The Back Doctors Podcast

Spine specialist, Dr. William Hoffman shares a story of a 51-year-old, emergency room physician suffering with lower back and left leg pain.

A Note from Dr. Hoffman

My goal is to help as many people as I possibly can to regain and maintain their health through chiropractic care. I’ve dedicated my life to providing my patients with the best possible care. Each patient receives a thorough history and consultation. This is followed by a comprehensive examination and recommendation for care.

All patients are given the opportunity to not only get out of pain, but to correct any underlying structural problems that have contributed to their present health concern. Once their problem has been corrected, a maintenance or wellness program is tailored to each patient’s individual needs.

I strongly believe in the maxim ‘health is wealth.’ Most people just don’t realize, until it happens to them, how expensive it is to get sick. According to researchers at Harvard University, every 30 seconds in the U.S., someone files for bankruptcy as a result of the treatment they receive for a serious health problem.

The good news is, there are solutions that every one of us can do something to reduce our risk of bankrupting ourselves. The ultimate solution for our health care crisis is to have ‘more people less sick.’ The only way we can have more people less sick is to have more people choose better health through better living. I want to help you achieve that. By maintaining your neuro-musculo-skeletal system, this is an achievable goal.

Education

Doctor of Chiropractic: Los Angeles College of Chiropractic
Master of Public Health: University of California, Berkeley
Bachelors of Sciences: San Diego State University

Certified Cox Technic Doctor

Memberships & Associations

California Chiropractic Association (CCA)
Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research
American Chiropractic Association (ACA)

Resources:

chiropracticsolutions.org

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The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical

Spine specialist, Dr. Nate McKee shares a story about an active man with spinal stenosis causing a loss of balance.  Dr. McKee successfully treats this patient using Cox Technic.

About Dr. McKee:

Dr. Nate McKee grew up in Fort Wayne, IN. He was first introduced to the great state of Michigan, when he attended Albion College. At Albion College, Dr. Nate received his Bachelor’s in Exercise Sciences. He then went onto National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, IL where he received his Doctorate in Chiropractic.

While at National, he was actively involved in the Student American Chiropractic Association, and was President. During that involvement he lobbied in Washington, D.C. for rights and access for chiropractic patients such as: Veteran’s access, underserved areas, Tricare, etc. Dr. Nate was also a school tutor for Head & Neck and Thoracic Evaluation, Management, and Manipulation courses for two years. During his clinical experience, Dr. Nate did a 2 month rotation at the Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, IN. 

Dr. Nate has furthered his education and received a certification in Cox Decompression and Manipulation Technic. His education in Cox Technic allows him to treat various conditions of the neck, back, and knees such as but not limited to: disc herniations, spinal stenosis, post surgical pain, back pain related to pregnancy, headaches, and meniscal pain of the knee. 

Dr. Nate is also a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician® (CCSP®), which has equipped him with the training to treat and prevent sports injuries and to properly work with athletes. 

Resources:

www.mckeechirounlimited.com

info@DrMichaelJohnson.com

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The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical

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Dr. James Cox explains an underdiagnosed cause of lower back pain called Bertolotti’s syndrome and how it can be effectively treated with Cox Technic.

Dr. Cox is the developer of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction Manipulation and the proud participant in the on-going federal research projects involving the National University of Health Sciences, Palmer College of Chiropractic Research Center, Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, University of Illinois, University of Iowa, Auburn University, Keiser University, etc. He is a member of the postgraduate faculty of the National University of Health Sciences and has been privileged to speak throughout the world.

Resources:

About Dr. Cox

curriculum vitae 

link to info on supplements: 

• Cox Technic Resource Center Inc
• Discat Plus Enhanced specifically
• Discat & Joint Pain Relief specifically

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The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical

References:

Cox JM. Low Back Pain: Mechanism, Diagnosis, Treatment. 7th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2011, Chapter 12, “Transitional Segment.” Pages 578-588

Keim HA, Kirkaldy Willis WH. “Low Back Pain.” CIBA: Clinical Symposia, 1980;32(6).

Crane J, Cragon R, O’Neill J, Berger AA, Kassem H, Sherman WF, Paladini A, Varrassi G, Odisho AS, Miriyala S, Kaye AD. A Comprehensive Update of the Treatment and Management of Bertolotti’s Syndrome: A Best Practices Review. Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2021 Jun 22;13(2):24980. doi: 10.52965/001c.24980. PMID: 34745474; PMCID: PMC8567758.

Jin L, Yin Y, Chen W, Zhang R, Guo J, Tao S, Guo Z, Hou Z, Zhang Y. Role of the Lumbosacral Transition Vertebra and Vertebral Lamina in the Pathogenesis of Lumbar Disc Herniation. Orthop Surg. 2021 Dec;13(8):2355-2362. doi: 10.1111/os.13122. Epub 2021 Nov 17. PMID: 34791784.

Vadera S: Castellvi classification of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae. https://radiopaedia.org/articles/castellvi-classification-of-lumbosacral-transitional-vertebrae. Sourced on 12/11/21

Kawtharani S, Bsat SA, El Housheimy M, Moussalem C, Halaoui A, Sunna T. A case of Bertolotti’s syndrome as a cause of sciatica. Surg Neurol Int. 2021 Oct 11;12:516. doi: 10.25259/SNI_756_2021. PMID: 34754566; PMCID: PMC8571205.

Hanhivaara J, Määttä JH, Karppinen J, Niinimäki J, Nevalainen MT. The Association of Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae with Low Back Pain and Lumbar Degenerative Findings in MRI: A Large Cohort Study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2022 Jan 15;47(2):153-162. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000004244. PMID: 34610612.

Sun J, Chhabra A, Thakur U, Vazquez L, Xi Y, Wells J. The association of lumbosacral transitional vertebral anomalies with acetabular dysplasia in adult patients with hip-spine syndrome : a cross-sectional evaluation of a prospective hip registry cohort. Bone Joint J. 2021 Aug;103-B(8):1351-1357. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.103B8.BJJ-2020-2481.R1. PMID: 34334048.

Watanabe K, Mitsui K, Sasaki J, Kumaki D. Subacute hemorrhagic cyst of the ligamentum flavum occurred in the lumbosacral transitional vertebra presenting as progressive lumbar nerve root compression: a case report. J Spine Surg. 2021 Jun;7(2):238-243. doi: 10.21037/jss-20-683. PMID: 34296039; PMCID: PMC8261570.

Tatara Y, Niimura T, Sekiya T, Mihara H. Changes in Lumbosacral Anatomy and Vertebral Numbering in Patients with Thoracolumbar and/or Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae. JB JS Open Access. 2021 Jul 14;6(3):e20.00167. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.20.00167. PMID: 34278183; PMCID: PMC8280013.

Sugiura K, Morimoto M, Higashino K, Takeuchi M, Manabe A, Takao S, Maeda T, Sairyo K. Transitional vertebrae and numerical variants of the spine : prevalence and relationship to low back pain or degenerative spondylolisthesis. Bone Joint J. 2021 Jul;103-B(7):1301-1308. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.103B7.BJJ-2020-1760.R1. PMID: 34192932.

Gluding D, Stock KF, Tellhelm B, Kramer M, Eley N. Genetic background of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae in German shepherd dogs. J Small Anim Pract. 2021 Nov;62(11):967-972. doi: 10.1111/jsap.13380. Epub 2021 Jun 21. PMID: 34155659.

Okamoto M, Hasegawa K, Hatsushikano S, Kobayashi K, Sakamoto M, Ohashi M, Watanabe K. Influence of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae on spinopelvic parameters using biplanar slot scanning full body stereoradiography-analysis of 291 healthy volunteers. J Orthop Sci. 2021 May 6:S0949-2658(21)00126-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jos.2021.03.009. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33966957.

Garg B, Mehta N, Goyal A, Rangaswamy N, Upadhayay A. Variations in the Number of Thoracic and Lumbar Vertebrae in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Retrospective, Observational Study. Int J Spine Surg. 2021 Apr;15(2):359-367. doi: 10.14444/8047. Epub 2021 Apr 1. PMID: 33900995; PMCID: PMC8059404.

Shinonara K, Kaneko M, Ugawa R, Arataki S, Takeuchi K. The effectiveness of preoperative assessment using a patient-specific three-dimensional pseudoarticulation model for minimally invasive posterior resection in a patient with Bertolotti’s syndrome: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2021 Feb 16;15(1):68. doi: 10.1186/s13256-020-02635-y. PMID: 33588921; PMCID: PMC7885622.

Becker L, Ziegeler K, Diekhoff T, Palmowski Y, Pumberger M, Schömig F. Musculature adaption in patients with lumbosacral transitional vertebrae: a matched-pair analysis of 46 patients. Skeletal Radiol. 2021 Aug;50(8):1697-1704. doi: 10.1007/s00256-021-03722-x. Epub 2021 Feb 3. PMID: 33533964; PMCID: PMC8208907.

Haffer H, Becker L, Putzier M, Wiethölter M, Ziegeler K, Diekhoff T, Pumberger M, Hardt S. Changes of Fixed Anatomical Spinopelvic Parameter in Patients with Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae: A Matched Pair Analysis. Diagnostics (Basel). 2021 Jan 2;11(1):59. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics11010059. PMID: 33401698; PMCID: PMC7824527.

Luo R, Barsoum D, Ashraf H, Cheng J, Hurwitz NR, Goldsmith CY, Moley PJ. Prevalence of Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae in Patients With Symptomatic Femoroacetabular Impingement Requiring Hip Arthroscopy. Arthroscopy. 2021 Jan;37(1):149-155. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2020.08.034. Epub 2020 Sep 10. PMID: 32919025; PMCID: PMC8177691.

Johnson ZD, Aoun SG, Ban VS, El Ahmadieh TY, Kafka B, Wolfe C, Adogwa O, Bagley CA, Tamimi MA. Bertolotti Syndrome With Articulated L5 Transverse Process Causing Intractable Back Pain: Surgical Video Showcasing a Minimally Invasive Approach for Disconnection: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2021 Feb 16;20(3):E219-E220. doi: 10.1093/ons/opaa343. PMID: 33294931.

Dhanjani S, Altaleb M, Margalit A, Puvanesarajah V, Jain A. Pediatric Back Pain Associated with Bertolotti Syndrome: A Report of 3 Cases with Varying Treatment Strategies. JBJS Case Connect. 2021 Nov 17;11(4). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.21.00068. PMID: 34788257.

In this episode, Sam Visnic explains what chronic pain is and how he helps his clients to uniquely address their pain.

Visnic has spent his life studying the fundamental aspects of human health with a focus on movement and clinical massage therapy. In a world of specialists, surgical procedures, drugs and quick fix remedies, he’s committed to finding and developing strategies that help people stuck at the “gap”.

Sam has studied dozens of methodologies for uncovering the root cause of aches and pains, some of which include pain science, hands-on soft tissue massage techniques, myofascial release, and coaching movement.

Deciphering WHEN to use different techniques with different people and situations, along with integration
of movement is the key to long term success with Sam’s incredible track record. Understanding the various elements that contribute to conditions and the power of communication and education makes his Release Muscle Therapy program unique from other hands-on therapy approaches. 

Resources:

A free copy of his digital book can be found at:

Release Muscle Therapy Home

Find Sam on Facebook:

https://facebook.com/releasemuscletherapy

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/releasemuscletherapy

Youtube:

https://youtube.com/samvisnic

Show Sponsor:

Haven Medical the makers of the Cox 8 Table

The Back Doctors Podcast – With Dr. Michael Johnson

Spine specialist, Dr. Scott Nowak shares his personal back injury story and how it changed the trajectory of his life. 

Dr. Nowak is the 4th generation chiropractor at Fairbury Chiropractic Clinic. He is a 1992 graduate of National College of Chiropractic and joined Fairbury Chiropractic Clinic at that time.  Dr. Nowak is married and has two sons.  Dr. Nowak is a strong supporter of the community. He served as the commissioner for Youth Football and coached his son’s travel baseball team.  He has served as President of the Fairbury Chamber of Commerce.  Dr. Nowak is a certified acupuncturist, a certified medical examiner for the Department of Transportation (DOT), and is certified in the cervical and lumbar Cox technique.  Dr. Nowak strives to provide a high quality level of customer service, chiropractic experience, and is committed to providing honest and ethical treatment for all of his patients.  

Resources:

fairburychiropractic.com

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The Cox 8 Table made by Haven Medical

Garrett Salpeter, Founder and CEO of Neufit shares a new technology used in healing.

Garrett Salpeter, Founder and CEO Engineer & Neuroscientist Started NeuFit in 2009 Creator of The NEUBIE device Owner of multiple US Patents Proud Husband & Father of 2 beautiful girls Always pushing the limits of human recovery and performance Former College Hockey Player

Resources:

neu.fitThe

Neufit Method Book on Amazon

The Neufit Under Current Podcast

Neufit YouTube Channel

The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical

Spine specialist Dr. Bob Meyer shares his experience working with elite athletes including Lance Armstrong.

Dr. Bob has been a sports medicine doctor for The University of Texas athletics program since 1999. The UT Athletics program is one of the best in the nation. Their standards and expectations are higher than any other program. Dr. Bob is proud to be involved in their program as a sports medicine doctor and proud to bring the same standards to you! Below are more of Dr. Bob’s professional credentials as a sports medicine doctor.

• Diplomate American Academy of Pain Management
• Fellow International Academy of Medical Acupuncture
• Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner
• Certified Strength Conditioning Specialist
• Undergraduate Degree – Athletic Training
• ART, Graston, FDM, FM – Full Body Credentialed
• Certified KDT Practitioner
• Certified COX Practitioner
• Functional Movement Screens
• Functional Movement Therapist Level 1 & 2

Resources:

Dr. Bob’s Website

thebackdoctorspodcast.com

The Cox 8 Table made by Haven Medical

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Matt Parks, Founder and CEO of One Less CBD discusses CBD and how it can help reduce inflammation that causes pain.

MATT PARKS
FOUNDER & CEO

During his decade as Vice President at Williams Medical Supply, Matt’s efforts grew the company from a regional to national supplier while maintaining a steadfast promise to ensure new patients can be serviced. Understanding that his success was a direct result of building long-term relationships, he was imbued with a great appreciation for small business. Also during his time in medical supplying, he observed the rise of the opiate epidemic, a problem he knew stemmed in part from a lack of quality options in chronic pain and inflammation treatment. These experiences united seamlessly guiding his decision to create One Less CBD. 

Resources:

http://onelesscbd.com/backpain

onelesscbd.com

The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical

Dr. Robert Patterson discusses three types of spine pain patients and setting expectations of treatment outcome with each.

Dr. Patterson is a native to Overland Park.  He graduated Cum Laude from Cleveland Chiropractic College in 1988.  He founded Overland Chiropractic Health Services PA in February of 1988 and has been practicing in Overland Park since.   He believes in taking a “whole person” approach to patient care.  This means looking for the underlying causes of disease, dysfunction, and pain, as opposed to treating the symptoms.

ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

Cox Flexion Distraction Decompression Manipulation (Lumbar and cervical spine certification) – In 1998, Dr. Patterson was one of the first to be COX certified in Kansas. He is one of only four actively lumbar spine certified in the state of Kansas.  He is the only Cox certified cervical doctor in Kansas.

Posture Training

Internal Health Specialist – Loomis System of Enzyme Therapy

ADDITIONAL AREAS OF INTEREST AND STUDY

Balance and Mobility, The study of conditions important to those over 50, Low back and leg pain, Ergonomics, and Extremity pain/dysfunction and their relationship to spinal problems.  

Resources:  

Dr. Patterson’s website

Cleveland University

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The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical

Dr. Lucas VanAcker shares a story of an active woman in her sixties with anterior thigh pain.  He quickly makes a diagnosis from her history and examination.  Dr. VanAcker effectively treats her and coaches her back into her physical activities.

As a chiropractor Dr. VanAcker helps patients naturally with both acute injuries and chronic conditions.  He has studied a variety of treatment techniques to provide patients with high quality care.  As a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist he incorporates rehabilitation exercises to help prevent future injuries and/or improve performance.  As a Cox Certified practitioner he handles the most difficult spine cases.

When he is not working he likes to spend time with his wife Meghan, son Abram and dog Finn.  He enjoys being outdoors, hiking and running.  He is also a fan of the Miami Dolphins, Syracuse Orange and the New York Yankees.

Resources:

vanackerchiropractic.com

Dr. VanAcker on Facebook

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