Doctor with Severe Cervical Spondylosis

MRI ANALYSIS OF CERVICAL SPINE (Copy from report of Radiologist)

Sagittal images in two sequences and axial images through the disc spaces were obtained.
Cervical spondylosis and disc degeneration were seen at C5/C6 and C6/C7.

At C4/C5, there was cervical spondylosis. There was significant central canal stenosis at C4/C5 and C5/C6 and the spinal cord was indented at these levels.

At C5/C6 and C6/C7, there was narrowing of both lateral recesses while at C4/C5 there was narrowing of left lateral recess.

The spinal cord at C4/C5 and C5/C6 had a narrowed AP diameter due to longstanding central canal stenosis.

Vertebral marrow signal was normal.

No significant tonsillar descent noted at the craniocervical junction.

CONCLUSION

1. Cervical spondylosis from C4/C5 to C6/C7.
2. Disc degeneration at C5/C6 and C6/C7.
3. Central canal stenosis at C4/C5 and C5/C6 with narrowing of spinal cord in the AP diameter.
4. Narrowed lateral recesses bilaterally at C5/C6 and C6/C7 and narrowed left lateral recess at C4/C5.
   

GENERAL SYMPTOMS EXPERIENCED BY PATIENT:

Prior to Sonotron Therapy, throughout the previous 3 years, patient complained of pain upon awakening in the morning at a level of 5 out of 10 (0 - no pain, 10 excruciating pain). Patient felt that level of pain when he used a special cervical pillow to sleep. Without it, his pain level would rise to around 7 - 8 out of 10.

To reduce his pain, ice (packed in a plastic bad) had to be applied to his neck, He would then feel his pain reduced to a score of 3 out of 10. By about 12 p.m., patient's pain would return to a level of 8 out of 10. He would then apply ice to his neck again, to lower his pain level. But by 3 - 4pm, his pain would return to the previous level of 8 out of 10.

Before going to sleep, patient would apply ice once more and sometimes would have to sleep with a soft collar plus a hypnotic drug.

Patient had tried many types of therapy before the Sonotron treatment, among which were the following.

Physiotherapy treatment

The patient received physiotherapy treatment from June 8th till July 28th, 1995.

June 8 - June 16 - daily treatments.

17 June - 28 July - 3 times a week.

Each therapy session lasted about an hour. He was treated with 3 kinds of therapeutic devices, each one took 20 minutes. The therapies were:

Ultrasound therapy 20 minutes
Interferential therapy 20 minutes
Short-wave therapy 20 minutes

After each session, he felt relief from pain for only 3 hours each time.

Magnetic wave therapy

The patient was introduced to the above therapy on or around July 14, 1995. He received one of such therapies in Kuala Lumpur.

He was given this therapy, both morning and night for 4 days, each session lasting about an hour.

Two types of appliances were used to treat his neck pain. One was in the form of a bed and the other consisted of 4 rings, the diameter of which were bigger than that of his body's. Treatment by the former took 20 minutes while the latter took 30 minutes to complete.

He felt no relief at all after treatment and had to immediately visit a physiotherapist near the University Hospital in Kuala Lumpur for help.

Physiotherapist with Chronic Knee Pain

The patient, a 51 year old Physiotherapist, had pain in her left knee for 1 year. Had undergone physiotherapy treatment with Short Wave, Ultra-sound and Interferential, on and off, for 5 months. Was also on medication (Tilcotil - one tablet daily). She observed no improvement in her condition. She decided to stop the medication 3 months prior to the start of Sonotron Therapy.

GENERAL SYMPTOMS EXPERIENCED BY PATIENT:

Prior to the start of Sonotron therapy, patient complained of pain in her left knee whenever she bent her leg or squatted. She also felt the pain when sitting cross-legged. She could not pray in that position at all. She reported a pain score of 7 out of 10 when bending her legs. Her pain score rose to 9 out of 10 when she forced herself to sit cross-legged. She also observed that her left knee was slightly swollen on one side.

RESULT AFTER 1ST THERAPY SESSION ON MAY 16, 1995.

Before the Sonotron treatment, she was asked to locate by herself, the most painful spot in her knee. She located it by bending her left knee, at which time, she reported a pain score of 7 out of 10 and a pain score of 9 out of 10 when she tried to sit with her legs crossed.

Immediately after the treatment, she felt no more pain. She reported a pain score of 0 out of 10 on bending. When she sat with legs crossed, she only experienced a pain score of 3 out of 10.


RESULT AFTER 2ND THERAPY SESSION ON MAY 17, 1995.

In the morning of the 2nd therapy session, she only felt a bit of pain when sitting cross legged on the floor while praying. She reported her pain score to be around 2 out of 10 at her L-knee. But she didn't feel any pain on bending. It had disappeared. She also observed that the slight swelling on one side of her knee had also disappeared. When she sat cross legged, she experienced a pain score of only 2 out of 10.

Immediately after treatment, she registered an improvement in her pain, at a score of 1 out of 10, when she sat cross legged .


RESULT AFTER 3RD THERAPY SESSION ON MAY 18, 1995.

In the morning of the 3rd therapy session, when she had to sit cross legged during prayer time, she reported a pain score of around 1 out of 10 at her L-knee and her pain on bending did not return even on that day.

After therapy, she reported no pain at all when sitting cross legged on the floor. She commented that she felt much better and her comment about the treatment was "excellent".


RESULT ON MAY 19, 1995.

She reported that she had totally no pain when sitting cross legged on the floor as well as when bending her knees.

Although she was advised to continue with one or two more sessions to get a better overall treatment, she felt it was no longer necessary. Therefore, no treatment was administered to her on that day.


RESULT ON MAY 20, 1995.

The patient felt the same pain-free condition on this day. No treatment was given to her as she felt it was again not necessary.

GENERAL COMMENT

1. Pain score was measured by patient, using his best judgment.

2. Pain Score 0  - No pain
Pain Score 10 - Excruciating pain

3. Operator of device was always the same person.

4. Interactive communication was always encouraged between patient and operator of  device in order to gauge the degree of improvement in patient's problem as treatment  progressed. Treatment ended when patient felt comfortable enough or when pain disappeared.