| Age / Sex | 47-year-old male |
| Primary Diagnosis | Multi-level disc herniations at L1/L2, L4/L5, and L5/S1 — post motor vehicle accident |
| Key Symptoms | Severe left leg pain and numbness, lumbar spasm, inability to perform daily activities |
| Functional Limitation | Could walk only ~20 feet before needing to rest due to left leg pain; unable to sleep comfortably; most movements painful, especially transitions (sit-to-stand, rolling in bed) |
| Previous Treatment | 3 rounds of epidural steroid injections (no improvement), chiropractic care, physical therapy — all unsuccessful |
| Cause | Motor vehicle accident |
| Treatment Provided | VAX-D vertebral axial decompression therapy |
Background
A 47-year-old man presented with debilitating lower back pain, severe left leg pain, and progressive numbness following a motor vehicle accident. MRI confirmed disc herniations at three levels: L1/L2, L4/L5, and L5/S1 — a multi-level injury pattern that created significant neural compression. His daily life had been reduced to near-immobility. He could walk approximately 20 feet before the radiating pain in his left leg forced him to stop and rest. Transitions — sitting to standing, getting in and out of a car, rolling over in bed — were excruciating. He was not sleeping through the night and had essentially stopped all physical activity. Prior to being seen at our office, he had undergone three rounds of epidural steroid injections with no meaningful improvement. He had also tried chiropractic care and physical therapy elsewhere, neither of which provided relief. He was losing hope and considering surgical consultation as a last resort.
Clinical Assessment
Our examination confirmed significant neurological involvement: diminished sensation along the left L4, L5, and S1 dermatomes, reduced left ankle reflex, and positive straight leg raise at just 25 degrees. Lumbar range of motion was severely restricted in all planes with protective muscle guarding throughout the paraspinal musculature. The multi-level nature of his herniations meant that multiple nerve roots were being compressed simultaneously — explaining both the severity of his symptoms and the failure of targeted epidural injections, which could only address one level at a time. Given the extent of involvement and the failure of conventional conservative care, we initiated a VAX-D spinal decompression protocol specifically designed to address multi-level disc pathology.
Treatment Protocol
Phase 1 Weeks 1–4 | Intensive Decompression VAX-D sessions were administered 3–4 times per week during the initial phase. The decompression protocol targeted the L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels first, as these were producing the most severe radicular symptoms. VAX-D creates a controlled negative intradiscal pressure that promotes retraction of herniated disc material and enhances nutrient and fluid exchange within the disc. Decompression parameters were carefully calibrated to the patient’s tolerance and progressively increased as his pain allowed. |
Phase 2 Weeks 4–8 | Progressive Recovery & Multi-Level Targeting As lower lumbar symptoms improved, decompression parameters were adjusted to address the L1/L2 level more directly. Session frequency was reduced to 2–3 times per week as the patient demonstrated sustained improvement between visits. As pain decreased and mobility improved, gentle stabilization exercises were introduced to support the recovering spinal segments and prevent re-injury. Sleep quality and transitional movements improved significantly during this phase. |
Phase 3 Weeks 8–12 | Functional Restoration & Maintenance Decompression frequency was tapered to 1–2 sessions per week as the patient’s gains stabilized. Focus shifted to progressive functional rehabilitation — increasing walking distance, restoring the ability to perform daily activities, and rebuilding confidence in movement. Core stabilization and postural education ensured the spine was supported as activity levels increased. The patient was transitioned to a maintenance program with periodic decompression sessions. |
Progress Timeline
| Months 1–8 (Pre-Treatment) | Visited primary care physician after motor vehicle accident. Referred to pain management — received 3 rounds of epidural steroid injections with no improvement. Underwent standard physical therapy and chiropractic care. All interventions unsuccessful; symptoms persisted. |
| ▸ Treatment at City Integrative Rehabilitation | |
| Week 1 | Moderate improvement in pain levels after the first several sessions. Lumbar spasm began to reduce. Patient reported the first night of uninterrupted sleep in months. |
| Week 3 | Walking tolerance increased from 20 feet to over 200 feet. Transitional movements — particularly sit-to-stand — became manageable. Left leg pain decreased substantially. |
| Week 6 | Numbness in the left leg began to resolve. Patient resumed light daily activities including short walks and household tasks. Back spasms largely eliminated. |
| Week 9 | Sensation in the left leg fully restored. Walking distance normalized. Able to sit comfortably for extended periods and sleep through the night consistently. |
| Week 12 | Full recovery — no back pain, no spasm, no leg numbness. Returned to all daily activities and recreational pursuits. Discharged with a periodic maintenance decompression schedule. |
Results vary by individual. This case study represents one patient’s experience and is not a guarantee of outcomes.