PristineWellness Spinal Decompression Hack
When Glen Caulkins was 49 years old he went to the doctor because he was sick… The doctor told him that he had degenerative disk disease and arthritis in his lower back and neck; a pinched nerve in his neck and back; that he needed to fuse his neck and back. The doctor showed him x-rays, told him that he was going to be in pain for the rest of his life and prescribed him pain pills.
All he knew is that it hurt to move and it hurt not to move. He could no longer bend over to put on a shoe or to pet his dog. When he woke up in the morning, he felt as if he had been hit by a truck in his sleep. He could barely get out of bed and when he woke up each morning, his right arm would be hanging limp at his side. He often wondered, “Is this going to be the day it would not come back to life?” He was totally devastated but determined to find answers….
“Somebody lied to me!” Glen no longer believed anything he previously learned about water, food, vitamins, protein powders, supplements, etc. He erased the slate… and began a new search for truth, knowledge, wisdom, science, and medicine.
In 2005, GC Life Center 4 Health was born, which would later become PristineWellness. This is where Glen developed the LivePristine Protocol (nutrition protocol) and the GC Method; a variety of bodywork modalities and spinal decompression. By the grace of God, after many years of hard work Glen was able to regenerate his spine and brake up all of the calcified and fibrotic muscles and clear the neuromuscular pathways. Glen is going to be 65 years old this year and is pain free! His flexibility is like that of a young healthy child and his strength is like a young man. He feels better than he felt when he was 40.
Glen attributes much of his recovery to his Spinal Decompression Protocol; a state of the art system that relieves lower back pain by increasing disc space, reducing herniation, and decreasing high intradiscal pressure. It helps heal, strengthen, and regenerate ligaments, tendons, muscles, and bones. It also helps release soft tissue adhesions and fibrosis at the deepest level, erasing and unlocking trauma recording.
It is a medical fact that damaged inter-vertebral discs seldom heal on their own, as the discs are constantly under pressure. Spinal decompression is a clinically proven method to promote healing and relieve pressure on vital structures, reducing the pressure inside the discs.
Spinal decompression relieves lower back pain by enlarging disc space, reducing herniation, strengthening outer ligaments, reversing high intradiscal pressure. A spinal decompression session typically lasts 20 minutes.
Through recent clinical trials, utilizing MRI, pre and post treatment on a similar decompression table, disc herniations were reduced between 10% to 90%, depending on the number of sessions performed, while patching and healing of the annulus was also evident. The researchers also found increased water content in the disc, or rehydration of the nucleus.
LUMBAR DECOMPRESSION
If you are like many others who suffer from low back and/or sciatic pain that has not responded to therapy, there is help and hope for you. Non-surgical Lumbar Decompression is a revolutionary therapy that significantly reduces and/or eliminates low back pain in up to 86% of patients.
NON-SURGICAL DECOMPRESSION CAN HELP YOU, IF YOU HAVE:
- Herniated & bulging lumbar disc with or without complications
- Degenerative disc disease
- A relapse or failure following surgery even with multiple levels of herniation
- Facet syndromes
- Spinal Stenosis
- Sciatica
- Pre/Post Surgical Patients
Spinal Decompression tables are designed to comfortably and accurately increase intersegmental disc space, providing non-surgical decompression of lumbar discs. The object of decompression is to reduce the pressure inside the disc and facilitate the transfer of fluids, nutrients and oxygen back inside the disc (decompression, that is, unloading due to distraction and positioning). Reduction of intradiscal pressure - the pressure inside the disc, can result in the retraction of bulging or herniated discs, and welcome relief of nerve pressure. Tears in the disc annulus can be repaired, and sufficient fluids and nutrients can be introduced into the nucleus to reverse the disc degeneration and collapse resulting from injury. Rehydration of the disc nucleus can restore disc height, relieving the pressure on inflamed facet joints.
THE TREATMENT
The Upper Harness and Pelvic Restraints are adjusted to comfortably secure you to the table. With precise and painless tension, the specific disc segment is gently distracted to reduce the pressure inside the disc, increase joint space, free impinged nerves, and a general lengthening of the body occurs. Then the table slides back to the neutral position and the cycle is repeated for 20 min.
Most people will find relief of their symptoms between 15 and 25 sessions, while the average recommended course of treatment is 20 sessions. Ideally, the sessions are performed daily with a rest on the weekend.
After only a few weeks of treatment, research has shown outstanding results in relieving the debilitating pain caused by degenerative, bulging, herniated or ruptured discs, as well as sciatica, posterior facet syndrome, spinal stenosis, and many failed back surgery cases. Most patients are able to return to normal levels of activity at work or recreation in just a few weeks’ time.
This process is not a panacea. It is gradual and requires active participation by the patient following the protocol.
IS SPINAL DECOMPRESSION FOR ME?
Spinal Decompression has proven to be safe and without side effects or complications once abnormal conditions have been ruled out.
People with conditions that compromise the integrity of the spinal column, such as gross osteoporosis, spondylolisthesis grade 2 and above, fractures, tumors, or congenital pars defects are not candidates for Spinal Disc Decompression. Previous spinal surgery is not contraindicated unless hardware (screws, rods, cages, pins, etc.) has been implanted in the back.
- It is a Non-Surgical treatment which is Safe and Painless.
- Studies have demonstrated that 86% of patients report good to excellent relief of their symptoms.
- Designed to correct the underlying problem, not just relieve the symptoms.
PRISTINEWELLNESS SPINAL DECOMPRESSION HACK
Before starting GC Life Center 4 Health in 2005, Glen purchased a Saunders Lumbar HomeTrac to and treat himself at home. For as often as he needed to use the unit, he found the manual operated hand pump to be very tedious and time consuming. This prompted him to purchase the Saunders 3d ActiveTrac for the clinic. Now after years of experience with the ActiveTrac, he reevaluated the home HomeTrac unit and thought maybe with an air compressor and a few extra parts this system could be more convenient and user friendly so that more people can get relief at home?
HERE IS WHAT WE CAME UP WITH:
FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED HERE:
- Saunders® Lumbar Home Traction Device (search on eBay!)
- Husky 12-Volt/120-Volt Home and Auto Inflator
THE BACK FACTS
Four out of five adults experience significant low back pain at some point in their lives.
Back pain costs the U.S. about $100 billion each year; 20% in direct costs and 80% in lost productivity.
In one study, 54% of participants (which translates to 100 million American adults) reported having low back pain that interfered with their daily activities.
In the same study, 48% of participants thought surgery is the only real cure (even though surgery is appropriate in less than 5% of people with back pain).
Back pain is one of the most common physical complaints worldwide. Doctors generally agree that most back problems are caused by a subluxation or dislocation of a sacroiliac joint, trigger points, stress, weak, and/or over-used muscles.
As societies around the world become more mechanized and computerized, they have also become less exercised. We lock ourselves behind desks and in front of computers. When we sit, our back muscles hold us erect, but our stomach and hip muscles are inactive. When they are not exercised, stomach and hip muscles become weaker, putting a painful strain on the back muscles. Sitting actually places higher loads inside the lumbar disc than standing (between 150% to 250% depending on posture).
When we do exercise, we're often rushed or are only able focus on one or two aspects of our fitness program. Too often, the most important components for maintaining good back health are overlooked: strength training the core muscle groups and flexibility. The condition of your back is very important to your health. A better back can lead to a better body.
ANATOMY OF THE BACK
Briefly explained, your spine is made up of the following components:
1) Vertebrae - the bones that make up your spine
2) Nerves - your entire nerve system runs through your spine
3) Discs - spongy material that separates your vertebrae, allowing the nerves to run between each bone segment. Discs act like shock absorbers and allow the spine to flex.
Each vertebrae is held in its proper place by three different kinds of soft tissue-discs, ligaments, and muscles. Almost all back problems are related to the dysfunction of one of these three. To understand the sources of your particular back problem and/or how to prevent back pain, it helps to understand the anatomy of your spine.
The natural curves of the spine are vitally important for giving your back strength and resilience. There are 24 vertebrae in your spinal column. The lumbar vertebrae are approximately two inches in diameter reflecting their weight-bearing role. The cervical vertebrae are smaller, since they must support only the head. Facet joints are located in pairs on the back of the spine, where one vertebra slightly overlaps the next. The facet joints guide and restrict movement of the spine. To the rear of each vertebra is a hole and when the vertebrae are stacked up, these holes form a continuous channel which holds the spinal cord.
The spinal cord provides a vital link between the brain and all body functions below the neck. Spinal nerves emerge from the spinal cord through gaps between the main body of the vertebrae and the facet joints. One frequent cause of back pain is a worn facet joint, which can result in a pinched nerve. Therefore, it is very important to keep your vertebrae in good shape.
The main function of your discs act as shock absorbers and provide separation between each vertebrae. The outer layers of your discs are formed from tough cartilage. The inner core of your disc is a jelly-like nucleus.
In total, your discs account for one-quarter the length of your vertebral column- 4.50" to 6" (12 to 15 cm) for most people. The disc acquires its nourishment through fluid-attracting and fluid-absorbing qualities of its jelly-like nucleus.
With no blood supply of its own, the disc is dependent on sponge action for attracting and absorbing nutrients from adjacent tissues. During non-weight bearing activities (sleeping) the discs expand as they soak up fluid, increasing the length of the spine by as much as one inch overnight. During weight bearing activities (sitting, standing, exercising), this fluid is squeezed back into the adjacent soft tissue.
Your vertebra are supported and moved by many different muscles. Muscles are used for three basic functions; support, movement, and posture control. If muscles are tight or weak, they create or worsen back pain. Joints are controlled by at least two sets of muscles, flexors which bend the joint, and extensors which straighten it. In addition, most joints have rotator muscles that twist and rotate your bones. Good posture is only possible if the flexors, extensors, and rotators are in proper balance.
Your paraspinal muscles (which run parallel to your spine) rotate your spine, bend it backwards, and sideways, and influence posture by creating and maintaining the curves of your spine. Your erector spine muscles are involved in movement and run the length of your spine. These muscles help you to bend over by resisting the force of gravity, and to straighten up by contracting and exerting great compressive force on your spine.
Your abdominal muscles play an important role in helping to support the spine by maintaining pressure inside the abdomen. This pressure is an essential measure of counter support to the spine.
Your psoas muscles (hip flexors) are a large group of muscles in the abdomen. These muscles help to flex your hips when walking or climbing stairs. They play an important role in maintaining posture for sitting and standing.
Intravertebral joints are supported by ligaments, tough and inelastic fibers which support the spine and hold it together by allowing only a limited range of movement in any one direction. Ligaments require regular movement and loading, otherwise they will eventually become stiff and weak.