Posted 3/4/2010 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi TT...
Since I had no idea what DRX was I decided to find out. The company that makes them is called Axiom and here's a description from their own web site. Yes, I left in their own typo's also...lol
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"DRX9000™ Lumbar Device
We created the DRX9000™ True Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression™ System to assist healthcare providers in their effort to treat low (lumbar) back pain. The DRX9000™ provides a primary treatment modality for the management of pain and disability for patients suffering with incapacitating low back pain and sciatica. The system is designed to apply spinal decompressive forces to compressive and degenerative injuries of the spine. It has been found to provide reflief of pain and symptoms associated with herniated discs, bulging or protruding intervertebral discs, degenerative disc disease, posterior facet syndrome, and sciatica. "
~~~~~~~~~~~
That said I dug a little further being the suspicious person I am. Here's more of what I found. Take it for what it's worth to you...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"DRX 9000 Maker Under Investigation
Monday, June 11, 2007
For those who don't know, the DRX 9000 is a fancy traction table billed by those who treat back pain (mainly chiropractors and in my area a group of DO's) as a spinal "decompression" unit. I initially became suspicious and concerned about the device when I had several back pain patients that were previously treated at the DO's facility. The ALL said that their treatment consisted of daily treatments for 6 weeks of spinal decompression in the DRX 9000, water massage (like you see in malls) and blowing up a balloon. The latter is a whole other subject to post about. The point here is the DAILY treatment for 6 weeks. Regardless if they had simple mechanical LBP, HNP, stenosis, etc, everyone seems to have received the same treatment. The worst part is, in many cases, their insurance companies did not pay for this plan of care.
Now the Tampa Tribune reports the manufacturer, Axiom Worldwide, was raided by FBI agents this morning. Why? The story doesn't say, but Dean Moyer over at Rebuild Your Back states this:
The allegations leveled against Axiom are:
* Axiom instructs DRX 9000 clinic owners how to defraud insurance companies in the training manuals that come with the machine.
* Axiom provides false advertising materials … in the form of slick infomercials and print advertising … as part of the DRX-9000 package.
* Claims of FDA approval are distorted and misrepresented as a selling point in the commercials. The truth is, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has never evaluated the machine for safety or effectiveness. As it turns out, the DRX was grandfathered in because it is similar to other traction tables and, therefore, considered an existing medical device.
* The claim by Axiom that their machine is based on NASA research is a total fabrication. NASA has never played a part in the development of the DRX or any other spinal decompression machine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
From all I can find at the National Institute of Health(NIH) there have been no double blind studies of this device or method. My one blanket caution would be, if insurance companies aren't covering treatments or procedures then I'd be finding out all I can why not.
Always research, which is exactly what TennesseeT is doing. Get opinions from others, talk to your insurance company and then go with your common sense and your gut. If money is no object and you are convinced they can do no harm then have at it. And most of all...don't believe most of what you read on the web unless you know the source. I tend to stick with scientific research, university bases research, research funded my major sources such as the NIH and other agencies who have nothing financial to gain from stating their opinion.
I tend to be very cautious... just so you know where my thoughts come from. Probably TMI but that's just me...lol
Good luck,
Chutzie