Spinal Decompression
Driving along Macadam Blvd, sometime mid-March, I spotted a sign that advertised help for people with disk decompression, a non-surgical alternative. It seemed serendipitous, as I had been suffering from debilitating back pain for several months, presumably a result of three highly serious auto accidents I had been in, in 1985, 86, and 93. For the past 20 years I had seen chiropractors off and on, for chronic back pain – but upper shoulder tightness, not this debilitating low pain.
Not being any sort of believer in surgery, having had an MRI that showed “disk degeneration”, and unable to find any solution, I stopped in for a consultation. At the time, I was already taking 30 mg of oxycodone per day (Percocet). When I came in , I was shown information about the procedure, and saw/read several testimonials. Now normally, I completely disregard testimonials. I consider them to be almost contrived; after all, who is going to publish anything negative about their product or service? But Dr. Siegfried seemed quite sincere, and so did all the testimonials. It would be difficult for me to describe why, but I trusted that these were for real.
The only alternative I was looking for was surgery) about which I have already espoused my feelings), but even that option was not realistic for me, because I had no insurance, I knew there would be a six-month exclusion for any pre-existing condition”, so even surgery would have to wait until October, and I was fare to non-functional to wait that long. The excruciating pain in my back had been getting progressively worse since it started in Sept, 2006.
When told about the treatment and costs, my first impression was that it was far too expensive. Dr. Siegfried told me I would surely need 20 treatments, maybe more. He said my condition was among the worst he had seen. But you have to understand, I was out of options, and I thought that 44,000 cost would be no more than my portion of the cost if I ended up having a $20,000 – 25, 000 surgery. I decided to try.
For quite a while I got little relief, but after a few weeks of treatments Tues, Wed, and Thurs, I noticed feeling better over the weekend. Unfortunately, the improvement was not sufficient. I completed the 20 sessions and was at a loss about whether to continue. But I did end up getting 6 more treatments and by the third or fourth, I started feeling much better. It was as if those first 20 were finally catching up. And finally, one day near the end of May, I had a day with zero pain; it was joyous.
Although I am not 100% free of pain all the time yet, I believe now I have the situation under control, since I am now able to get back to the gym and some exercise and stretching (which I was unable to do before).
Everyone is different, so I cannot presume to know whether Dr. Siegfried can help everyone, but I have to say, I am impressed, and grateful. When I started, I gauged my pain at a 9 or 10, not I would put it at a 1 of 2, sometimes zero. The treatments are certainly expensive, but you cannot put a price on health, and the improvement on quality of life. To Dr. Siegfried and staff, thank you.
Be well,
DW