 X $75 treatment = $2,400

daily• Imagine if you had several tables

Some Clinics that we consult with

• Have 10-12 tables per clinic • Treat 100 plus patients daily • Easily making more than

$1 million dollars per year in cash

• In a bad economy who consistently enroll and change the lives of 20-30 new decompression patients per month

“X-Rays showed I had Degenerative Disc Disease”

“I have had physical therapy, epidurals and cortisone shots for neck and shoulder pain in the past, but the pain always came back, along with daily headaches. X-rays showed that I had Degenerative Disc Disorder, bulging discs and stenosis in my neck…. After just a few Spinal decompression treatments, I felt much better. After 17 sessions, I feel like a new person!”

~ Mardy S.

“I had burning, stabbing Sciatica pain down my right leg…”

“When I started this program, I had burning, stabbing, sciatica pain down my right leg and numbness and tingling in my foot. Doctors told me my Sciatica was caused by Degenerative Disc Disease. I tried chiropractic and physical therapy with only minimal relief. Sometimes the physical therapy actually made it worse. After beginning the spinal decompression treatments the pain is now gone. My back was always sore and stiff. Now it feels much, much better. Overall, this program worked wonders for me and I hope it will for everybody.”

~ Tim S.

“I was diagnosed with a Lumbar Disc Herniation…”

“I was diagnosed with a Lumbar Disc Herniation after a weight lifting injury….On a scale of 1 to 10, the pain was a 7.  I tried Chiropractic care, pain meds, exercise and an inversion table. Seriously, nothing helped. I decided to take matters in my own hands, and found Spinal Decompression online… My recovery process has been both fast and enjoyable.  As a result of my treatment, I now enjoy daily exercise, time with family and can finally sleep soundly at night!”

~ Chase G., Age 17

RenuvaDisc

• Prone/Supine• Lateral

Flexion/Rotation• “Workhorse”• Very reliable• Most Effective table• Easy to ship, install,

fix

RenuvaDisc

• Treats Supine AND Prone• Treats Lateral Flexion

AND Rotation• Patient Entertainment

System• Pre-Programmed

Protocols• Separate Cervical and

Lumbar Motors