What is the DRS Protocol?
It's our system for treating our patients that have disc conditions- the people that have serious problems. The treatments we use in the DRS are axial decompression, vitamins, exercise, rehabilitation, chiropractic manipulation, mind-body connection and modalities such as stimulation, ultrasound, therapy. When you put it all together for the patient, it's the system we use to treat our patients. The DRS Protocol is customized for each patient’s individual needs. It manages the patient with specified treatment parameters, recorded benchmarking and tracking, reassessments and evaluation, and patient education. It's not limited to treatments on a spinal decompression table, but rather encompasses the complete patient experience. Treatment is specific to each patient's back or neck condition and is modified to fit the patient's individual needs. Dr. Norman Shealy, a board certified neurosurgeon developed the DRS system for spinal decompression. (DRS is an acronym for decompression, reduction and stabilization) He also pioneered the development of the heart defibrillator.
Am I A Candidate for the DRS Protocol?
This is one of the most common questions that we receive. If you have degenerative or herniated discs, numbness/tingling in arms/legs, sciatic pain, spinal stenosis, failed back or neck surgery, or neck or back pain of any kind, then you may be a candidate for the DRS Protocol.
Before any patient is accepted for the DRS Protocol, a detailed examination must be performed. This detailed examination consists of consultation, orthopedic, and neurological tests. In addition, the doctor may perform x-rays on the area if no recent x-rays or MRI's have been taken. The doctors at Pain Care Associates also review the past treatment and diagnoses that you have been given.
After your first visit, we should know if you a candidate for the DRS Protocol.
Can you be treated with DRS or Axial Decompression if you have already had surgery to the cervical spine or low back?
As a matter of fact, some of our DRS Protocol patients have already had 1 to 2 surger ies to either their low backs or cervical spines.
The surgeries that the patients have had are discectomy, micro-discectomy, fusion surgeries, and Facet surgery. All of these surgeries require different times of healing before we can begin treating the patient. Of course, before we can let the patients know if we can help them, they have to have an extensive evaluation consisting of a complete history and review of all imaging studies, a consultation, posture exam, x-rays of the area, and a neurological and orthopedic evaluation.
We also want to review any and all tests that the patient had performed in other doctors’ offices, such as nerve conduction tests, MRIs, and x-rays to name a few.
