Dr. Cantor explains the DRX9000
DRX9000 SPINAL DECOMPRESSION
The DRX9000 is a computerized, FDA-cleared spinal decompression system — here’s what it is, how it works, and who it’s for.
About the DRX9000
The DRX9000 is a computerized non-surgical spinal decompression system used to treat disc-related low back and neck pain. It is FDA cleared for the treatment of herniated discs, bulging discs, degenerative disc disease and posterior facet syndrome. The lumbar system treats the low back; the DRX9000C configuration treats the cervical spine. At TriMed Spine & Joint, DRX9000 treatment is performed at our Boca Raton office and is supervised and directed by Steven Cantor DC.
How does the DRX9000 work?
You lie on a padded table while a harness applies a precisely controlled pulling force along the axis of your spine. The force rises and falls on a logarithmic curve rather than a constant pull, which is intended to lengthen the spine without triggering the protective muscle guarding that a sustained stretch can cause. Separating the vertebrae slightly lowers pressure inside the disc, and the pumping action of repeated cycles is believed to help fluid and nutrients move into the disc. A servo motor with closed-loop feedback measures the applied force many times per second and corrects it, so the session follows the exact treatment curve prescribed for you.
How long is a DRX9000 session?
A DRX9000 session takes just under 30 minutes. You stay fully clothed, lie on your back or your side depending on the level being treated, and remain awake and in control throughout. Nothing is injected and no anesthetic is used.
How many DRX9000 sessions will I need?
A typical course of care is about 20 sessions, delivered more frequently at first and then tapering as symptoms settle. Some patients need fewer and some need more. Your own schedule is set by Steven Cantor DC, after an examination and a review of your imaging, and it is reassessed as you progress rather than fixed in advance.
How soon will I feel results from spinal decompression?
Many patients notice a change in their pain within the first several sessions as pressure on the compressed nerve is reduced, but the response varies a great deal from person to person. Mild muscle soreness in the first week is common, because the treatment lengthens tissues that are not normally stretched. Tell Dr. Cantor about any new or worsening symptoms so your protocol can be adjusted.
Does non-surgical spinal decompression actually work?
There is published evidence that non-surgical spinal decompression is associated with reduced pain and with measurable increases in disc height. In a retrospective cohort of lumbar patients, decompression treatment was associated with an increase in disc height on imaging (Apfel CC, Cakmakkaya OS, Martin W, et al. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2010;11:155). We also measure our own patients’ films before and after care, and you can see those comparisons on our pre- and post-treatment imaging page. Individual results vary, and no outcome can be guaranteed.
Who is not a candidate for DRX9000 spinal decompression?
Decompression is not appropriate for everyone. Conditions that generally rule it out include:
- Pregnancy
- Prior lumbar fusion or spinal instrumentation
- Metastatic cancer, or cancer of the pelvis or abdomen
- Severe osteoporosis
- Unstable spondylolisthesis or a pars defect
- A recent compression fracture of the lumbar spine below L1
- Aortic aneurysm or other significant vascular disease
- Disc space infection
- Severe peripheral neuropathy
- Hemiplegia, paraplegia or cognitive impairment that prevents safe positioning
This list is not exhaustive. Whether the DRX9000 is safe and appropriate for you is decided in person, after an examination and a review of your imaging.
Where can I have DRX9000 treatment in South Florida?
TriMed Spine & Joint performs DRX9000 spinal decompression at our Boca Raton office at 307 Via De Palmas, which is the only one of our four offices with a DRX9000 table. Patients who begin care in Lauderhill, Hollywood or Delray Beach are scheduled in Boca Raton for their decompression sessions. Call 1 (855) 487-4633 or book a consultation with Dr. Cantor.
For a fuller overview of the treatment, see our main DRX9000 spinal decompression page.