MED X

MedX Machines

MedX machines are unique, computerized back strengthening machines that have been widely studied in the university setting. They were developed by Arthur Jones, the inventor of Nautilus exercise equipment. A simple test procedure shows one’s strength compared to normal individuals. It also tracks a person’s progress during each visit.

A MedX workout twice a week for several weeks can alleviate back pain and prevent back injuries, and a recent study indicates that the MedX might even prevent back surgery. In the study, 60 patients who were surgical candidates did resistive extension exercise on the MedX. Forty-six of the 60 participants completed the program, with only three of them requiring surgery.

Read about MedX in the Wall Street Journal

A Unique Case-Fusion Surgery Avoided
Martin Hyman’s Story
“I’m 72 now and feel great. Yet, in my lifetime I have been offered five surgeries, radiation, and lots of pills, often with weird side effects. Over a period of 50 years I’ve dealt successfully with severe low back problems, ulcers, prostate cancer, and an ominous family history of heart disease.

In each case I looked for another idea and resisted getting stampeded into predictable treatment. I read a lot and interviewed doctors. I would even call the author of a book or article on the subject. I always ask the same question. What is the minority opinion of a treatment and who are they? Who are these doctors that are literally going against the flow? Each time I found the maverick, the individualist with the courage to go his own way. Often they were insulted by colleagues, refused publication, and denied an audience.

The success I experienced in going against the common way of thinking in other battles set me up for resolving what had been a dominating problem since the age of 19 when I hurt my low back in a factory lifting accident.

Two top orthopedic surgeons recommended fusion surgery and my folks and I declined. The next 20 years was full of therapy, bed rest, chiropractic adjustments, pills, heat, and cold packs, and a fair amount of depression. Everything helped, but nothing cured me. Then I read a book by a grateful patient of Dr. Alex Thompson.

Dr. Thompson showed me how to adjust my own sacroiliac and he did Prolotherapy on me…I was one of the early ones. The Prolotherapy and sacral adjustments helped stabilize me for years, until two years ago when a disc herniated. This time there was no relief. No physical therapy would help. An MRI showed a 12 mm bulge in the disc. My mindset was that I had an injury and a top surgeon told me that an operation was my only solution. My resolve against surgery weakened and so I scheduled the operation. But the week before, an old friend suggested that I consult with Marc Darrow, M.D.

The first day when I walked in bent over like a “C” was the beginning of magic. Dr. Darrow was not only reassuring, but almost presumptuous that he could cure me. My first treatment that day was with an MRA, a magnet resonance analyzer. The relief was so immediate that I went home and canceled the surgery. What followed was amazing. More MRA, then a wonderful form of chiropractic, then MedX, a back To me, the MedX machine approached a miracle. I found that I gradually let go of the fixation of my disc protrusion causing my pain, and replaced it with a loving and healing optimism. Today I’m healed, my back is incredibly strong.

I have gone from 70 pounds of resistance on the MedX to 180 pounds, and I haven’t had a MedX treatment in a year. I maintained by doing yard work and going to the gym five days a week.

I guess what I’ve learned is this, that each doctor and therapist has his own bag of tricks, and if you go through it and they don’t help, you should move

Believe you can be better. Let a positive mind work for you. Find the doctor and the staff that gives you energy. Most of all be open to new ideas. Be curious. Ask questions. Participate in your own care.

If your doctor doesn’t interact, listen, or have time for you, change doctors. Today, alternative therapies are more visible and accessible than ever. Yesterday’s mavericks are approaching mainstream.

But, fortunately there will always be others.