CBS Newswatch distributed a story on the MPDD to CBS affiliate stations around the country. It showed two patients-one who had an unsuccessful spinal fusion in her lower back and one who had been told he needed a spinal fusion in his neck. Both were better after muscles causing their pain were identified with the MPDD and then treated.

There were approximately 300,000 spinal fusions in the US last year according to the National Center for Health Statistics with some studies reporting close to a 50 % failure rate. That means that a significant number of the fusions appear to be helpful but an almost equal number are not.

If we take these two examples of patients who perhaps were not the best candidates for fusion, how many other patients who have failed back surgeries also have muscles that if treated, could have eased or eliminated their pain? If muscles aren’t assessed as a cause of the pain they will never be found.

Have you been told you need spinal surgery? Have you had a thorough muscle examination to see if muscles are a source of your pain? Send your story to me.
 

April 5, 2010 - 5:08pm — Posted by Dr. Norman Marcus