Hello,

If there is a "Class Action Suit", I would like to obtain addiional information.

Thank you,
Simon

Your segment on spinal decompression is very biased and unfairly portrayed. It is very unfortunate that the young lady suffered a fracture in her spine and yes the Chiropractor mis-diagnosed her but so must of her medical doctors who delayed therapy that allowed for the spine to get weak enough to fracture.
Should her family physician be blamed for missing it? Moreover should every medical professional who mis-diagnoses rare conditions be blamed for the outcome of every unfortunate outcome in the population?

It is highly unlikely that a compression fracture may occur with decompression treatment.

I do not agree with the high rates of success or excessive cost to therapy however Dr Liem was unfairly protrayed in this segment, the claims he makes was information he recieved from Axiom. He should of however attempted to verify the claims of the manufacturer before advertising them.

Thanks, good program. Spinal decompression is just the new big fancy expansive machine to dig in patients pocket. There is plenty of that in the alternate medecine crowd. A bunch of woo woo stuff too. Just one more fancy way to try and elicit a placebo response. But what an expansive and deceiving one.

There just isn't a quick fix to low back pain. And spinal decompression therapy is certainly not among the best evidence based approach. It's quite the opposite.

As it happens, last week I went to the Back Decompression Centre here in Ottawa. I brought my MRI results with me and the following is what happened. The person did never do a physical exam. There was maximum sales pressure to sign up right away as they could then make and hold my appointments. There was concerted effort to obtain my visa card if not just to put $100.00 dollars on it. They worked down from something like %3700.00 to half of that as they would offer me the "retired person" fee and to hold or make appts I must sign up on the spot. I actually had my credit card out of my wallet and thought better of it. There were also scare tactics used. I was told that grade one anterolithesis was very dangerous but workable with their procedures as long as they got me before Grade 2. They also mentioned that surgery can actually cut a nerve and worked on that scare tactic too.

whoa what a fancy traction table.

Your story "Stretching the Truth" was in my opinion not a very well balanced piece. I have had experience with both Dr. Hamiliton Hall (the Canadian Back Institute) as well as Dr. Liem (the Low Back Clinic).These two men are opposite sides from the same coin. I had a prexisting L4 hairline fracture which I managed by strength training, chiropractic and acupuncture.Post accident I worked for 35 yrs in a sedetary job. Four yrs ago my condition became acute. First up, Dr. Hall. His treatment was basically yoga stretching and did little good. Next, Dr. Liem who did not even give an exam and quoted me a minimum of $7,000 plus.I took a wide pass on him. I then found another chiropractor in Midland (...) who gave me a thorough exam and did the same Spinal Decompression for $1200.Combined with Continuous Passive Motion therapy, I am off meds and pain free for the first time in 40 yr

As a Chiropractor I have seen Market Place repeatedly target this profession to get an audience. They refuse to interveiw others that use the "decompression" such as M.D's and Pysiotherapy clinics. When a failing network needs ratings....here we go.
Having looked at the company that produces the machine there is a HUGE marketing gimmick involved. The claims are just too good to be true.
There is an equal treatment called Flextion/Distraction. It works equally well from a trained Chiropractor at a fraction of the cost. You just dont hear about it with a "in the can" radio add produced by the "bells and whistle" machine manufacturer.

The practitioners using this equipment regardless, are using a script for making money given to them from the manufacturer. I was approached and said "no thanks". Anyone can the machine.

This is Dr. Richard Liem, founder of The Low Back Clinic. In typical news format, Marketplace has shown a very one sided view of our treatments in order to support their perspective. Marketplace fails to inform viewers on many things related to our care. For instance, that research on our treatment has been published in medical journals. In fact, doctors from prestigious medical schools such as Johns Hopkins and Stanford were involved in many of these research studies. Also, what was not shown was that every patient that comes to our clinic is thoroughly examined (whether on the initial visit or follow up visit). Also edited from the show... the safety of our treatments, how medical doctors and WSIB refer patients to our clinic and how we prevent patients from having surgery, etc. For more information (along with the real Global TV interview of that former patient – who was scheduled for surgery by the top neurosurgeon in Ontario) go to ...

First, for those who keep saying how biased the report was, think a minute. The chiropractor was interviewed without time to prepare and the surgeons were not for a simple reason...THEY aren't trying to sell something! In fact, Dr. Hall, whom I have known for years, makes a living by trying to talk people OUT of surgery and to exercise, seek APPROPRIATE medical treatment, whether that is chiropractic, physiotherapy or medical treatments (meds, surgery, etc)
Second, those of you who got better...did you not see the 80% statistic of those who get better WITHOUT treatment? I can assure you, being a physiotherapist, kinesiologist and medical school faculty member, that it is accurate. And my good friends, who are chiropractors (very good ones at that) agree!
There are no magic bullets. There ARE therapies that help, but they require work, exercises and lifestyle changes, not lying down.

Either I am in the 11% sector of unsuccessful treatments or this whole thing is quackery. After $4,600 with no results you can ascertain which way I'm thinking. Don't be a sucker. Keep your money.

Hello I have posted secound time and has not came on here... from my experience spinal decompression was the only answer to help the bulged disc i had in my loww back.. i have tried all other alternatives and nothing else has helped me. I suggest this yes costs lots of money but was will worth paying for. I think you should go this way before any surgery. I was almost next to being in a wheelchair.

From experience of back problem I tried everything except surgery and nothing works better than spinal decompression. Sad to say all other Drs. are looking out for their pockets. I am 85% better.

Definately one sided, I just wanted to ask what Dr Hall's success rate is? Sure Dr the success rate of 89% may be overrated but maybe Dr Liem should have put a high success rate or 0% success rate, nothing is guaranteed and life is not guaranteed. What CBC should have done was ask one of the clients that has had DC done and recovered for their feedback. This is unfair to Dr Liem and the for other chiropractors that are recommending this. If there was a problem with this so called success rate, than what is the success rate for chiropractors, should everything be advertised as use at your own risk? Erica you should have checked with the Chiropractors association rather than some state in the US before you pro rate one Dr and unprorate Dr Liem. I would like to see CBC interview those that have improved or have recovered from this DC system.

Putting all claims of unfair targeting (in regards to Chiropractors) I do believe that the program itself does hold weight.

Such a mode of treatment should be heavily questioned and scrutinized ESPECIALLY since there is little to no scientific backing. One does not have to look far back in medical history to find cases where such neglect caused severe consequences (Thalidomide).

I do believe that there might be some sort of a placebo effect in play here. Many of those who resort to spinal decompression are beyond desparation for pain relief, and so that desparation and need to believe that the treatment will work plays a hand in their pain relief.

I'm sure we can all sit around and state beliefs for and against the treatment. I myself, being a therapist, would just like more concrete scientific backing to protect the health, and wallets, of my clients.

It is unfortunate that journalists such as those on Marketplace have seen fit to breach one of the essential goals of journalism; freedom from bias. I don't care one way or the other about the decompression table, but I have never seen such biased journalism in my life. People deserve to hear both sides of the story, rather than a report skewed in favor of the medical community which essentially damns chiropractors, seems to me like both professions make mistakes(remind me again how many people have died on surgeon's operating tables).

Marketplace claims that the innocent and naive public is being mislead by chiropractors, but what they forget is that they also have an effect on the public, so who is misleading the innocent and naive now?

Market place should be ashamed. I will be lodging a complaint about this with CBC.

Anybody crazy enough to participate in back stretching without consulting their "real" doctor is just plain nuts. Seems like these guys can stretch the truth better than your back.
Oh yeah, the only person I call "doctor" has his MD diploma hanging in his office. It's really a no-brainer folks.

I am a Registered Physiotherapist with 31 years of orthopaedic experience now fully focussed spine rehabilitation.
1.The concept of spinal traction is not new and currently available in most physiotherapy clinics.It can offer some pain relief to well selected patients and for a reasonable price.On an ethical basis I would never ask a patient to commit to an expensive pre paid course of treatment with a guaranteed outcome. There are simply too many variables. I have seen 2 patients recently whose pain became significantly worse following this treatment One required immediate surgery.Both felt victimised by the fact that the chiros in question refused to refund their fees given they had had 1 and 2 sessions.

2 Spine care needs to be addressed from a much more holistic perspective .Lets start by teaching our kids how to sit,stretch and move and strengthen the spine efficiently !

Most of the commentors have said it all. Your credibility CBC and Erica may be in question. It has been said that you can find good and bad in anything. Dr. Hall needs to also be careful about his self righteousness. What you have really revealed is another symptom of the failure of the Ontario medical system. If people suffering back pain were not so desperate for help they wouldn't be so suseptable to being taken in. On the other hand, if the medical community weren't so pompus about the sanctity of their work they would be more open to embrase other means of providing health service and in so doing they could help to regulate how it is used. It would seem that the more legitimate options a person has, the greater the likelihood that they will find some healthy success. We need to stop seeing doctors and gods, nurses as angels and making demons out of those trying in some way to help.

Congratulations Marketplace!!

I love the biased "journalism" your experts put together.
Interesting enough that the largest Spinal Decompression" centres in Canada are owned and operated by Medical Doctors/Surgeons, yet you always tend to attack the chiropractors.
To refer to your team as journalists would be a compliment. Another one-sided, mindless peice of verbage.......

Thank you again for wasting our time.

One thing further. I have worked with Dr. Hamilton Hall and the few comments that suggest he is self-serving are very ungrateful and just plain wrong. This is a man who could have made a HUGE amount of money being one of the world's best spinal surgeons, but instead, in the 1980's, countered his colleagues recommendations for surgery to teach patients how to self manage their back pain. Since then, he has been a STAUNCH advocate of the patient helping themselves. He has spoken out, often to his personal detriment, against things that enabled pain behaviours and took the patient away from the correct path to reclaiming their life.
He took chances with that position and he takes further chances by going on CBC and criticizing something that is so aggressively marketed that it is actually detrimental to patients in the long term. You should be grateful someone is willing to take a stand

As a physiotherapist focusing on complex spinal injuries, and having treated many patients who have tried and failed this therapy, I can tell you that the claims these people are making are not only false, they are taking advantage of a population who are not exactly making great choices. The patients are in pain, haven't slept well in days/weeks/months, are depressed (often clinically), and are willing to try anything to feel better. Instead of giving them tools to help them over the long term and empowering patients to take control, this promises a cure.
What you should know is that in the US, the FBI raided Axiom's warehouse because they were caught teaching the purchasers of their equipment how to defraud insurance companies.
If this equipment is SO good, offer a money back guarantee. If 86% get better, then they will be very rich. I think we all know it won't happen.

This treatment is no less sketchy or dangerous than anything a chiropractic "doctor" does, which should tell you something. It all ranges from useless to downright dangerous.

In physiotherapy, we sometimes use what we call Mechanical Traction as a part of treatment, following a lengthy subjective interview and a thorough biomechanical assessment in which we determine if spinal decompression is indeed warranted. This assessment is just as surgeon Hamilton Hall demonstrated. Again, I emphasize as a PART of a treatment (just as we use joint mobilizations, stretching, strengthening) because not all Back Pain clients will benefit from spinal traction. I estimate i use it with an average of 5-10% of my back clients.
The cost of these spinal decompression sessions as described is absurd. If i had 3+ sessions of treatment with a client (at $50/session in BC) including physiotherapy and/or acupuncture and they were not showing significant improvement --- I would be re-evaluating the effectiveness and response of the client to the techniques being utilized.

anyone can do traction themselves... get an inversion table and use it as needed... and for a fraction of the cost? Or go to physio and ask them to try traction for you to see if it helps.. don't waste your money

With reference to your report on the DRX900, it is unbelievable that your program could be so biased toward this doctor and this treatment. My wife suffers from back pain and degenerative discs for over 20 years with no relief from any of the doctors she's visited. Her consultation with Dr. ... in Ontario was very professional, helpful and very informative. Once her treatment with Dr. ... started in Halifax, NS she was told the complete opposite of what was in your report. She was told not to work through the pain and to tell him immediately. I am happy to report that after 20 years of pain, my wife is free of pain, sleeping through the night and enjoying life to the fullest. I feel for the people that may never get the help this machine could offer them because of your biased report. Do the right thing and report the other half of this story please.

How could we not be surprised that there is nothing to this procedure. No peer reviewed studies, no randomized placebo controlled clinical trials, being offered by a profession that is rife with pseudoscientific belief systems such as the vertebral subluxation theory of disease and the use of accupuncture. The fact that chiropractors can practise a belief system (subluxation theory)that has been repeatedly discredited by science based medicine and by their own peers (see "An epidemiological examination of the subluxation construct using Hill's criteria of causation", by Mirtz, Morgan, Wyatt and Greene, in Chiropractic and Osteopathy, 2009, 17:13). Decompression machines are a complete ripoff. Be skeptical people, demand proof, not anecdotes and testimonials.

Found the show interesting as I was a patient at Low Back Clinic last year and was treated by the Dr. that was blanked out on the segment. Unfortunately it did not work for me but I do not regret trying it as when you are in back pain you will try anything to get better. Before I went and did the decompression I did try, physio, massage and accupunture. I am still suffering 1.5 years later and not having any luck getting better by using our Ontario medical system either.

The issue here is not about the traction method as a treatment for lower back pain. The issue is about the ethics followed by the Low Back Clinic advertising traction (spinal decompression). Traction is certainly not a miracle cure working for everyone and every case. Does the advertisement produce such false image for "spinal decompression"? I think the answer is evident. Why is the College of Chiropractors not looking into this marketing ethical issue? That is what we should ask.

To the person who said that Spinal decompression caused them to have a stroke while on the table, this is impossible. While it may cause discomfort (as is the case with any treatment, from medication to massage) it cannot cause a stroke. You merely happened to have a stroke while you were having the treatment. if that day you didn't have decompression then you would have had a stroke while buying groceries, driving, etc.

Congratulations. This was an excellent expose of fraudulent health claims and I hope you continue to do so. You might consider Homeopathy, Nutritional quacks, Naturopaths and other such scammers in the future.

At some point health care professionals will catch up to modern science that tells us chronic pain has more to do with sensitization of the nervous systems that with the anatomical state or the pathological condition of the body tissues. Spinal decompression, like all interventions, affects every aspect of the person's existence - NOT just the discs and the surrounding musculoskeletal tissues.
Chronic pain is a complex and horrible problem. It is the Invisible Epidemic. There is no recipe for treatment success. However, the treatments that research and clinical experience show to have the best long term results include exercise and pain self-management education. Interventions that have out-dated theoretical premises, and that provide unsubstantiated claims should be exposed as such. They may still help some people, but all should know their shaky foundation before they pay the big buck

Interestingly I have posted 2 comments on this subject as I was a patient at Low Back Clinic and was treated with spinal decompression by the Dr. who was blanked out on the segment.

I suffered from lower back pain for three years. Tried everything bar surgery. Wasted money on a trip to Majo clinic in Minnesota. Weeks of pain blockers at Sunnybrook and pain clinic in Toronto. Dr Liem was wonderful explained the procedure to me and after the treatments I'm 100 % better. Hamilton Hall has no grounds to say that no treatment can erase lower back pain. I'm living proof.

As a chiropractor, thus far I've encountered numerous patients who have said they've tried 20-30 sessions of the DRX9000 with no result and felt like they were cheated. That said, I know that spinal decompression or traction is going to help some people and not others. That's just how it is with any therapy. Where the 'cheating' exists, is in the 89% success rate and in the ridiculous treatment fees. Unfortunately, 'spinal decompression' is the IN thing to do lately and many practitioners are jumping on the bandwagon with dollar signs in their heads.

Overall the piece was pretty biased and Dr. Liem was certainly put on the spot to answer questions he had no chance to prepare for.

It is truly false hope...and shoul've know better when your first appointment is to see if you qualify for the treatment....
I guess it's pretty hard to refuse any sucker who's buying into hope and the low low price of $5000.00!!!
Well I'm a sucker I guess desperate is what I was...I now I'm desperate for my money....If a class action suit is pursued..I want to be involved!!!! Qu'est ce que F.....I'm surely learning not to trust anyone !!!!SAD SAD WORLD

I am a Chiropractor who does not use a decompression table but who is annoyed with Marketplace for choosing to omit the fact that many of these tables are in physiotherapy offices across Canada. There are also decompression tables in some medical offices.

McLean's ran a cover article several years ago featuring Cito Gaston on the marvels of the Vax-D decompression table.

The missed diagnosis was most unfortunate. However,I would challenge both Dr. Ford & Dr. Hall to state that they have never missed a serious diagnosis. Sadly, as they would both confirm,it happens all too frequently in medicine as well as other health professions.

This is the second time I'm posting -- I guess my first comments didn't make it through - it seems if the comment isn't favourable to your story, it has a harder time getting posted.

I was initially (and now again) expressing dislike for the one-sidedness of this segment. You gave the surgeon a heads up, he wasn't "undercover" and gave him reports and ample time to come up with what he thinks before speaking on the air. Interesting he didn't go into the risks & relative outcomes post surgery (other option for discs)

Versus the other guy - bullying tactics and coming after the Low Back Clinic Doctor without giving him the same headsup, in what I feel was a little sneaky -- you may have got the "wow factor" in the segment, but I really wonder at what cost.
I'm starting to see a lot of biased news reporting from marketplace in the last few segments.

This video is reporting with bias toward Chiropractors. MD was told there was taping in process, of course he did a very thorough examination. The Chiropractor was undercover taping, provide any discs related symptoms or DJD patients could be a good candidate for Traction (a fancy name of traction could be called decompression), as long as joints being seperated it would decrease nerve tension anless the symptoms. Of course, there are not any treatments could have 100% succesful rate. Similarly, surgeries is not 100% safe as well. The most important is clinical results that decompression could provide for the patients. Ask those MD how much do they charge for the surgery and what is the successful ratte for their surgeries. Only clinical results matters, all those statistical results are only as a reference.

I think that Marketplace was stretching the truth...

You have interesting topics, but also come off so one-sided. For this segment, the one surgeon, Dr Hall, you told him he was on camera ahead of time, allowed him time to examine a patient/ reports etc & don't question what his success rate is in surgery (which is what he does).
Meanwhile, the reporter is leading & coercive to the Back Clinic doctor -- and basically trying to trip him up so that you could look like you have a "good story".
I watched previous shows done by you and always leave feeling the same way -- it's bad reporting, one sided and definitely not unbiased.

I think this story is a biased disgrace.

My surgeon did nothing for me. My medications did nothing for me. Neither did the physio, massage etc etc etc.

I felt better with decompression than anything else in about 7 years.

Shame on Erica for slandering a very good back treatment.

Ratna, you should try decompression. It DOES WORK.

In your zeal to uncover a scam, Marketplace has missed the larger story. Clinics such as the one you investigated exist because doctors and hospitals have abdicated their traditional roles in the treatment of neuro/muscular/skeletal conditions. In Ontario, non-hospital physiotherapy has also been entirely de-funded, leaving the market wide open to operators of every description.
To make matters worse, it takes about 3 months to get a C/T scan, 6 to get an MRI for the back, and as for a surgical consultation, good luck! (It would have been instructive to learn the length of the waiting list for Dr. Hamilton Hall, one of a handful of rockstar surgeons).
And why give the last word to the medical establishment? When my own disc became severely herniated, only an inversion table, successor (with the DRX9000) to Hippocrates's traction ladder, provided instant relief.

Found your program on Friday re Spinal Decompression and the Low Back Clinic very intersting. I had done the spinal decompression at the clinic where you had the Dr's face blanked out as all other forms of treatment (massage, accupunture, physio etc.) failed. When I met the Dr. she gave me a thurall exam and in my six weeks of going there I seen her doing many consultations and telling people they were not a candidate for these treatments. The one thing the program failed to mention is that most people turn to this treatment as they are desperate and in pain and to get into see a back specialist just for a consult takes 6 months. I am now waiting for an appointment with another specialist that again I had to wait 5 months for. Unfortunately spinal decompression did not work for me but I don't regret it because if i hadn't of I would always have that what if ? in back of my head.

That VAX-D "case" was a single case since the history of decompression....I don't think surgery would have such a "safe" record...give me a break. This piece was skewed...they could do this for any specialty..find unhappy injection patients who shelled out 2000 a pop....unhappy surgery patients who are 30,000 plus in debt, and addicted to pain killers now...talk to anyone who has had multiple surgeries, and they would tell you a different tale. Decompression doesn't work for everyone, and in some cases surgery is the only option...after everything else has been exhausted. The doctor giving the 30 minute exam was told to examine the patient, so of course he did a thourough exam...if they were "undercover"...they would reveal that many specialist never touch there patients, let alone do a thourough exam.

oeGreat program, very informative.
Glad I watched this because I was thinking of going for treatment and playing the huge cost f treatment.

Thanks Erica for your insightful look into this back clinic the one in Toronto.

A thankful consumer

Ratna

It is funny that if 80% of back conditions get better on their own then why do we have any back doctors little own specialists in it.
A quick check also shows that many physiotherapists use this treatment. Why does the show only focus on the chriopractor clinics?

Hi, I watched the show Fri. night and am very glad to have seen the obvious impact it had on that Liem( may not be correct name)... It is clear by the look on his face on a tv he is scamming. I had a work related back injury going on 13yrs. ago now. At the time it was never properly diagnosed or treated, I was sent back to work undiagnosed and 3 months later layed-off for illness or injury reasons. I have been in pain every day, ever since the day of the accident. I've gone through tests,MRI's,cat scans, ex-ray's they can't find anything, but the pain is every day. One Dr. I saw said "learn to live with it" sorry doc. not good advice. So I'm glad to see shows like this that tell I hope the truth cause I can't afford that kind of money, I'm tired of the pills for everything. I would like to see a show that is positive towards low back pain and helping it,

One must step back for a moment and consider several points regarding this form of therapy. What are we looking at here? Marketing tactics or the effectivess of SDT in treating low back pain, particular those of an etiology related to disc herniation. In most cases disc herniations are self limiting conditions that will typically resolve within six weeks from a symptomatic perspective. A comprehensive history taking should take this into consideration and any initiation of therapy should be delayed until at least the expected natural history of such a condition is not achieved within the expected time frames. Yes, this is an expensive form of therapy, but for all intents and purposes I have seen patients who suffered from chronic low back conditions (greater than 6 months continuously) and have reported significant improvements by this form of therapy that could be causally related.

As a Chiropractor practicing for 13 yrs......I'm glad to see this garbage exposed. It may help the odd person, but it is no doubt giving false hope.....Get rid of this garbage........it's not Chiropractic.

Another person commented earlier on the possible conflict of interest concerning Dr. Hamilton Hall and the CBI. This makes Dr. Hall's statement very interesting to me:

"If there was magic out there that would cure my patients so simply, so easily, so permanently, I would be part of it," he said.

Do I detect sour grapes from Dr. Hall because he was not able to get involved in this sort of treatment from the outset? Why do he appear to be so ruthless in his attempt to bring down this clinic? I am very curious about the story behind Dr. Hall.

I watched with interest the program on Friday night on the DRX-9000. I have just completed two weeks of decompression and will commence three times a week for the next four weeks. My chiropactor took my history did a physical check and sent me for x-rays of my spine. At my second visit, we checked the x-ray and it was determined that I was a candidate for spinal decompression. I checked with a patient who had taken the treatment two years ago, and we compared our conditions prior to the treatment and as he had had good success, decided to commence my treatment. After two weeks, I am releieved of most of my pain and am hoping that I will have the same result as the patient who was treated two years ago. We feel that the program did not give the good and the bad, just the people who had a problem with the treatment. I agree that not all people would be candidates for this treatment.

I am a registered massage therapist. One of my clients asked me about this. I was skeptical about it. It seemed to be high pressure sales to me. ("You are a prime candidate", "I have limited space to take patients, so you need to decide very soon", "I can make you pain free in just a few visits, it will cost you thousands of dollars, but isn't it worth it?") I was even more skeptical when I found out they only did a subjective evaluation, and did not do any physical tests to check the health of her vertebral disks. I do a more comprehensive exam with my clients, and I am not a doctor! This investigation further proved that my gut feeling was right. Thank you for looking into this!

I am a Chiroractor and Decompression Practitioner, and I have this to say. This just needs to be approached with some sense! Spinal Decompression is simply a computer controlled form of traction, there is no magic to it. Traction HAS been used for many years with great success and is a viable and highly successful form of treatment for many cases of back pain, but not all. The only way anyone can know if it will help you 100% is for you to try it. Saying that, you should seek out a clinic that is reasonably priced and where you are comfortable. Reputable clinics do exist that are concerned about your health more than your wallet. There are some wonderful success stories with this therapy, but just do your research on the clinic you choose first.

Seeing this is weird, since I've long thought that relieving some pressure on the spine could be a good idea for back problems. It's an Engineering problem, after all, and amenable to an Engineering solution. I had no idea that this was already being offered commercially, never mind that it was so expensive.

I agree with other posters that this isn't new, and that it's something you could do yourself, whether by exercise or using a simple inclined bench and some weights. It could be risky, though, you'd want medical advice if the condition is at all serious.

People should know that it is not just Chiropractors who use spinal decompression. In fact it was primarily in medical clinics that it first gained prominence and I believe was overhyped and misused. For back pain there is no panacea, each case must be analyzed and then triaged appropriately for spinal adjustments, rehab, traction or surgery. Sorry folks there is no one answer nor is one treatment always the bad guy or the good guy.

There are 2 unfortunate aspects to this program. The first is that these tables are used in many Physiotherapy Clinics across North America. Unfortunately you did not mention that.

The fracture is also unfortunate, but many diagnoses are also missed by physicians every day. I lost a close friend last year whose spinal cancer was missed by his physician for several months last year . He has died as a result of this missed diagnosis. Surprisingly, to you, he hadn't seen a Chiropractor. Statistically it is very unlikely Dr. Ford has not missed a cancer diagnosis.

Dr Hall would also told you - well, at least he told me - that the diagnosis should be made prior to any examination.
He does advocate an examination, but suggests that it is only to confirm what the practitioner already knows.

First i would like to say how disappointed i am at the one sided-ness of this story. Few points: 1) practitioners have be warned by the outrageous claims axiom has been marketing years ago and i don't personally know any practitioners that use this "89% guarantee" or NASA discovery etc 2) Pts are told before treatment is considered that this is not a cure all or miracle treatment, neither is drugs or surgery 3) true that about 80% of back pain pts will "get better" on there own, but this is categorizing all back pain into one group. If you have ever experienced extreme nerve pain or sciatic pain the idea of going home and doing nothing but stretches and taking meds can be very disheartening.
4) Patients are screened carefully for contraindications and a comprehensive physical is always done. And lastly not a mention of the thousands that have gotten there life back again!

I was a victim of the decompression clinic. They took my $3,000 without a full assessment. I felt cheated as nothing came out of it. My clinic is at ... They did not even give me a review at the end of session...

I find it funny that Dr. Ford (surgeon) says an increase in pain is never a good thing. I'm sure that after he's cut into someone's back, through three layers of muscles and the thoraco-lumbar fascia, the patient feels much better. This is as biased as it gets. People are bed ridden after back surgery and are told they have to alter their lifestyle. Hardly a cure for back pain. I guarantee he's had more failed back surgeries that wind up worse than the average chiropractor has failed decompression treatments.

The DRX 9000 is only one type of decompression. The original machine and the best machine is the VAX-D. It was invented by an MD from Ontario. The DRX uses research that was done on VAX-D to back up their claims. The VAX-D machine gets superior results but it is not nearly as flashy as the DRX. I'd like to see the CBC do an investigation on how many people opt for surgery and wind up worse afterwords. Back surgery has the lowest success rate of any type of surgery. If you're going to do it. Find a VAX-D provider.

I have watched your story on Market Place and can only tell you I have only had success with the DRX 9000 treatment. I had three bulging discs in my back causing me serve back pain. I was on morphine for over two weeks. I could not even dress myself or get to the bathroom. I already had a MRI and x rays to take to a chiropractor on the advice of my family doctor. I had to be assisted into a truck (not a car as I couldn't bend)to get to the office. I was examined by my chiropractor and then he adjusted my back. I was helped off the bed and I actually walked around the large office before I left his office. I didn't walk well, but at least I walked. I did the 20 treatments and paid my money and it was the best money I have ever spent. I am back at the gym and I will be climbing Macchu Pichu in Peru this October. I recommend Doctor ... to any patient. He is the best!!!

All doctors regardless of area of specialisation have their good and bad ones.

Sadly, most back surgeons' mistakes are never made public. That doesn't mean you shouldn't go to them if its needed.

I chose the decompression after other non evasive treatments left me with minimal improvement and a specialist wanting to perform surgery. I wanted to avoid the knife if I could.

If I had the option of starting over I'd still pay the fee.

I was very disappointed to see the one-sided attack of decompression and especially of The Low Back Clinic. After a car accident I ended up with severe back pain. After months in a relentless loop of ineffective treatment I looked into decompression and ended up at the LBC with Dr. Liem. He did a VERY thorough interview. While waiting for an MRI my discs herniated which was without a doubt the worst pain of my life! I spoke to Dr. Liem on the phone that day and he was WONDERFUL. I ended up in an ambulance to my local ER and after a full day of useless break-through drugs and x-rays do you know what was waiting for me when I got home? A message from Dr. Liem checking in to see how I was doing! When I started decompression I couldn't stand up or walk...now I can...that's all the proof I need. THANK YOU Dr. Liem for giving me my life back!

L5 /S1 Herniated disk with severe bulging. Spent over 12 months going from my GP prescribing meds of ever increasing strength to physio (which the physio caused additional problems)chiropractic and accupunture. Couldn't lay flat on my back in a 2 yr old pillow top bed. Sex life - non existant.

Had CT scan in June 2009 -could barely walk upright and had difficulty sitting in a chair or driving.

Started Decompression treatment in London July 2009 plus the Medx treatments, theralase and supplements.

Had a MRI and exam by Orthopedic surgeon in Sept 2009 revealed significant improvement, and have been practically symptom free for 6 months.

I have no doubt that the treatments received from ... Decompression Centre have improved my life to the point of pre injury.

Its not right for everyone but I received an intensive exam prior to treatments

Question for the good doctor:

On average how long does it take in Ontario for a acute backpain suffer to get an MRI, then to get to a Specialist for advice, and then to get surgery

Anything less than 12-15 m?

Next Question: what does one do in absolute pain for 365-700 days do as they wait for relief see their future erode,lose their job,and their sanity...I guess take the good doctors perscription for 20 mg blasts of Oxycontin once or twice a day. Oh yea, and what about the immobility?

Erica...do a piece on this!!!

Much to say on this as I just finished 20 treatments that cost me $4,600:

1. I was injured in December 2009 and put on MRI short list that is slated for APRIL 2010. I have had NO meeting with any specialist and my doctors input has been Oxycontin / Tylenol 3 perscriptions and his reluctance to do S.F.A. because hes not a expert.

2. Given my MRI comes back I would have to wait another 2 weeks to 3 Months for a consult with a specialist. Given surgery is required another 3 -5 months wait.

3. Add that up, no real advice and about 1 year...ONE YEAR to suck it up, try to stay employed, and not become sucidal.

4. So, for $4,600 your free from this in 20 treatments. What would you do if you could afford it? Erica, you missed the REAL story...SHAME on our Healthcare in Canada.

Although decompression didn't completely cure the back pain that has troubled me for twenty years, it certainly has made a difference.
Your reporting was completely biased. I suspect that in your studies, you must have run into at least one success story.
I saw a surgeon (who wants to operate)
And a lady with a bad back (who wants to sue, and had a bad back to begin with)
Also, while my treatment was not cheap, it was nowhere near the 5000 dollars you mentioned on the show.
In my opinion, if traditional medicine isn't helping (and I suspect it isn't) it's worth a try and won't hurt a thing except the pocketbook.

Interesting piece, but it seems that a very small percentage of Chiropractors actually use this device. The focus of this story is on one bad apple and one faulty method of practice. We have to be careful not to paint an entire profession with the same brush. There are many competent and skilled Chiropractors in Canada providing excellent care to patients. Just speaking from personal experience.

The chiropractic community is at it again........making outlandish treatment claims with absolutely no scientic proof of effectiveness. But then, because our provincial governments have enacted laws to allow the chiropractic profession to be "self regulating" - the chiropractic community can continue to deceive the public. The fox is most definetly guarding the hen house...

I have sciatica pain from four car accidents that happened within a seven year span. Three rear-end collisions (all in Thornhill, make what you will of this fact) and one hit and run which left me laying on the drivers car hood.

Subsequent medicament left me to question the validity of such treatments as chiro adjustments, massage therapy, accupuncture (performed by non-Chinese, chiropractor), steroid injections, TENS therapy, and many oral medications perscribed but I refused to participate. My greatest fear of perscribed drugs are the side effects one of which may be addiction.

I can not stand, sit, walk, lay down for more than ten to fifteen minutes before feeling extreme discomfort.

With this constant back pain you'd think I'd be a prime candidate for the DRX9000. At this point the perception of any back treatment has dubious efficacious value.

I have been a chiropractor since 1986....I have rarely recommended inversion therapy or traction for disc bulging mainly due to the fact that humans are largely upright beings..even when spinal decompression is undertaken, the patient must get off the table and walk upright, and gravity will once again start to compress the discs...spinal decompression is not taught at any chiropractic college I am aware of and cannot be considered chiropractic per se....the bottom line is caveat emptor, no treatment, medical, chiropractic, or physical therapy can offer a guarantee of a cure..patients need to be smart and informed consumers with health care as they must be with any major household expense such as a car or major appliance...finally, if people took spinal health more seriously and implemented a regular exercise program perhaps there would be no need for spinal decompression machines....

This is my second comment on this program. Apparently the first one was censored. Why were only chiropractic clinics identified as promoting this therapy? I am sure that there are physios and MDs promoting and charging these exorbitant fees for this questionable therapy. Why was there no interview/comments solicited from the Ontario College of Chiropractors? They were mentioned as chastising the involved DC, why was there no comment from them on this partcular therapy? A very deceptive and distorted job of reporting from this perspective.

Ironic thing about Dr. Hall is his claim that 80% of back problems go away on their own. Then why is he affiliated with a physiotherapy group called CBI? That is a conflict in interest.

And if that really were the case, then why has my father been suffering from back pain for the last 20 years? And all his friends suffer too!

Interesting story, but no doubt biased.

I have recently finished a treatment in kamloops bc on a spinemed table. I experienced pain nearly every treatment and was told the same things as many of the other victims about the playing though the pain and intial discomfort. I never got better and since have had a catscan and been told by my doctor that the report said I most likly required multiple surgeries. I since went back to the clinic to recieve orthodics and have the chiro in charge go over my new catscan images. He (not knowing that I had consulted my physician) informed me that more spinemed treatments would heal my back. I am upset that Healt Canada Approved such a treatment without confirming the stats or should I say sales pitch.

I had a form of treatment done to my back but the process was called spine med therapy. Like the other people my back got worse to the point that I stopped using the bed. After a week or so the therapist told me that because I had such a set back that they would give me extra sessions. At the time I was being treated by my family doctor for a work place injury and this bed was recommended for my back. I had to pay 4500.00 for the treatment myself because WCB didn't recognize this as a form of treatment that they would pay for. I was desperate to get relief for the pain and tried it, but it didn't help my back. So, almost two years later and 4500.00 less in my bank account I still have to see my family doctor for treatment on my back.

continued...

After 20 years of crippling spinal deterioration, my open minded back surgeon suggested this treatment to me 2 years ago. I had the interview, I did the exam with all the maneouvers, I signed up and paid the cash. 2 years later without any additional exercise, I am pain and surgery free. So I am living proof that its not all BS. And lets not forget the most important fact here... chiropractic procedures cut into Dr Ford's bottom line!

I am disturbed on how you manipulated your content to bring a one sided view to the consumer. It made for good TV but was not very professional. Its unfortunate that Dr. Leim might have misdiagnosed a spinal cancer patient but can you honestly tell me that Dr Ford has NEVER misdiagnosed anyone! Did you ever send a patient into see Dr Leim himself for a initial exam with a hidden camera? Probably not, because if you did then you would have gotten the same footage that your Back Surgeon provided, a full exam. Its unfortunate that one of the associates did not follow proper protocol. But look around you at work. How many of your co workers actually do their job properly! If medical science needs real proof then have them contact me. I'm living proof it works.

This is to Adrienne Fox. How can I get in touch with you about this ?
My CT scan showed I have severe spinal canal stenosis and damage from L2 to S1. My MRI after my Spinal Decompression now shows everything is worse including a tear. I need help with everything I do now.

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated

I had decompression but only 35 - 40 pounds at the Spinal Relief Clinic and have found it most helpful. The reason we end up going to these places is because we get absolutely no help from our GP's. I told my GP for at least 10 years about the constant pain ! He sent me for an XRay and then finally an MRI where they found nothing, and then to physiotherapy, none of which was any help at all. He never suggested a back clinic. Finally in desperation I shelled out this money and although I have to do exercises every morning (about 10-15 mins) and do have maintenance decompression treatments..once every 3 months I am certainly in much much less pain. I had been swimming to help myself and have been told that this actually can aggravate the situation, something my doctor did not mention or know. I am very grateful to now be relatively painfree! It was worth every penny!!!

Danny, let me know how you made out in Waterloo. I don't understand how anyone can make the claims that they could help spinal stenosis. Save all of your correspondence and contact the Chiropractic College of Ontario in Toronto if there are questions about those claims and the treatments. Nobody should be allowed to make claims for any treatment after looking at the MRI reports. A thorough physical and neurological examination must be done by someone who is an expert. Chiropractors who hawk these treatments using fancy web sites and DVDs that they mail out have to be held accountable by the CCO. Their record of policing chiropractors who run these money machines is terrible. The fact that Health Canada approved these devices is another matter. Their Device Branch is incompetent and have approved a huge number of questionable devices over the years, not just these decompression devices.

I had spinal decompression and I am in more pain than I ever have been. I also suffered a mini stroke while having this treatment. I was told not to walk in stores , that I was to use a handicap scooter and I had to wear a back brace for many months. I am seeing a surgeon now and a pain clinic. Now all of my discs are bulging and I also have a tear where the machine was set to pull at. This treatment was so bad for me that I took 2 tylenol #3's and did nothing. The Chiro doctor told me to get something stronger and then I ended up on percocet, just to handle the treatment. For many months and 24 treatments, he continued to tell me he wouldn't stop until I was better. I have demanded my money back for a treatment that caused me more damage. And nothing returned. I need help with this matter

A follow up to my earlier comments. Have you received any positive comments that have been witheld by the review process?

I am currently undergoing SDT in Halifax, I just recently began the treatments. This program has certainly raised warning bells, but in fairness to the Low Back Clinic, you seem to overlook the success stories. 15 years ago when I first went to a chiropractor my doctor was alarmed at my use of such a crazy treatment. Now Chiropractic is widely accepted, the same applies to acupuncture and other treatments. My concern with your program is that you only look at the failures. Your slamming of Herbal Magic is another example. With every treatment, be it for back pain , weight loss, or a tooth ache , there will be successes AND failures. I will continue my treatment, and hopefully end up in the success column.
Sincerely, Dan Fulton

Wow, I am really torn. This is my 1 yr anniversary of having Spinal Decompression and even though it did not completely fix my herniated disc (as advertised), it did however stop the constant shooting (sciatica) pain. As a result of the treatment, I am now able to garden, exercise, hike, tour, dance and do so much more than I was able to a year ago. I do have to be cautious because I do encounter pain if I over-do it but as far as I'm concerned, I am still recovering and only getting stronger with my continued stretches and activities. Mr. Sutherland, there may still be hope, my husband and I decided that we couldn't afford NOT to try it. We were apart for 6 weeks but we feel it was worth it. Best of Wishes! In my opinion this procedure has worked for me and I still recommend it to other's with back pain as a non-operatable option.

Hi Danny,

I would definitely recommend having an appropriate exam made by the professionnals that will be treating you. These types of treatments give case by case results, and the people treating you should make the decision whether the DRX-9000 is the right treatment for your wife, after reviewing her case and her case history. These treatments might be good for some conditions, but for others, they might not be appropriate. Simply make sure that all these precautions have been done prior to starting the treatments.

Sadly enough you have once more started on a good foot by attempting to expose a scam. Unfortunately, in your usual bias way you have omitted to mention that Dr. Hamilton Hall, is or at least was the medical director of CBI Health in Toronto (aka a competing rehabilitation facility). Don't get me wrong, I do not believe in the low back clinic and I was happy to see them "exposed". Unfortunately this possible conflict of interest has made me question your integrity.

I'm watching your show right now and I feel that I should share with you the fact that I used to suffer from lower back pain until I learned on my own a simple stretch that I do every morning in my bed before I get up, which takes about 5 minutes and I never have lower back pain as long as I do this every morning. I have shown this to my friends whom suffered from the same and it works for them as well. Best of all it costs nothing and I feel GREAT!!

If your interested you can contact me.

Brad

I have been for an assessment after a car accident left me with back problems. I was scheduled to return but told them that I could not afford the treatments. After my assessment, I began having the worse disabilitating pain that you could imagine and was recently taken to ER. I was a little scared to return to the clinic and will be looking forward to your report this evening. I want as much information that I can get before something happens again but this time I loose the use of my leg permanently.
Thank you for looking into this!!!

I risked $3250 in hope of getting relief for a chronic disk condition. After 20 treatments I was convinced that this is a well funded scam that preys on people desperate for relief.
The consumer protection branch needs to investigate their claims and put them out of business.

I want my money back!

Stretching the Truth says it all as far as our experience goes with "decompression" at a clinic in Toronto. My husband and I spent $6000.00(pre-paid before treatment)We were told that "we were curable"The bottom line is- we are not cured.In hindsight, we consider that the treatment was merely computerised traction and was most definitely sensationalized in the advertisements in the Toronto Star.At this particular clinic, part of the treatment was a 1-oz. drink that they said had amazing healing qualities. We later found that it was an algae mixture from a lake in Oregon and can be purchased at Health Food stores. According to product label, it must be taken daily and in larger quantities in order to be effective.(Stretching the Truth)
We also inhaled oxygen as part of the program for further benefit. We later found out that there is no scientific backing for this.(Stretching the Truth)

I have suffered from low back pain due to bulging discs for 10 years. From physiotherapy to chiropractice, it still comes and goes every year, every time from 1 month to a few months. But for the past 2 years, I have been almost pain free. I believe it must be a result of these 3 cures:
- A slow injection of pain killer directly to the problem discs done by Vietnamese French Hospital in Vietnam (not available here in BC).
- Disc decompression therapy in BC
- Regular disc decompression by inversion table and pull-up bar.
I cannot pinpoint which one exactly helped me pain free for 2 years. I know for sure that the slow, direct injection relieves the pain instantly but also temporarily. So I can only conclude that spinal decompression works, either by the traction table or inversion table.

My physiotherapist said that for people with my type of back problem, there was an 80% success rate with decompression therapy, but there was no guarantee of success. I understood and accepted the risk of failure, but as people with chronic back pain will attest, when offered any opportunity relieve the pain, most will want to believe that the odds are in their favour and will accept the risk of failure. After 30 consecutive days, with 30 minute treatments costing over $3000, I received no positive results from decompression therapy. Although drugs are not the answer, $3000 buys allot of ibuprofen.

Being that I have undergone seven back operations I will view this program with a lot of interest.

Hi: I suffered from sciatica caused by a herniated disk for practically all of last year. I tried every possible treatment from accupuncture to physio, chiropractic etc. I came sooooo close to going for Spinal Decompression. I consulted two different chiropractors, and I can tell you their approach is very smooth and convincing. The second guy guaranteed success, (not in writing, of course), claimed a 90% success rate, and has four machines going from 6am till 8pm. It's likely that the "success" stories would gotten better using conventional treatments. Luckily for me, he didn't pass the smell test. I ended up having a micro discectomy two weeks ago, and am feeling confident of a complete recovery. Three cheers for the Canadian Medical System! These clowns are using false advertising to take advantage of people whose judgement is clouded by intractable pain.

Thankyou, for finally stepping up and reporting on this decompression therapy for back pain.
I was employed by a chiropractor for 3 years selling and promoting this decompression therapy to unsuspecting and naive patients who were desperate for back pain relief. If you want more information please email me.

"We find it troubling that the so called, "Back Doctors", are now "stretching" to capture what we believe is a diminishing market.
Given the negative recent media exposure of the dangers of upper Neck Manipulation, we are just as concerned over this new non-scientific ploy.

Can you say...Junk Science?

We fear that more important than the bilking of desperate victims from their hard earned cash, will be the number of casualties as a result of this unscientific nonsense."

Common sense is not so common after all.
Dave & Sandy Nette

I strongly recommend you to read the pdf link I give you below : "Lumbar Disk Protusion During VAX-D Traction 1555". If you type that ,words by words , google should be able to give you that as first result . It's an article from the Mayo Clinic december 2003 vol 78 . It's about the danger of using spninal decompression in a particular case .

This is going to be GREAT! "Spinal decompression" is nothing new, its traction, which has been practiced for thousands of years. The claims this machine, and some chiros are making about it are misleading to put it niceley

The stretching the truth preview wont play on my computer. I'm very concerned. I'm travelling from Timmins to Waterloo with a $5600 dollar loan for a 5-week treatment. We sent 2-MRIs they phoned saying my wife was a prime candidate and they will relief 90% of her pain. She has spinal stenosis and our doctor says operating is dangerous and a last resort. Hoping to relief some pain and get her off percs.This is big for us with our community chipping in 1500 to help. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I SHOULD BE CONCERNED! The patients our family found and talked to said they have been pain free for two years?
PLEASE REPLY SOON HEADING OUT TOMORROW AS i'VE TAKEN TIME OFF WORK. THANKS:DANNY