DRX 9000
This is a thread posted in category: Social / Support . . View All Heel Pain CategoriesPosted by JimM on 2/07/07 at 12:48
Posted by Oma Z on 2/08/07 at 11:38
Your back needs time to heal. Stay away from skiing. How about some swimming in an indoor pool or gentle yoga stretching? Don't go ruining all the treatments by going skiing. Drink plenty of fluids. Remember, you are rehydrating the discs. Extra Calcium/magnesium/boron/D3 complex. 1500 mg while you're in the healing process and then you can go back to 1000. (calicium - make it citrate.) Calcium carbonate is very poorly absorbed and you may as well be pooring your money in the toilet as that's where it's going. Try eating 11 fruits and vegetables per day. Lay off the wheat, a highly inflammatory food as well as potatoes - unless you are B bloodtype, then they should be ok. (I only have potatoes for Christmas and Easter and when we reallize how bad they make us feel then the rest end up getting thrown out.)
Get rice pasta (brown rice pasta by Tinkyada or Trader Joes is private labeled by them is the best kind, ezekiel bread, rice crackers. There's really good replacements out there. Use oils that are not high in the 6 and 9 omegas but more 3's. USe olive, grapeseed, almond and coconut.
It would have been helpful to have Dry hydrotherapy (water massage bed) or hotpack to warm up muscles before the treatment and the electrostim (Horizontal Therapy best for long term pain relief) during or right after you were treated. It makes a difference and prevents spasming.
Posted by maria s on 2/19/07 at 00:20
Posted by Dan on 9/10/07 at 15:40
Posted by Jim on 9/10/07 at 23:41
If a doctor was induced to purchase by being told it was: patented, using the assocication of NASA to give it credibility, was FDA approved (not just a registered FDA device getting the 510K clearance based on being similar in safety and effectiveness to its predicate device), shown studies purported to be DRX studies but done on other equipment, 86% study done by ex-con MD, etc.
Doctors want to practice and make patients well. They really don't want to be involved in all of this controversy. Doctors across the country that have the DRX are not happy with the snow job they got from Axiom. For some it has affected their credibility when the state of Oregon came out with their Attorney General's 'junk science' press release of their findings of the DRX9000. But they have a $100K piece of equipment they have to pay for every month.
The equipment works, I believe. I think Dan probably needed to take more time off or start out lifting lower loads. If your herniation was less than one year old, usually 20 treatments takes care of it. I also believe that the treatment should be 45 minutes and not 28 minutes. That protocol sure got cut in half. If you have multiple levels of herniations and older than one year, you are going to need more than 20 treatments. 20 treatments is for less than one year single herniations. Some need 30. Some will have to go back for maintenance. I know of a patient that goes in every week for his 'maintenance' treatment. He lives for golf and when he first came into the doctor's office he was all hunched over and was not able to play. After his initial therapy, it just feels really good for him to get his weekly 45 minute therapy. He also has the discretionary income to do so.
So if you've done the PT route, the injections, the pain killers, the surgery without any hardware, and you're told you're just going to have to live with the pain, then by all means have spinal decompression therapy. It works in the higher percentage of those that do not have the contraindications for it.
It's just the wild stories that Axiom told to get their equipment sold and duped doctors that really just want to help their patients get well, that garbage came from Axiom's owners. They want to blame everyone else, but the two core owners of Axiom and your loyal henchmen, shame on you. You've made a mockery out of truth and honesty and doctors wanting to do the right thing.
Posted by Mark on 10/23/07 at 22:06
i have searched for this lawsuit you mentioned, but could not find it. are you certain it is happening?
mark
Posted by Rebecca H. on 12/30/07 at 20:17
Posted by DCT on 12/30/07 at 22:31
Posted by Dr. Steve B. on 1/04/08 at 16:03
Seems to me there may have been 2 'idiots' in that treatment room.
If something caused you extreme pain, why didn't you stop immediately? (You failed to mention your weight) Also, you actually paid $200 for a free service? You got one idea right, the one about the 'Rocket Scientist', a rocket scientist you surely are not. Anyone who would consider paying almost $10K for this treatment, when it can be delivered for a fraction of this, should surely shop around. If something doesn't feel right, or arouses your suspicions, run away, do some research, make a decision.
Dr. Steve
Posted by Oma Z on 1/04/08 at 17:52
Posted by pebo on 2/09/08 at 09:40
Pasteur, Lister, Jarvik, Exarhos and Becerra...
Bogus studies, bogus equipment. Why has everyone fallen for this? Has anyone ever heard of the word placebo?
Posted by backpain on 2/13/08 at 13:33
Posted by john h on 2/14/08 at 09:24
Posted by lioness on 2/14/08 at 15:58
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 2/14/08 at 16:34
DC's are not the only providers offering this service lioness but your bias is duly noted.
Posted by lioness on 2/18/08 at 20:57
Like it or not, I think the decompression scam has hit its high point and people are starting to figure out that this was nothing but quakery and file it in the proper place.
Posted by john h on 2/19/08 at 10:09
Posted by One Hit Wonders on 2/20/08 at 20:23
NOBODY WINS THIS WAY GUYS!!! NOT THE COMPETITION, NOT CHIROPRACTIC!!
Wake up, There are more important obstacles ahead.
ig·no·rance (ĭg'nər-əns)
n. Definition: The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed.
Posted by lioness on 2/20/08 at 23:29
Posted by Brooklyn Guy on 2/20/08 at 23:58
Brooklyn Teacher With Slipped Disc Also Sues Chiropractor and Hospitals
By Ryan Thompson
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
ADAMS STREET — It began with a slipped disc in her back. Now the Brooklyn public school teacher says she can barely walk.
Her lawyer claims that despite having undergone surgery, she has permanent bowel and bladder dysfunction, and that she must use a scooter to move around. And it’s all because of her chiropractor and his DRX9000, the lawsuit claims.
Michelle Feinman, a 44-year-old physical-education teacher at Tilden High School, filed a medical-malpractice and products-liability lawsuit in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Tuesday. She alleges that the DRX9000 spinal-decompression machine, which is used in chiropractic offices around the country, is partly responsible for her injuries. She is suing the machine’s manufacturer, the Brooklyn chiropractor, and doctors at Beth Israel and St. Luke’s-Roosevelt hospitals, as well as the hospitals themselves.
“Ms. Feinman was failed on every level,” said her attorney, Jonathan C. Reiter. “She was failed by her chiropractor who recommended treatment with the [DRX9000]; she was misled by the manufacturer’s false claims of safety and efficacy;
Posted by CA Attorney on 2/21/08 at 08:49
I can smell the blood.
Posted by cdeewilliams on 2/21/08 at 09:00
They said I'd make $500,000 a year on this and its nothing more than a crazy looking traction machine with TV sitting on top that been broken for 8 months. I think I'm going to lose $500,000 when all is said and done. I guess I got caught up in the hype from Axiom. Oh well, live and learn I guess.
Reminds me of an old refrigerator with TV sitting on top of it.
I just want it out of my office!!
Posted by cdeewilliams on 2/21/08 at 09:11
They said I'd make $500,000+ a year on the DRX 9000 and its nothing more than a crazy looking traction machine with TV sitting on top that been broken for 8 months. I think I'm going to lose $500,000 when all is said and done. I guess I got caught up in the hype from Axiom. Oh well, live and learn I guess.
Reminds me of an old refrigerator with TV sitting on top of it.
I just want it out of my office!!
Posted by cdeewilliams on 2/21/08 at 09:17
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 2/21/08 at 11:52
I seriously doubt that you can be sued just for owning one of these machines, but as CA Attorney said the blood is in the water and amidst the backlash of class actions lawsuits against the manufacturer God only knows who will be sued next. We do after all live in a very litigious society.
Although I feel some compassion for my colleagues who bought these profligately expensive machines, the deception and malfeasance this entire subculture of greed has brought upon the public welfare diminishes those feelings greatly. If you bought into Axiom's fatuous claims of wealth and marketing sleight-of-hand then you can only blame yourself when the chips fall and your financial windfall turns into a financial and professional disaster.
Doctors do not get achieve their reputations, status and income via gimmicks and unproven modalities; they achieve these things by honing their acumen and abilities within their chosen filed by providing honest and reliable outcomes for the afflicted, their ethics and by serving the public good. This is not the formula this wave of deceptive marketing and mechanical cure-alls is built upon.
If I were in any of these doctors shoes I would seriously consider distancing myself as far as possible from any company that makes such illusory and unsubstantiated claims and lines its own pockets on the misery of the suffering. Get back to the basics and help patients with what you were taught and licensed to adequately provide.
I often wonder if malpractice insurance covers a device or treatment that is not a core part of the curriculum in medical school or chiropractic college or any of their associated board exams.
Posted by pbr on 2/24/08 at 15:31
Maybe if they packaged leeches in a pretty package and claimed they were from outer space, Axiom would have the next $100 million company...
Posted by Axiom on 2/25/08 at 16:31
Axiom Worldwide
Posted by CA Attorney on 2/25/08 at 17:05
By Ryan Thompson
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
ADAMS STREET — It began with a slipped disc in her back. Now the Brooklyn public school teacher says she can barely walk.
Her lawyer claims that despite having undergone surgery, she has permanent bowel and bladder dysfunction, and that she must use a scooter to move around. And it’s all because of her chiropractor and his DRX9000, the lawsuit claims.
Michelle Feinman, a 44-year-old physical-education teacher at Tilden High School, filed a medical-malpractice and products-liability lawsuit in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Tuesday against Axiom Worldwide in Tampa Florida. She alleges that the DRX 9000 spinal-decompression machine, which is used in chiropractic offices around the country, is partly responsible for her injuries. She is suing the machine’s manufacturer, the Brooklyn chiropractor, and doctors at Beth Israel and St. Luke’s-Roosevelt hospitals, as well as the hospitals themselves.
“Ms. Feinman was failed on every level,” said her attorney, Jonathan C. Reiter. “She was failed by her chiropractor who recommended treatment with the [DRX9000]; she was misled by the manufacturer’s false claims of safety and efficacy;
Posted by JLH on 2/25/08 at 17:20
Axiom instructs DRX 9000 clinic owners how to defraud insurance companies in the training manuals that come with the machine.
Axiom provides false advertising materials … in the form of slick infomercials and print advertising … as part of the DRX-9000 package.
Claims of FDA approval are distorted and misrepresented as a selling point in the commercials. The truth is, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has never evaluated the machine for safety or effectiveness. As it turns out, the DRX was grandfathered in because it is similar to other traction tables and, therefore, considered an existing medical device.
The claim by Axiom that their machine is based on NASA research is a total fabrication. NASA has never played a part in the development of the DRX or any other spinal decompression machine.
http://realpt.blogspot.com/
Posted by pantomime on 2/25/08 at 17:33
Posted by TeriK on 2/25/08 at 22:54
She paid $1800 on a credit card the day of the first treatment and ten days later she was told she would need ten more treatments to completely help her back pain.She then gave her back card once again for $2000.
When I found out about these treatments and called the Doctor she became very defensive and said that the patient seemed to understand
what she told her and was helped by the treatments.
The truth is, my Mother in law thought she was going to be reimbursed the money on her income tax return(she was told this when she signed up). Also, she had a fall several weeks after treatment stopped and the same back pain was back ( not to mention the fractured hip!)
When we investigated further, we found that the back pain was from her mattress with springs coming out. We purchased a new bed and her back pain has not returned once!
I am a hospice nurse and it breaks my heart to see these Practioners take money from the elderly and give them false hope.
She would probably have tried anything if you promised to take the pain away.
I wonder how many savings accounts have been robbed from the elderly?
Posted by TeriK on 2/25/08 at 22:54
She paid $1800 on a credit card the day of the first treatment and ten days later she was told she would need ten more treatments to completely help her back pain.She then gave her back card once again for $2000.
When I found out about these treatments and called the Doctor she became very defensive and said that the patient seemed to understand
what she told her and was helped by the treatments.
The truth is, my Mother in law thought she was going to be reimbursed the money on her income tax return(she was told this when she signed up). Also, she had a fall several weeks after treatment stopped and the same back pain was back ( not to mention the fractured hip!)
When we investigated further, we found that the back pain was from her mattress with springs coming out. We purchased a new bed and her back pain has not returned once!
I am a hospice nurse and it breaks my heart to see these Practioners take money from the elderly and give them false hope.
She would probably have tried anything if you promised to take the pain away.
I wonder how many savings accounts have been robbed from the elderly?
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 2/25/08 at 23:12
Unfortunately there are bad apples in every profession and we read about them first.
You should consider filing a complaint with the Board of Chiropractic Examiners in her state if her treatment is not indicated for that machine. If more people would report these tragically reprobate doctors the public safety would improve.
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 2/25/08 at 23:12
Unfortunately there are bad apples in every profession and we read about them first.
You should consider filing a complaint with the Board of Chiropractic Examiners in her state if her treatment is not indicated for that machine. If more people would report these tragically reprobate doctors the public safety would improve.
Posted by Dr. Nguyen on 2/26/08 at 08:14
I just found this and find it interesting as I do my research on decompression therapy. There seems to be some real distaste for the DRX 9000. The problem is that there seems to be a lot legal in this industry and wonder how the companies can survive. It seems as though Axiom Worldwide is smothered in lawsuits.
In order for any industry to be strong and new edge, they need to be putting money into R&D and not lawsuits. I am wondering when I will see some study in the NEJM or such notable journal. Until then, it seems dissapointing and probably false positives.
Posted by CA Attorney on 2/26/08 at 08:33
By KEITH MORELLI
The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA - Agents from the FBI raided Axiom Worldwide this morning, carrying boxes and bags to a large white van parked in a disabled parking spot in front of the business.
They said nothing about the investigation or what they were confiscating.
Axiom Worldwide is a medical supply manufacturing and delivery business that is located at 9423 Corporate Lakes Drive, just north of the Anderson Road ramp to the Veterans Expressway.
The flagship product of the business is a device that is sold to doctors who treat back pain. The spinal decompression table is designed to relieve lower back pain, according to the company’s Web site.
Telephone calls to Axiom, which designs, which also builds and delivers other non-surgical instruments, went unanswered during the raid
Posted by chirorehabdoc on 2/26/08 at 12:20
Posted by Bizarre? on 2/26/08 at 21:39
Please view the following story titled, 'No More Ads for Artificial Heart Inventor'
Link: (Copy & Paste)
http://news.aol.com/health/story/ar/_a/no-more-ads-for-artificial-heart/20080226094209990001
If members of Congress feel that consumers are in being mislead in their Ads, but the product does in fact work based on clinical research, what does that make the manufacturer?
Posted by Mark on 3/13/08 at 08:59
http://axiomlawsuit.freeforums.org/index.php
http://axiomworldwidelawsuit.blogspot.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/axiomlawsuit/web/class-action-lawsuit-against-axiom-worldwide
It seems that there is at least one class action lawsuit against Axiom for fraudulent claims.
Posted by Mark on 3/13/08 at 09:02
[url]http://axiomlawsuit.freeforums.org/index.php[url]
[url]http://axiomworldwidelawsuit.blogspot.com/[url]
[url]http://groups.google.com/group/axiomlawsuit/web/class-action-lawsuit-against-axiom-worldwide[url]
It seems that there is at least one class action lawsuit against Axiom for fraudulent claims.
Posted by china bobcat on 3/14/08 at 12:56
Good thing they make a small fortune off of each DRX 9000 machine they sell because their legal bills must be in the millions!
Posted by chirorehab on 3/15/08 at 16:29
AXIOM WORLWIDE/DRX-9000
Phone: 813-249-6444
Fax: 813-249-6445
9423 CORPORATE LAKE DRIVE
TAMPA, Florida, 33634
U.S.A.
Steve
Las Vegas, Nevada
President & CEO Jim Gibson fails to respond.
I have had back pain for some time and found an interesting ad in the newspaper about a therapy called the DRX-9000 manufactured by AXIOM in Tampa Florida. I went to see a local Chiropractor, Christopher Houtakker, and Mountainside Chiropractic, Henderson Nevada.
This was supposed to cure my back pain. He did a few nuero tests and he confirmed what I told him. without x-rays we started treatment. He promised as did the makers of this equipment, (DRX-9000) that my degenerative Disc problem would be fixed, disc repaired and any lost space at the L-5 area be fixed, in other words the padding loss would re-appear! Twenty five treatments later, no improvement, and no money back.
Several months later I had an opportunity to have an MRI and have all degenerative discs not just at L-5, and NO padding at L-5,S-1 and have been told by many Doctors, other Chiropractors and surgeons that promising me results without even an x-ray was indeed a hoax.
I wanted to go after the Chiropractor, Christopher Houtakker, Mountainside Chiropractic and I need proof that the makers of the DRX-9000 would not and did not make such outrageous claims of repair and restoration.
What did I get from AXIOM in Tampa Florida? NOTHING!
I wrote Jim Gibson, President & CEO:
He said they do not give Medical advice and if I keep faxing them they will sue me!
Stay far away from this company and the DRX-9000! Save your money and see a physical therapist.
Steve
Las Vegas, Nevada
U.S.A.
Posted by Chuck Rob. on 3/16/08 at 14:55
.Posted by Chuck Rob. on 3/16/08 at 14:55
.Posted by Axiom on 3/18/08 at 11:01
Long time; no fax or threatening phone calls. Please tell the readers the true story of how we explained that we cannot practice medicine without a license and how we referred you back to your doctor for medical advice. I mean really Steve, did anyone at Axiom do a work-up on you, take your medical history, or review any MRI reports? Of course not and therefore we would be remiss in dispensing any medical opinion whatsoever. Sounds like your issue is with your doctor and not Axiom.
Now, please share with the readers your irrational behavior of tieing up our fax lines by sending 100's of blank pages repeatedly day in and day out and thereby preventing us from doing business utilizing this form of communication. We did save them all and have them in a box.
Now, please share with the readers how you continued to do this after we wrote to you and asked you to stop this; more than once I may add.
Now, please share with the readers the threatening phone calls and messages left for me personally. I did save one, shall I post the WAV file for everyone to hear?
Truly, I am sorry the treatment did not work for you, And, in all honesty it will not work for everybody. But, please if you are going to express your opinion I think it only fair you tell the whole story.
Gary Dixon
Axiom Worldwide
Posted by Axiom on 3/18/08 at 11:45
In the prospectus they list out multiple lawsuits that they are involved in. In fact, they recently settled with American Express for 1.2 billion dollars.
Let me ask you, did you stop using your VISA card because of all of these lawsuits? Of course not! I would even venture to say that the majority of you did not even know they exist. EXACTLY! Because they choose to handle these things in the appropriate way and that is in the court system. In fact, neither VISA or American Express has made a huge public relations issue of their disagreement; it would be inappropriate to do so.
This is not an isolated case; check any other major company doing business in the U.S. Therefore, take all of this into consideration before before you subscribe to the hype and please, do not be deluded in failing to understand the motivation behind such messages.
Axiom will continue to walk the 'high-road' and fight these battles in their appropriate forum. All will be revealed in public documents at the approprate time. We find no benefit to our customers, the profession, or the industry as a whole in perpetuating this kind of activity.
Finally, are all of our customers happy; absolutely not, but we strive to make this the case. What I can say is that with over 1700 installed systems; we have more happy customers than unhappy customers and we will continue to strive for perfection.
Gary Dixon
Axiom Worldwide
Posted by Axiom on 3/18/08 at 11:45
In the prospectus they list out multiple lawsuits that they are involved in. In fact, they recently settled with American Express for 1.2 billion dollars.
Let me ask you, did you stop using your VISA card because of all of these lawsuits? Of course not! I would even venture to say that the majority of you did not even know they exist. EXACTLY! Because they choose to handle these things in the appropriate way and that is in the court system. In fact, neither VISA or American Express has made a huge public relations issue of their disagreement; it would be inappropriate to do so.
This is not an isolated case; check any other major company doing business in the U.S. Therefore, take all of this into consideration before before you subscribe to the hype and please, do not be deluded in failing to understand the motivation behind such messages.
Axiom will continue to walk the 'high-road' and fight these battles in their appropriate forum. All will be revealed in public documents at the approprate time. We find no benefit to our customers, the profession, or the industry as a whole in perpetuating this kind of activity.
Finally, are all of our customers happy; absolutely not, but we strive to make this the case. What I can say is that with over 1700 installed systems; we have more happy customers than unhappy customers and we will continue to strive for perfection.
Gary Dixon
Axiom Worldwide
Posted by BjP on 3/24/08 at 00:11
I have done the ice, heat, ibuprofen, exercises, massage, cortisone injections, vicoden, percoset, homeopathic anti-inflamatories. And I still can't walk normal, nor can I hike or climb....two things I love the most that put me where I want to be...outdoors.
SO regardless of what you think of the DRX 9000 (which I am researching, hence how I came to read your ogre-ish post)...lower back pain due to nerve impingement is one of the most exquisite forms of pain that you may ever have occasion to feel. No one wants to be cheated out of their money...but I finally understand that people experiencing real pain are willing to try almost anything to get their life back. Some of us do research, and try to find information on procedures before we try them...but I personally know people who have experienced life-changing releif due a treatment regimen that included the DRX9000.
But in the future, until you know what real pain is....please take your aspirin as a suppository...that way it has less distance to travel to your brain.
Posted by LG on 3/27/08 at 13:11
Last June, I informed all of you that Ren Scott Productions had decided to discontinue its association with Axiom Worldwide and the DRX 9000. While I didn’t offer much of an explanation at the time, I think most of you sensed that my decision to terminate the relationship was related to Axiom’s apparent legal problems. That, indeed, was the case.
As an independent contactor hired to produce videos for Axiom, I relied on the accuracy of claims and representations made by Axiom management about its products. Unfortunately, over the last year or so, a number of legal proceedings have called into question the accuracy of some of those representations.
Therefore, I am no longer comfortable as a spokesperson or representative for Axiom Worldwide in the company’s videos and marketing. Accordingly, I have demanded that Axiom cease and desist using my image or likeness.
It is our hope that Axiom Worldwide will respect our requests.
Posted by scott r on 3/27/08 at 16:59
Posted by CA Attorney on 3/27/08 at 17:14
This post was deleted because it may have contained advertising.
Posts Deleted by Scott R
Posted by CA Attorney on 3/27/08 at 17:19
This post was deleted because it may have contained advertising.
Posts Deleted by Scott R
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 3/27/08 at 19:10
Does anyone know what 'lives' are? I presume this is a buzz word for prospective patients.
I await Gary's response
Posted by Mark on 4/07/08 at 21:01
http://axiomlawsuit.freeforums.org/axiom-worldwide-drx9000-class-action-lawsuit-t2.html
http://axiomworldwidelawsuit.blogspot.com/
What a disgraceful company.
Posted by Mark on 4/07/08 at 21:04
bbt.cgi?n=245172
It should be in this thread.
Posted by Axiom on 4/08/08 at 06:31
Gary Dixon
Posted by Mark on 4/08/08 at 07:18
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 4/08/08 at 09:50
Your attitude appears to be very cavalier considering that the charges in that lawsuit are Federal. I have never heard anyone of before facing Medicare fraud charges (inducement) sloughing them off as 'old news'.
Perhaps you know something that the rest of us are unaware of, perhaps not, but the fact remains that there are in fact several class action lawsuits pending against Axiom by doctors and former employees. They all seem to be aimed at the methodology and claims employed by Axiom to promote their product and sell the machine and treatment.
Would you or any representative of Axiom Worldwide care to comment beyond 'show us indictments and convictions'? We all know that it could take years for these lawsuits to reach a trial and verdict, in the meantime I suppose it is 'business as usual'.
Posted by Axiom on 4/08/08 at 10:40
Axiom has obviously contested these allegations and has been communicating regularly with Federal agencies. What is also not mentioned is Axiom's counter-filings in this matter (starting to see the picture folks?)As a result of all of this back-and-forth, the new attorneys have been given opportunity to file an amended version of the original, same song-and-dance, just different language. So you see, it is OLD news. And it is being circulated with one goal in mind; do I have to spell it out?
Finally, I am not being caviler, but I am overwhelmingly confident that we will be exonerated. No charges have been filed, no idictments have been handed out, and no one is guilty after 2+ years of Federal investigation. Think, and please the key word is think, which everyone has a capacity to do, before buying into this hype.
As I stated in earlier messages, we choose to fight this in the appropriate arena and not draw the profession into this nonsense.
Gary Dixon
Posted by pbr on 4/08/08 at 13:51
Why do you think that everyone has it out for Axiom? I'm wondering why you are being singled out? I've never before in my life seen one company under such fire.
Thank you.
Posted by mark on 4/08/08 at 14:03
Posted by CA Attorney on 4/08/08 at 14:56
US Federal Court Rules Against Axiom Worldwide
Eric Goldman reports that an 11th circuit, US Court of Appeals has upheld a district court's decision that the use of trademarked terms can cause confusion and thus can constitute trademark infringement.
Posted by pbr on 4/08/08 at 18:06
http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200711574.pdf
Posted by pbr on 4/08/08 at 18:09
http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200711574.pdf
Posted by ijgfir on 4/09/08 at 07:38
The exercise is effective today, April 4, 2007.
This follows concerns expressed in sections of the media about the perceived shortage of coins. The Bank assures the general public that there are no shortages of coins. The public is advised to request for coins at any of the banks, rural banks or savings and loans company.
Posted by Axiom on 4/09/08 at 09:28
Many of you are aware that in 2006 some of Axiom’s competitors brought suit against us for trademark infringement and false advertising. From the very start we have maintained that this was a frivolous accusation and that no wrong-doing had been knowingly committed because the very same competitors were utilizing the same type of materials and tactics.
This case was heard in Federal District Court in early 2007 and unfortunately the judge in this case ruled in favor of our competitors and issued a preliminary injunction against Axiom. As you can imagine we were aghast at the court’s decision and wished an opportunity to revisit the matter with the court. The judge denied our request and closed the case to any further arguments.
Fortunately, we live in country where there is opportunity to be heard. As such, Axiom filed an appeal regarding the District Court’s decision with the Federal Appellate Court. Our appeal was heard in January 2008.
On Monday April 7th the Appeals Court rendered its decision and concluded; and I quote, 'However, we vacate the preliminary injunction with respect to both, and we remand the district court for further proceedings not inconsistant with this opinion.'
In this context, the definition of vacate according to Websters is, 'to make legally void.' The decision is that the preliminary injunction is lifted and any further proceedings are 'remanded' sent back to the District Court.
Prior to this final conclusion, the Appeals Court rendered its opinion on several points. The one getting the most attention is their opinion regarding the use of 'meta tags'. The reason it is getting attention is that it borders on case-law precedent. Meaning, everyone that has a website, advertises on the internet, or does business on the internet will be affected by the Court's decision. Obviously, this has created debate among law analysts and law professors. To read more about this I pulled a few links:
Uh Oh, Judges Are Ruling on Meta Tags
Meta Tags= Copyright Infringement?
11th Circuit Freaks Out About Metatags
'Meta Tags can lead to Copyright Infringements.” US Courts!
We are obviously happy with the Appeal's Court decision and will continue to make sure that all of our advertising and marketing is clear and accurate; as it has been since the Fall of 2006. We certainly apologize to the profession for having been dragged through this unpleasantness and hope that at least this chapter is now behind us so that Chiropractors can once again embrace non-surgical spinal decompression as a viable treatment modality that complements what they already do to treat patients with back pain.
Finally, I have earned some well deserved R&R and will be spending time with my family for the remainder of my boys' Spring Break.
Gary Dixon
Posted by Axiom on 4/09/08 at 09:34
http://www.traffick.com/2008/04/uh-oh-judges-are-ruling-on-meta-tags.asp
http://sphinn.com/story/39485
http://voices.allthingsd.com/20080409/goldman-3/
http://www.pagetrafficblog.com/meta-tags-can-lead-to-copyright-infringements%e2%80%9d-us-courts/4422/
Be well,
Gary Dixon
Posted by CA Attorney on 4/09/08 at 10:12
Posted by CA Attorney on 4/10/08 at 22:14
Accra, April 7, GNA - Fati Issaka, one of the 10 finalists of the Portrait of an Excellent Woman beauty contest, died on Monday, Ms Aisha Bukari, Event Manager, announced at the press conference in Accra. The death of Madam Fati, a retired nursing mother who also manages the Anfaani Children's home in Tamale, came as shock to event organizers and journalists since a press conference organised on Monday was mainly to update journalists on the event to be held at the National Theatre on May 9, 2008.
Posted by Mark on 4/11/08 at 22:28
The lawsuit I referred to was filed 03/31/2008. How is that 'old news'?
What am I missing? Fill me in Gary.
Here is the link again. http://myfreefilehosting.com/f/09be1ee3cd_2.15MB
Mark
Posted by Dr. B on 4/12/08 at 07:59
Posted by Fellow Scientologist on 4/14/08 at 07:18
This post was deleted because multiple identities are being used by the same poster for unfriendly reasons_and_for_lying.
Posts Deleted by Scott R
Posted by scott r on 4/14/08 at 07:39
Posted by Axiom on 4/14/08 at 07:39
Read my post dated 4/9/08
Posted by Axiom on 4/14/08 at 07:48
I would like to communicate with you. Please email me at: vp at axiomworldwide.com.
Gary Dixon
Posted by Tony L. Hoang on 5/08/08 at 19:49
I just came across this discussion and noticed you have been promoted to a VP within Axiom's organization. Congratulations! It's been a while since we last spoke, and I just wanted to say 'Hi.'
Tony L. Hoang
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 5/08/08 at 22:51
Posted by Tony L. Hoang on 5/09/08 at 01:24
No I am not from Salinas. I did have a practice in the city of Monterey. I am no longer living or practicing in Monterey County anymore.
Tony L. Hoang
Posted by Oma Z on 5/09/08 at 16:38
Tony Hoang and Charles Strong, individually and behalf of all others similarly situated, - Plaintiffs vs Axiom Worldwide, LLC; Axiom Worldwide, Inc., Nick Exarhos, James Gibson and Does 1-5 ; Defendants
Posted by Ben A on 5/09/08 at 18:18
I miss you. Love and Kisses.
Ben
Posted by Tony L. Hoang on 5/09/08 at 18:34
Unless something happened that I am unaware of, I should still be...but it seems the people on this board knows more about what is going on then I do. I'm not on here to discuss my case, I just find it amusing that Gary Dixon would come onto a message board/forum to try and defend Axiom. I guess I joined the party late, because it looks like Gary hasn't posted lately.
Oma Z, are you Greg's wife?
Tony L. Hoang
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyerq on 5/09/08 at 20:12
Welcome to the board. I was sorry to hear about your case and do hope that it gets straightened out. This is precisely why I have asked Gary the hard questions about Axiom Worldwide's business practices. They appear to have provided the doctors with the marketing material that landed them in hot water and then turned their backs on them from what I have read in the media. Of course Gary's response was to state that they have cleaned up their marketing material since 2006.
Too little too late.
It appears that Mr. Dixon is not going to pursue answering the questions posed to him. What a shame that this company has chosen to cut and run when the factual evidence demands they speak up. You would think that with such a legal sword of Damocles purloined precariously above their head that Axiom would benefit from setting the record straight and defending their position.
You’ll notice that his last response could be perceived as a veiled threat of legal entanglement for me and then complete silence.
Axiom need not respond. They appear more confused than professional to me and probably to the readers.
Posted by Tony L. Hoang on 5/10/08 at 10:53
Thank you for welcoming me to the board. The one good thing to come from my case...well there really hasn't been anything good to come from it for me, so let me regress. I'm sure Axiom/Gary's offer to 'privately' show you information and then warn you about legal action is only meant to instill doubt and fear in you. I would take them up on the offer if I were you. You cannot be legally held responsible for viewing documents. The only thing Axiom/Gary should be worried about is showing you documents they may not want used in court, and then have you subpoenaed by their 'adversaries' to testify that the documents exist. If you get subpoenaed to testify, you just have to tell the court(s) what you saw and read. You wouldn't have done anything wrong.
Since the last statement he made was to confer with counsel, his attorneys probably told him it's wise not to respond in these types of forums.
Just something for all y'all to think about. I linked to the official response from Axiom's Gary Dixon to my case that someone on this board posted (see link below). I don't know if it is authentic or not, but being that in October 23, 2006 I was still a customer of theirs, and never received this document must mean I was taken off this list and explains why my colleagues (other DRX chiropractors) cut off communications with me. I said I didn't want to discuss my case, but I want to make it crystal clear that when they stated 'is the fact that Dr. Hoang was not represented by counsel and that Axiom was not party to the proceeding', it isn't fact. I was represented and advised by counsel. Axiom wouldn't have known what was going on with me because they don't take my calls. Axiom was not a party to the proceedings because they chose not to be by turning a blind eye to what was going on. Dr. Strong and others like him could have been saved a lot of headaches if Axiom responded in a responsible manner and notified all their customers that there were inaccuracies in the marketing. BTW, Axiom was aware of my situation in Monterey back in January of 2006, my case with the Monterey DA's office ended May 2006.
I think I said too much. Have a great weekend everyone! If I was still in Monterey I would go to the beach, but...
http://axiomlawsuit.freeforums.org/axiom-worldwide-drx9000-class-action-lawsuit-t2.html
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 5/10/08 at 13:17
The prevarications and spin from Axiom Worldwide continue to mount and now we have a customer of theirs validating my professional concerns about their business practices.
I had heard that upon being investigated with regard to the validity of your advertising (a script which was no doubt provided by the DRX 9000's manufacturer, Axiom Worldwide) that you became 'persona non grata' and that their customers were notified of this.
I notice that the recurrent theme of 'what have we done wrong' dominates their memos:
'Axiom believes it important to note that the information regarding the Dr. Hoang case is being used by Axiom's competitors in an obvious effort to damage Axiom's credibility and as an effort stop the momentum of success that has been achieved with the DRX9000....'
Are the purchasers of these machines so obtuse as to dismiss the pattern of obfuscation and spin in this statement by Mr. Dixon and to miss its real meaning?
First I have never witnessed any legal document accusing the other players in this industry of advertising malfeasance, state board action or investigation by any state, federal or professional licensing agency. Has anyone else reading this?
Second where are the lawsuits initiated by Axiom Worldwide leveled against their 'adversaries' (competitors is the term they use in official documents) for what they suggest is a concerted effort to damage their reputation?
It is apparent to me that all of the legal troubles for the doctors themselves have arisen out of the marketing, procedural billing and coding, FDA clearance and studies Axiom provided to its customers when they purchased their machine.
Now that this obviously specious information has been questioned by professional organizations and state prosecutors it is suggested that these doctors acted alone and that this is all a grand conspiracy by their competitors.
Axiom appears to have hung even Dr. Altadonna out in the wind and distanced themselves from him publicly. Prior to the lawsuits they sure as hell found it convenient to utilize his marketing and disseminate his materials to perspective buyers. Now Mr. Dixon claims that they have 'cleaned up' their marketing since 2006.
Well which is it Gary; a vast conspiracy by your competitors or that your marketing was indeed misleading and now you are trying to back peddle and blame the person that you hired to market to the chiropractic profession this exercise in avarice?
It cannot be both since you as a company chose to pursue this marketing paradigm, the company that you outsourced to provide billing, the FDA clearance that was advertised, the NASA space connection advertising and most importantly to me as a clinician the Gionis study.
The consequences of your choices as a company with regard to all of these issues mandate that Axiom Worldwide must now accept the large part of the blame for the current troubles surrounding the DRX 9000 and the schism within the industry.
The only people who will perceive this differently are you, the manufacturer of the DRX 9000 and those clients of yours who are so financially invested that to admit that this entire system is built on the stones of avarice and deceit would prove monetarily devastating.
You do not represent chiropractic, nor do you represent the thousands of competent, caring doctors of chiropractic who tend to their patients every day in this country. Don't insult my profession by intimating that your product is an accepted and standard chiropractic modality taught in college. It is at best an adjunct to the services that we have provided for over a century, safely, ethically and validated clinically.
Posted by Angel Eyes on 5/11/08 at 16:53
Your gigantic bulbous head gets me excited. When are you coming back to Las Vegas?
Posted by D.L on 5/12/08 at 20:10
Posted by D.L on 5/12/08 at 22:34
Posted by Oma Z on 5/13/08 at 02:00
Posted by D.L on 5/13/08 at 18:43
I would like to say that I am not responsible for the post above, which was entered by someone utilizing my initials. Considering Oma Z followed up that particular post with 'make my day', I will assume that it was in fact Oma Z.
Nevertheless, to answer the question I have been informed by an individual who is currently employed by Axiom that Mr. Dixon has resigned. My contact did not know the details of his departure.
That is all I know. Do not waste your time asking me to disclose my full identity. I like Dr. Wedemeyer, am not interested in any legal recourse.
Take this as you will...
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 5/13/08 at 19:37
I don't wish litigation on anyone and I sure don't care to invite it into my front door. I do understand any individuals reticence to reveal their true identity in regard to this subject unless you are a professional involved in the decompression industry. I feel that in that circumstance you owe it to your profession and ethics to post transparently.
As for Mr. Dixon resigning or being let go by Axiom Worldwide, that is speculation at this point. Gary and I obviously do not see eye to eye on this subject but I certainly don't wish him any personal or professional difficulty.
If his departure is in fact true the timing is very interesting though. Perhaps they (Axiom) was not aware that he was responding on this board and found this out?
I regret that we will never receive an appropriate official response from Axiom Worldwide to my questions. I truly believe that a representative of Axiom Worldwide owes us this much considering the questions raised, volume of posts over the years in response to their equipment and marketing paradigm.
Posted by 331 on 5/13/08 at 23:53
Rumor has it from a very reliable source that the whole decompression industry may be selling 1-2 traction machines per month on a good month.
Posted by Oma Z on 5/14/08 at 05:49
And the 'Occ Med Overview' that became a 'study' - that's pretty amazing, - I only edited it and sent the published copy to Nick in early November 2004 which they put on their website under Research and kept it there for two years. I did not turn it into a study like I saw on the Axiom DRX video presentation to doctors with the most outlandish claims I've ever seen in my life to sell their $95,000+ equipment.
And so why are they suing me for $5 million x 9 counts with a malicious lawsuit that's been going on since December 2006 for posting on this site? Yes, Axiom KNOWS who OmaZ is as it came out in their November 2006 interrogation of me. I have nothing to hide.
And why are they suing my husband for $5 million? Was it just to shut him up after he contacted his DRX customers to alert them that Medicare had just come out with a bulletin to not bill Medicare for any spinal decompression system? What's your opinion?
I reminded of when I was a kid on the farm. We had some nice neighbors and then we had hoodlums (like todays gangs). One day we had word they were coming over to fight. So my older brothers prepared for them with these large boards placed over a fulcrum with dirt and rocks and then some catapults. It was so great to see the dirt 'smoke' screens and hail of gravel sprayed on them after my brothers dropped these big rocks on the top part of the board. It was more to frighten them and get them dirty than to hurt them. One of those guys thought I'd hurt him, which I didn't. I was more of the bystander enjoying the chaos. On the way home after thinking it was a victory, this 12 year old (I was that age also), came up behind me with a huge rock and smashed it in my face. That hurt so bad. My dear protective older brother, James, had a Come to Jesus meeting with him.
What I want to know is after almost 3 years of their lawsuits and harassment, where is someone like James? Oh Brother, where art thou? Deliver us.
Posted by pbr on 5/14/08 at 10:25
4 Baptists (we are in the South)
3 Roman Catholics
1 Lutheran
1 Greek Orthodox (guess who)
1 Mormon
1 Muslim
1 'It is none of your business' ( I am sure our Human Resource person will be making a visit to see me).
And, finally myself, a Buddhist. I will continue to question the rest of the staff.
-Gary Dixon
This has got to be the strangest post this board has seen. What is going on with these people?
Posted by Oma Z on 5/15/08 at 00:35
Interesting links:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/bc/glosslip/2008/04/25/Glosslip-From-Our-Lips-To-Your-Ears
http://www.rickross.com/groups/scientology.html#celebrities
http://www.holysmoke.org/more-theta.htm
Posted by Mark on 5/15/08 at 10:24
As this topic has already been flagged as 'off topic' by the messgage board administrator, I suggest we move these discussion to the following websites that are only for the purpose of discussing Axiom and their legal issues.
http://axiomworldwidelawsuit.blogspot.com/
http://axiomlawsuit.freeforums.org/axiom-worldwide-drx9000-class-action-lawsuit-t2.html
Mark
Posted by Mark on 5/15/08 at 10:30
As this topic has already been flagged as 'off topic' by the messgage board administrator, I suggest we move these discussion to the following websites that are only for the purpose of discussing Axiom and their legal issues.
http://axiomworldwidelawsuit.blogspot.com/
http://axiomlawsuit.freeforums.org/axiom-worldwide-drx9000-class-action-lawsuit-t2.html
Mark
Posted by Oma Z offers clarity on 5/15/08 at 11:52
Posted by m.pierce on 5/15/08 at 13:12
Now that we have an Axiom rep back on this board will you please answer two questions:
Why was Mr. Dixon fired?
Are you going to respond to any of the questions posed?
MP
Posted by D.L on 5/15/08 at 21:00
Nevertheless, I just wanted to make one thing clear before Mr. Dixon's departure gets misconstrued on this board. I have met Mr. Dixon on 3 occasions, including once with his family. He is quite humorous in fact and without question a family man. His departure took many people at Axiom by surprise, including myself.
Mr. Dixon has decided to end this chapter of his life and spend some quality time with his family.
I wish him the best.
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 5/15/08 at 21:31
interest in spinal decompression would have bothered to take the time
to write that pathetic and very personal attack. Oma Z was not
attacking you; I was the one who asked Gary Dixon if Axiom Worldwide
was headed up by Scientologists.
As I and pbr pointed out, it was Gary Dixon who ranted on ridiculously
about that one question and he answered it although very obliquely. Now I am certain that I do not believe his response based on subsequent posts. 'Me thinks thou doth protest too much'
Get your facts straight before you publicly excoriate a woman and
denigrate her religion, if she is in fact religious at all. How
anathema and small is the man who attacks a woman in such a personal
and shameful manner? Are these the people that we want to do business
with and trust to sell us on their therapy and product?
Constrain your answers to the matters at hand and show some maturity and less venom because I can promise you that more eyes are watching this thread than you could ever imagine. It does not suit you well to behave in such derogatory and pusillanimous fashion whether or not your company has ongoing litigation with this woman and her husband.
It just makes you a bully and a nasty one at that.
Shame on you.
Posted by pierce on 5/16/08 at 09:27
This is an indication of the smug attitude of this company. This is what led them into their mess and will continue to bog down their company. The senior leadership here is beyond remorse.
Posted by pierce on 5/16/08 at 09:50
I am still hoping the other 'senior executive' from Axiom Worldwide that responded in kind to Oma Z will have the courage to address some of the implications, not limited to the false clinical study and illegal marketing tactics, NASA, etc. used by this organisation. The usual spin response usually hides behind legal morass and accusations.
As long a current management stays in place this won't change however. I think it's an 'us against the world' management philosopy. They have some interesting company in this respect-Ebbers, Skilling, Lay....
Posted by Chuck Barriton on 5/18/08 at 16:10
Posted by m.pierce on 5/19/08 at 19:20
Spinal decompression is offically a joke.
http://www.namcorporation.com/
Thanks Chuck
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 5/20/08 at 23:03
Personally I have zero issue with how NAM or any of the other 'spinal decompression' (disingenuous sobriquet?) manufacturers or sells their product, only Axiom Worldwide.
I wouldn't pay 100K for one of these devices nor can I afford it. Some of our colleagues have, as have a number of medical doctors (in fact NAM sells the majority of their devices to MD's). I truly believe that anyone who graduated from medical or chiropractic college is fairly intelligent and practices in the best interest of their patients. They also generally make good decisions based on that intelligence.
I do not pass judgment on the ethics of those more fortunate and liquid doctors who can afford one of these tables and believes in their benefit and providing this service to their patients. The only reason that I ever responded to this thread or any thread regarding the DRX 9000 is that from its inception into our profession I have had questions about the way in which Axiom marketed to the doctor and the patient.
My feelings have been reinforced by reading the threads posted by representatives of Axiom Worldwide (the last post aimed at Oma Z in particular. That post clearly was from someone in their company who is very familiar with her and her husband). There is a prevalent theme of talking around corners instead of answering our questions, bullying and threats imbued in most of these responses. I find that inappropriate for a company that sells services in the health care market.
I have a very good idea what the truth is to my original question that sent Mr. Dixon over the proverbial edge. I have seen this behavior before and I am well versed in the ideation's of that group and its adherents and wish no part in their avarice, mind games and double-speak.
Whether you call it traction or spinal decompression I know from professional experience that mechanical traction does have value. The companies manufacturing these new age machines are well aware of that and hopefully now will be more aware than ever that the public is watching and questioning their claims.
Hopefully it will lead to better studies, outcomes and respect for this modality. I would also hope that when given the choice to undergo this procedure that the public will have accurate and honest data available to make that choice from an informed and realistic viewpoint.
Posted by m.pierce on 5/22/08 at 10:25
I think this is why sales have all but dried up in this market segment. I spoke with someone who said that North American Medical is only selling about one of these traction units on a monthly basis. (maybe a few overseas but the domestic market is over)
I think the cat is out of the bag on this farce.
Posted by Axiom Victim on 5/24/08 at 19:40
Posted by cb on 5/27/08 at 12:05
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 5/27/08 at 14:57
You asked four questions and i will try to answer them
1. Actually I have but not in health care.
2. There's one born every minute, P.T. Barnum
3. Mainly Doctors of Chiropractic
4. Yes, their employees
Posted by Angel Eyes on 6/01/08 at 18:41
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 6/02/08 at 14:02
Posted by 451 on 6/03/08 at 14:58
The other issue is that the owners of these DRX machines are still trying to get $2-5,000 out of their patients just so that they can pay their leases on their traction machines.
How long will the charade continue?
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 6/04/08 at 00:47
Now if you own one of these machines (or a competitors), market ethically and choose your patients based on clinically proven guidelines and realistic outcomes, you deserve to earn that type of income in my opinion.
I really believe that at least one of Axiom Worldwide's competitors markets honorably and ethically. While I foresee a decline in Axiom's sales I do not believe that their actions will destroy the entire market.
Statistically surgical correction of chronic low back and neck pain has a very high rate of failure. While we have great successes as chiropractors we have failures as well. The large problem is that a very small segment of the population seeks our care initially for these problems and often they become subacute or chronic needlessly by circumventing manual interventions (usually at the behest of their allopathic physician).
When we change the gatekeeper for these conditions we will see a statistical decline in hospitalization, medication, surgery and chronicity of these complaints.
Posted by Another disenfranchised DC on 6/04/08 at 13:44
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 6/04/08 at 17:18
I don;t see where we disagree, at least with regard to Axiom?
' I read this blog and disgusts me because some, not all of the machines tend to help some patients (for how long has yet to be finally mitigated or studied)'.
This is the first negative comment from a doctor that I have heard about NAM.
I really implore my colleagues who want to contribute to this discussion to use their real name and in the case of pending litigation to either clear it with their attorney or let us know why you cannot do so. We need a united front if we are going to change how this company does business.
Thus far no nefarious characters have shown up at my office, phoned me or disturbed me in any way for my views and none of my colleagues should fear recrimination from Axiom for their OPINIONS.
I am not diminishing your concerns DC,but let's face it, those who have come here making assertions that are not relevant, nasty and derisive comments and generally hostile posts are not helping matters and I am tired of being the sole Don Quixote in this western.
I need your help.
Posted by Tex DC on 6/04/08 at 17:44
I wonder if these cases are related:
http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/spinal-decompression-back-pain-relief-patients-advice-part-I
keep up the good work Doc Wederrmyeer, some one has to moderate this garbage blog. but now with not just axiom under the gun, I dont think anyone will use there real names as they dont want to get brought down by the boys at the FDA or worse, some other badge carrying bunch
Posted by Another casualty on 6/04/08 at 21:22
This has been confirmed.
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 6/04/08 at 21:38
I did hear that there has been a Federal investigation underway for some time now. They did after all raid the Axiom Worldwide offices a while back and from what I am told the Feds removed some computers and paperwork.
Maybe that's why they won't answer our inquiries. If they have nothing to hide why just stop this board to smear that one woman and her husband instead of defending themselves?
Then there is the whole disappearance of Gary Dixon after he began posting here (and his weird as hell response to the Scientology question).
Doesn't look very positive for them now does it?
Posted by Another casualty on 6/05/08 at 10:04
Posted by D.L on 6/05/08 at 20:11
Excuse me, but I would like to clarify a few things.
The facts, as I know them.
1) Rumors are circulating that NAM may be in deep water. Accu-spina, Lordex, ABS, Z-Grav and Disc Force all fall under the same NAM umbrella.
2) As far as Mr. Dixon is concerned, I have been informed that he has moved from his home soon after an unexpected visit from 'dark suits'. No 'for sale' sign and before school completed its session. His entire family has completely VANISHED!!
As I stated before, Mr. Dixon seemed to be a genuine person and a proud family man. So I wish he's alright.
3) The most surprising item at hand is not what is currently taking place with Mr. Dixon or NAM, but simply what is to be announced on Friday, June 13th.
Dr. Dyer himself has decided to place Vax D up for sale, and Axiom Worldwide has accepted his proposal. That is correct, Vax D and Axiom will now be one in the same.
Axiom’s entire staff will be notified of the transaction on that same date.
Like it or not, this technology is NOT going anywhere.
I wish you all the best,
D.L
PS I would suggest setting up a Google alert for Axiom & DRX9000, so you can read for yourself.
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 6/05/08 at 22:30
Very interesting that Vax-D is up for sale.
Also very interesting that Mr. Dixon has vanished. I would love to continue my discussion with him and I feel the profession and the public still deserve that Axiom Worldwide answer my questions.
How is it that men in 'dark suits' (people I would perceive as Federal authorities) pay him an unannounced visit and he quickly makes an exodus from his home and job and with all of this unusual activity taking place, Axiom would acquire another business?
Something doesn't add up here.
I came across an article written by a PT that I personally have a great deal of respect for. I thought it would be of interest to everyone regarding the traction vs. spinal decompression semantics debate:
http://physical-therapy.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?cc=22848
Posted by ROD on 6/06/08 at 10:08
Let me caution Axiom that more Federal indictments are coming down soon specifically for the VAX-D. The combination of VAX and Axiom would be very poetic in a number of ways if it were to happen.
The VP would be back at his old stomping grounds and the FEDS could just hit one company instead of two.
North American Medical (AKA South American Medical) also is meeting with VAX and so this could be an interesting showdown.
Let's throw all of this in one pot, stir it up and see what the new garbage that comes out tastes like.
Posted by on at
Posted by BB is out on 6/09/08 at 12:52
Yo Rod, you are so correct in your synopsis of happenings in the industry with all of these idiots. And now, because of my knowledge and the fact that every attorney and tom dicka nd harry investigator wants to speak with me. Well so I spoke to them and I told the truth and what happens is I get to be threatened to be sued by the Atlanta fraction for the columbian Cartel, aka South American Medical, aka NAM. Well too bad I am going to tell the truth as I don’t want anymore patiens to get hurt on that piece of garbage spina machine and then be part of a cover up as they continue to to mislead the distributors about the safety of the device while negotiating with MediaWest for conjugal ownership. No siree Bob, not me, not with this bunch of liars. So this is Boston Bobby signing out and consider yoursaelfs warned. Axiom got theirs and has gone down, The west falls and Spina are next, and soon they will be going down and I am not gong to be around to witness their fate, but I am going to be a witness thanks screws them for good, Thanks, BB out
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 6/09/08 at 17:07
In the time that I have contributed here the thread under 'spinal decompression' has grown and I made comments based on what I do know about mechanical traction and the new lexicon; 'spinal decompression'. many of these threads are more of the same inflated marketing and do direct patients to their office. That seems fine if you're using studies that that are based in fact and not being investigated and reprimanded by several state boards and the Feds.
If you review the threads you will find that I am only concerned with one companies marketing. I do not care how you practice personally, nor do I wish to evolve a semantic debate with you over the language used to promote this treatment. I've read the studies and the DRX studies do not impress me (nor the Feds apparently).
You obviously know very little about me or my practice. based on dividing time treating chiropractic patients and pedorthic patients I may even see more patient visits a day than you do. The difference is I am not in a competition with you and especially with anyone who would hide in anonymity behind the internet to slander a colleague.
You're the one who needs to 'get a life'. Post your identity if you have the stones or else direct your derision elsewhere. Given Axiom's nasty attitude who know' maybe you work for them, we know you probably own one of their machines. I guess learning Diversified or Gonstead was too challenging for you so you bought a fancy table?
Posted by Trenton Dr in NJ on 6/09/08 at 18:19
As for Axiom and scientology, I don’t think so. I have been to their factory and they don’t strike me as that wacky of people, maybe some like ben A, but not all. Ha ha !!
Now as for that other company down there, Spinalaid and that wack job Liberte, he is for sure a fruity scientlogist. I met with him on his seminar, He takes you for a ride on his self proclaimed love boat and wispers sweet nothings in your ear about all the money he has yet he has to file bankruptcy. Scum floats just like his boat.
Well I just am not sure myself where this is all going. I don’t think it was the west falls that brought the problems for NAM, besides what does vax-d and Nam have in common? It was that Atlanta distribution company that caused it all and told the investigators what they did not know and where the bodies are buried, and now they have to face the music.
I can understand how the big fish Axiom was brought down, but these other people are small time and worthless. Have you ever met them? What a joke of an organization NAM or is it SAM is, whoever said that it is funny and appropriate, it’s a “family” run business if you now what I mean!
I can see why you are on the lamb now BB, we warned you about those guys in Atlanta and all of the problems with that follow them.
Best of luck and remember to duck
Posted by Trenton Dr in NJ on 6/09/08 at 18:19
As for Axiom and scientology, I don’t think so. I have been to their factory and they don’t strike me as that wacky of people, maybe some like ben A, but not all. Ha ha !!
Now as for that other company down there, Spinalaid and that wack job Liberte, he is for sure a fruity scientlogist. I met with him on his seminar, He takes you for a ride on his self proclaimed love boat and wispers sweet nothings in your ear about all the money he has yet he has to file bankruptcy. Scum floats just like his boat.
Well I just am not sure myself where this is all going. I don’t think it was the west falls that brought the problems for NAM, besides what does vax-d and Nam have in common? It was that Atlanta distribution company that caused it all and told the investigators what they did not know and where the bodies are buried, and now they have to face the music.
I can understand how the big fish Axiom was brought down, but these other people are small time and worthless. Have you ever met them? What a joke of an organization NAM or is it SAM is, whoever said that it is funny and appropriate, it’s a “family” run business if you now what I mean!
I can see why you are on the lamb now BB, we warned you about those guys in Atlanta and all of the problems with that follow them.
Best of luck and remember to duck
Posted by on at
Posted by VTech Alum on 6/10/08 at 22:36
You are correct that most researchers are paid. They receive grants from organizations such as the NIH, universities, etc. Only the bottom of the barrel work as you suggest.
Please get your facts straight and then go back to working miracles as you claim. Look at me, I'm a miracle worker... And you wonder why people question decompression and the doctors who use it?
Stick to pixie dust enlightened one. It probably has a higher success rate.
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 6/10/08 at 23:32
First if you cannot post your identity, you do not deserve a response nor are your posts credible. Are you a ‘real doctor’ or do you just play one on the internet? Step up to the plate and post your real name and credentials as I have.
The next topic is that of “You have in fact helped many patients receive the answers they were looking for. But in doing so, you have also recommended for patients to seek alternate advise, even insinuating that their physician had misguided them.” If I have ever claimed that any doctor misguided a patient as to their diagnosis, show me the post. I may have offered another opinion, or advised them to seek another opinion I’ll admit that. Do you not refer for second opinions ‘doctor’ or are your diagnostic skills sacrosanct and written in stone? The fact that you admit that I have aided many patients receive the answers they were looking for is testament to my honesty, integrity and commitment to the patient. It also dilutes your argument a great deal.
You then ask “what could possibly be your true motivation to continually post negatively about Axiom. You have criticized their marketing, but have not ever mentioned Dr. Altadonna.” Go back a few posts and reread because I did address Dr. Altadonna’s marketing. You obviously are true to your word and have not read very many of my posts.
As for mechanical traction and the Cochrane report, could you be more specific? I have read numerous studies on mechanical traction (for a variety of spinal conditions) and the fact that these studies report good results with mechanical traction and that insurers routinely reimburse for this service is enough for me. Like any treatment it has its successes and failures, as does the type of traction that you support; spinal decompression. Neither is the panacea for spinal conditions but if you pay $100K for a better mouse trap such as the DRX 9000, you can sell a procedure that is still unproven in the literature (the studies that laud their 86% success rate for low back pain are proprietary ) and charge exorbitant fees.
I have a great deal of respect for Dr. Yochum, don’t even go there. The fact that he supports these devices is one of the few reasons that I have considered the possibility that there is more to ‘spinal decompression’ than is currently supported in the literature and clinically. I also stated that I support my colleague’s decision to purchase and offer this treatment when it is performed and marketed ethically. If you cannot see the trend in diminishing our professional equity that has occurred because of all of the shenanigans proffered on the public by Axiom and their marketing, then you need to wake up, smell the coffee and get a gut check.
I really don’t give fat rodents behind if you want to insult me for offering my time sans remuneration to help the people on this board. The fact that I spend probably an entire hour or two weekly here answering questions about concerns that those suffering with foot and ankle complaints wasn’t meant to impress you personally.
The simple answer is that I got tired of the same tired old rhetoric (Foot Levelers) and chose to step outside the box when it came to orthotic therapy. I wandered here to this board, met a few truly brilliant and caring podiatrists and pedorthists here, learned from them and became a pedorthist myself. The fact that they contribute and find time to help others here, to discuss treatment and suggest second opinions when indicated is probably lost on you. I suppose next you will suggest that they have an agenda and are diminished in their practice success. I can prove otherwise in both their case and my own.
The fact that you are so busy professionally and yet admittedly you reveal that “Over the last few years I have examined this message board on numerous occasions”, tells me that you talk around corners. What is your motivation for disparaging me? I highly doubt that you are a colleague but instead an employee of Axiom. I could be wrong but given the tone of your diatribe I think the readers will question your motive much more than my own.
The fact that you brought Oma Z into this leads me to believe that this is the same person who wrote the nasty remarks to her about her religion. Again that was the most despicable and low-brow attack that I have seen on a woman in some time. I don’t even know Oma Z, I was just appalled that any man would stoop to such an aggressive attack on a female, verbal or otherwise. Aim high.
“You refused an offer from Mr. Dixon to fly down to Axiom, so you can’t say that they did not attempt to enlighten you.”
I know a few doctors who have a DRX as well as similar machines. I have heard about their successes and their failures. I have never claimed that traction is ineffective but be careful in doing so yourself because when the studies are completed and the verdict is in that they are one and the same, you may have to eat your own words and refund a whole lot of money. I also have seen numerous patients who have failed on this device after spending thousands out-of-pocket. A trip to their headquarters is not going to change my mind nor do I have a desire to accept their offer. I truly do not believe that that particular company will be around for very long.
The answer is simple. You just wouldn’t “get it”. The great majority of my posts here have had nothing whatsoever with ‘spinal decompression’ nor lining my pockets.
Let me spell it out for you; I have no agenda other than an honest answer from Axiom and its management. Thus far they have spun the truth and attacked me and others for our views on their litigation and ethics. The fact that so many legal entanglements have spawned from their device and its marketing is the motivation of all the posters here. They simply want the truth about this treatment and this is one of the few places that it can be found or that any discussion of the DRX 9000 takes place outside of courtrooms.
Posted by Axiom Victim on 6/12/08 at 09:06
On another note, rumor has it that Nick Exarhos, the primary mastermind scientologist behind Axiom and their NASA ads bought a palace in Dubai recently? When the FBI comes after him, I guess this is where he will try to run.
Posted by on at
Posted by yo loco chiro in SF on 6/12/08 at 15:01
If you have something of value then post it, otherwise stay off of the blog and stop ridiculing people who are trying to decipher the industry’s troubles
Put up or shut up and stop slamming people with no facts to support the BS
Posted by 361 on 6/12/08 at 18:35
http://www.chirobase.org/06DD/vaxd/ad.html
What it lead to:
http://www.casewatch.org/doj/ascn/indictment.pdf
&
http://www.casewatch.org/doj/stearns_levine/indictment.pdf
How it spread:
http://eclassifieds.chiroweb.com/eclassified/detail.php?&id=6909#addedit
How it ends:
http://www.visitingdc.com/images/alcatraz-prison-picture-3.jpg
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 6/13/08 at 09:20
Even when you use Wi-Fi and VOIP you leave a footprint dummy. Obviously you're intimidated enough to write that garbage and hide behind your computer. Be a man and come out and play in the road son, you're encouraging me to copy everything ever written about on this board and to create my own blog in your honor. If you want to face me and answer our questions I may consider letting this go and discontinuing posting to this thread, but right now I am enjoying watching you twist in the wind and grasp at straws.
I plan on personally writing you letters and sending you a maid outfit for your prison stint.
Chew on that tough guy.
Posted by Jacksonville Jags on 6/16/08 at 18:02
BY RACHEL MONAHAN
NY DAILY NEWS WRITER
Rosier/News
Michelle Feinman, 44, says her life has been a nightmare since a chiropractic procedure went horribly wrong.
A Brooklyn teacher was disabled for life by a chiropractic treatment, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Brooklyn Supreme Court.
Michelle Feinman, 44, a veteran gym teacher and dean at Samuel J. Tilden High School, had excruciating back pain before the November 2006 procedure.
Now it's impossible for her to walk a city block even with a cane, she said. She has to use a scooter to get around.
'I waddle when I walk. I go into heavy muscle spasms if my legs get tired,' Feinman said.
She also has lost the ability to control her bladder and her bowel movements, she said - the result of her spine being partially crushed by the procedure.
The lawsuit faults the company, Axiom Worldwide.
Posted by Ryan H on 6/19/08 at 00:25
I'm 30 years old and have been suffering from lower back pain since I was about 19. I consistently played various sports throughout my adolescent years but I didn't have a specific accident or incident that I could point to as a cause of the back pain.
Prior to my experience with the DRX 9000, I had been through physical therapy three separate times and had been through the normal course of treatments including ultrasound, massage therapy, eletrical stimulation, excercises, traction, etc. The therapy would make me feel better for a short period of time but it would only be a matter of months before I was back to where I was before treatment.
I did have an MRI done and my problem area was L5/S1. I believe the disc was degenerated and bulging.
The pinnacle of my problem arose as a result of teaching an appraisal class part time at a community college in Costa Mesa, CA. I would be standing and lecturing for approximately 4 hours a night a couple times a week and I did this in one instance for approximately 16 weeks straight (I taught a couple of courses back to back). My back pain got worse and worse as the classes went by and eventually I had to terminate my teaching assignment with the college. It got to the point where I couldn't stand for longer than about ten minutes without a good amount of pain and stiffness.
It was at this time that I sought additional treatment options and came across the DRX. As one would expect, I was skeptical. I hesistantly took the plunge with my local chiropractor a couple of years ago and paid $5,500 for twenty sessions. I noticed quite a bit of improvement after the initial twenty sessions but not as much as I had hoped based on the DRX advertisements. Nevertheless, the results were better than most anything I had tried previously.
Approximately 6 months later, my chiropractor and I agreed to place me on the machine for another 12 sessions. He agreed to give me a sizable discount on the price of the sessions, having paid full price on the initial 20 sessions. At the end of these sessions, I felt still better.
After having gone on the machine two times and continuing to see improvement, I began to view this machine as something that I might do on an on-going basis. Approximately 9 months after the second round of DRX, I went on the machine for a third time (12 sessions) again at a reduced rate. After this round of DRX, I felt the best that I have in over 10 years.
It has been 11 months since my third round of DRX, and today I just commenced a fourth round of DRX. This time we're doing 15 sessions. My chiropractor is again giving me a reduced rate due to the number of times that I've been on the machine.
All told, I have spent in excess of $10,000 on DRX treatments over the last 2.5 years. Of course, none of it has been covered by insurance although I have deducted a good portion of these expenses on my income tax returns. I have been very pleased with the results and I'm now able to participate in just about any sport or recreational activity that I want to without hesitation.
There is no doubt that I have paid a hefty price for these treatments. However, to me, it has been worth it. My decision to go back more than once for treatment wasn't necessarily because the benefits of the original treatment wore off; it was more because I and my chiropractor felt that I had not reached the point of maximum benefit yet. I would like to get my back as close to 100% healthy as possible and every time I get back on this machine I feel like I get one step closer to that.
It helps that I make a very good income and have the disposable cash to afford these treatments. This year, I set aside $3,500 in a flexible spending account specifically for the purpose of chiropractic and DRX.
I must admit that the back pain that I have experienced throughout my life is by no means the worst case scenario. There are plenty of people that have suffered far more than I have and may have been on the DRX with less benefit. Nevertheless, my back problems were indeed enough to prevent me from living the type of full life that I wanted to live. The DRX machine has certainly helped me to change that. It was an expensive choice but one that I don't regret in the least.
I live in Mission Viejo, CA (Orange County) and receive my treatments in a chiropractic office in Lake Forest, CA.
I should also mention that prior to the DRX 9000, I bought a Teeter's Inversion Table from the Home Shopping Network (I bought this table probably about 3 years ago). While it certainly was relaxing and it felt good while I was on it, it did nothing to give me lasting relief from my back pain. The results I received from it are in no way comparable to what the DRX has done. About a year ago, I sold my inversion table to someone else who wanted to give it a try.
Posted by Another Axiom Victim on 6/22/08 at 12:49
By Ryan Thompson
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
ADAMS STREET — It began with a slipped disc in her back. Now the Brooklyn public school teacher says she can barely walk.
Her lawyer claims that despite having undergone surgery, she has permanent bowel and bladder dysfunction, and that she must use a scooter to move around. And it’s all because of her chiropractor and his DRX9000, the lawsuit claims.
Michelle Feinman, a 44-year-old physical-education teacher at Tilden High School, filed a medical-malpractice and products-liability lawsuit in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Tuesday. She alleges that the DRX9000 spinal-decompression machine, which is used in chiropractic offices around the country, is partly responsible for her injuries. She is suing the machine’s manufacturer, the Brooklyn chiropractor, and doctors at Beth Israel and St. Luke’s-Roosevelt hospitals, as well as the hospitals themselves.
“Ms. Feinman was failed on every level,” said her attorney, Jonathan C. Reiter. “She was failed by her chiropractor who recommended treatment with the [DRX9000]; she was misled by the manufacturer’s false claims of safety and efficacy; she was failed by the emergency room doctor for not recognizing the seriousness of her condition, and by the neurosurgeon who wouldn’t come to the hospital and misdiagnosed her over the phone.”
Representatives who answered the phone at Axiom Worldwide, Inc., the manufacturer of the DRX9000, were not aware of the lawsuit. “We’ve been told that we cannot help you with anything,” was the representative’s response. The area code and company’s site indicate that the company is located in Tampa, Fla.
“At Axiom Worldwide, we created the DRX9000 to assist healthcare providers in their effort to treat back pain conditions. With treatment on the DRX9000, your patients can non-surgically achieve relief from their debilitating back problems. By combining technology and science, physicians can utilize the DRX9000 to offer patients an alternative to surgery,” says Axiom’s site.
The chiropractor that Feinman visited was Marc Felderstein, whose office is in Marine Park. Other local chiropractors in New York also use the DRX9000, and aggressive advertising campaigns can be seen throughout the city. Hotlines are operated by spinal-decompression representatives, and free educational DVDs are offered to callers.
According to Reiter, Axiom has been cited repeatedly for making false claims of its success in treating back pain. Reiter said that among the claims the company makes in brochures and marketing materials available to patients at chiropractors’ offices who use the machine is that the DRX9000 “helps to mobilize the troubled disc segment without inducing further damage to the spine” and that treatment with the DRX9000 “is painless, drugless and there are no documented side effects.”
“Ms. Feinman was left disabled and unable to perform her duties at work, and she must be compensated,” said Reiter.
Feinman, a Marine Park resident and physical-education teacher of 21 years, has applied to take a sabbatical from her job because of her alleged injuries. She is suing for compensatory and punitive damages.
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2008
All materials posted on BrooklynEagle.com are protected by United States copyright law.
Just a reminder, though -- It’s not considered polite to paste the entire story on your blog. Most blogs post a summary or the first paragraph,( 40 words) then post a link to the rest of the story. That helps increase click-throughs for everyone, and minimizes copyright issues. So please keep posting, but not the entire article. arturc at att.net
Main Office 718 422 7400
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 6/24/08 at 17:36
Some very interesting points by a very well respected chiropractor, James Edwards and co-authored by former coding consultant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and member of the ACA Coding Committee, Cynthia Vaughan.
The bad news is that the fallacies continue. The good news is that others in my profession are taking a stand on the issue.
Posted by Tony L. Hoang on 6/24/08 at 19:30
I followed the link you provided to the ChiroWeb.com article. If you look at the email at the end of the article, you will see that Drs. Edwards and Vaughan may have a motive for making the statements they did in their article. Go to their website at http://www.marketdecompression.com and you will see they are selling a marketing package for the Chattanooga Triton DTS system.
Let me make it clear I am not standing up for any of the 'high priced' spinal decompression companies, but I just don't like it when articles are written with ulterior motives. It is in these Drs interest to down play the cost of decompression systems. The Triton DTS is about one-tenth the cost of some systems.
It's hard to get unbiased opinions in our field. Everyone is out for their own best interest. The Triton DTS is marketed as a traction unit, and thus is billed as a traction therapy.
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 6/24/08 at 20:14
What you've said is very true, finding an unbiased opinion on the subject is difficult. Although Drs. Vaughan and Edwards are offering a package for marketing your spinal decompression practice, they appear to be using reasonable standards and language that would not encourage doctors to commit fraud.
Whether you spend 10K or 100K on a 'spinal decompression' machine, the marketing of that machine is what is landing our fellow DC's in trouble and not the machine itself.
Their battle with ACN is case in point (not that ACN is my favorite cost containment/management group). The insurers have caught onto the sales pitch marketing, inappropriate coding and fees, lack of evidence based protocols and have protected themselves from having to shell out reimbursement for the semantic sleight-of-hand.
Their system costs less than 1K to launch your investment to your prospective patients. Maybe it is not as seductive as the Altadonna ads of the past but at least it isn't going to land you in prison.
Once the hype ends and the prices come down to reality the words 'spinal decompression' will dry up and disappear overnight with traction tables. Isn't spinal decompression a surgical procedure?
Posted by Tony L. Hoang on 6/25/08 at 12:15
Spinal Decompression is a surgical procedure. Even if the words 'spinal decompression' dries up and disappears within the chiropractic community, let's hope the technology and practitioners don't. Whatever it is called or will be called, there are patients out there that have been helped by it.
It's just too bad that the manufacturers can't seam to get along and play nice in the sandbox. All their mud slinging just hurts our profession and our credibility. Good news, it's never too late to change.
Keep up the good fight David, I hope you get your questions answered someday...
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 6/25/08 at 17:27
I completely agree with you. I never made the claim that 'spinal decompression/mechanical traction' has no value as one person here suggested (guess who?). I also have no financial interest in either save for the small percentage of my patients that I do perform traction on. Traction does have its successes.
My only goal for ever becoming involved in this entire thread was to provide an alternate viewpoint to the deceptive marketing and media hype surrounding the industry. Hopefully that will change in time and studies will replace the fantasy.
As for an answer to my questions, or any of the questions asked here, I seriously doubt that we will ever receive answers here on this board. Instead of defending themselves appropriately, the greed mongers are slinging mud and attacking anyone with an opinion that is not in line with their own. This is part and parcel to how they do business and how they treat their doctors when trouble comes knocking in dark suits with badges.
I think that says it all with respect to their business paradigm, ethics and longevity. The Feds will clean up the industry soon and that will be the answer that we were all seeking.
Posted by Arkansasdoc on 7/09/08 at 21:36
Posted by DRX SELLER on 7/11/08 at 17:51
Posted by oma z on 7/13/08 at 03:06
They say it's only for discovery in their lawsuits against us, that have been ongoing from 18 mo. to three years. Right. What does that ad make you think when you read it?
http://eclassifieds.chiroweb.com/eclassified/detail.php?&id=6909#addedit
How long must we endure their harassment? I'll just continue giving it over to God.
I read this book recently by George Ritchie, MD, 'Return from Tomorrow,' who was clinically dead but experienced a most profound Near Death Experience. At one point, he is in this plane of existence where there are many many sprits there (people that have died and have become separated from their physical bodies). These spirits would curse and kick and try to hit each other. It continued on and on without end. Since of course they were without bodies, they couldn't feel the pain of actually being hit. But the anger and all the passion of hate was behind it. That's what these lawsuits are. A senseless waste of time when our precious time on earth can be spent using our time for good. From the many accounts I have read, I see over and over again, that we are asked after we die, 'How much of your time did you spend loving others?' It is true that, 'Even as we do unto the least of these our brethren, we do unto Him.' These people on that angry and fighting plane of existence, were unaware of the love of God, and of his angels above them.
Posted by Arkansasdoc on 7/18/08 at 11:35
Axiom has had an engenda to intimidate and destroy all who come in their way. Some companies are proud of their accomplishments, people are excited to be there. Axiom is just a bully of a company that lied about NASA/success rates, etc then threw Gary Dixon and others out as the sacrificial lambs.
Let me let you in on a little secret. All of these companies know without a doubt that this is nothing more than traction.
It has been 12 years since the start of the lie known as 'decompression' started. Not one clinical study, no credible science, etc. This fraud has cost the american consumer hundreds of millions. MD's unite to fight this fraud!!!!!! This new tracton market has made a complete mockery of hundreds of years of trials to improve LBP.
Space age, my ass. More like the stone age. Me tie string to back and pull hard...
Posted by Dr. P on 7/19/08 at 00:43
Certainly many of you may not remember the monosynaptic stretch reflex.(this will increase Gamma and alpha motor neuronal activity) therefor traction will increase muscle tone and provoke spasm. However by a slow pull(distraction)with these laws using VAX-D(original name and the first to the market) you will fire a renshaw cell to inhibit the internuncial pool of neurons thereby giving Alpha and Gamma Motor Neuron Inhibition.There is science behind this and all you guys need to know it.Let's talk like the doctors that we are and not like this MD idiot who wouldn't know an a-hole if he were a proctologist.
Posted by Axiom Victim on 7/25/08 at 09:15
Posted by Dr. LS on 7/27/08 at 10:22
BY RACHEL MONAHAN
NY DAILY NEWS WRITER
Rosier/News
Michelle Feinman, 44, says her life has been a nightmare since a chiropractic procedure went horribly wrong.
A Brooklyn teacher was disabled for life by a chiropractic treatment, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Brooklyn Supreme Court.
Michelle Feinman, 44, a veteran gym teacher and dean at Samuel J. Tilden High School, had excruciating back pain before the November 2006 procedure.
Now it's impossible for her to walk a city block even with a cane, she said. She has to use a scooter to get around.
'I waddle when I walk. I go into heavy muscle spasms if my legs get tired,' Feinman said.
She also has lost the ability to control her bladder and her bowel movements, she said - the result of her spine being partially crushed by the procedure.
The lawsuit faults the company, Axiom Worldwide.
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 7/27/08 at 12:07
Posts intimating lawsuits, personal attacks on posters, websites being erected to lure discovery, doctors afraid to post their names and credentials either for fear of litigation or recrimination, posters of a certain geographic region (let's call if the State of Florida for posterity) posting under various names under the same Wi-Fi carrier, vice presidents of Axiom posting without answering a single question and then vanishing, claims of competitors being bought out by Axiom (which never happened).
On and on and on. Does anyone else find that this entire subject is rife with unprofessional behavior, acrimony and deceit?
It really doesn't take a giant mental leap to realize that the entire industry is not being straightforward with either the doctors or the patients.
Posted by Concerned on 7/28/08 at 10:35
A few years ago, it seemed that I had no competition and then it seemed like they were everywhere and now it doesn't seem that any new doctors are buying due to the alleged fraud.
Anyone have any idea how the health of this industry is going?
Posted by ms on 8/17/08 at 15:33
Posted by baileyc on 8/22/08 at 11:22
both Drs.sound good but I haveto finance this and hate to spend unnecssarily.
then...I read that all these mahchines are a hoax or placebo and wonder...but I am in pain and desparate..
L 1 and more herneation
Posted by Dave on 9/05/08 at 00:01
Posted by jockdoc on 9/10/08 at 08:46
'Decompression' is the same thing as traction. Go to a physical therapist and have them do tracion on your back. It is covered by insurance, won't cost you anything unless you have a copay and offers the same results.
DJ
Posted by john h on 9/12/08 at 12:25
To consider something more serious I have always wondered just how a person with a low back problem caused by compression of a vertebra on a nerve would react if he were in a a space shuttle for a few weeks? Astronauts actually change height while in zero gravity so surely the compression on any nerve would be relieved for a while. Perhaps a bulge might pull back in and the nerve irritation would be relieve from a couple of weeks in zero gravity. Of course it only cost about $10 million for a 1-2 day space ride with Russia.
Posted by 972 on 10/06/08 at 17:01
On September 15th, 2008, North American Medical won yet another decision in a series of decisive victories in their ongoing legal battle with Axiom Worldwide when Federal Judge Jack T. Camp dismissed all of the claims made by Axiom in the 2006 lawsuit filed by NAM.
“North American Medical is obviously pleased with Judge Camp's decision,” says Gidgette Rubin, NAM's Senior Vice President. “We feel that it's high time that both physicians and clients in the back-pain industry realized the extent to which Axiom's spin-masters will manipulate the truth in order to just sell machines, and then defend by denying the lies, followed by claiming the victims had done the same.”
Axiom's counterclaims were filed in response to a suit North American Medical filed against Axiom in 2006. The suit, which continues, alleges substantial misconduct by Axiom, including the following:
• Axiom has repeatedly and falsely claimed their DRX-9000 machine is a patented device.
• Axiom has repeatedly and falsely claimed the DRX is FDA-approved.
• Axiom has repeatedly and falsely claimed the DRX machine was designed by NASA engineers.
• Axiom illegally used registered North American Medical trademarks.
Judge Camp ruled that there was a substantial likelihood that NAM would prevail at the trial of this case on each of these specific claims. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld these rulings by Judge Camp.
Posted by 972 on 10/06/08 at 17:02
On September 15th, 2008, North American Medical won yet another decision in a series of decisive victories in their ongoing legal battle with Axiom Worldwide when Federal Judge Jack T. Camp dismissed all of the claims made by Axiom in the 2006 lawsuit filed by NAM.
“North American Medical is obviously pleased with Judge Camp's decision,” says Gidgette Rubin, NAM's Senior Vice President. “We feel that it's high time that both physicians and clients in the back-pain industry realized the extent to which Axiom's spin-masters will manipulate the truth in order to just sell machines, and then defend by denying the lies, followed by claiming the victims had done the same.”
Axiom's counterclaims were filed in response to a suit North American Medical filed against Axiom in 2006. The suit, which continues, alleges substantial misconduct by Axiom, including the following:
• Axiom has repeatedly and falsely claimed their DRX-9000 machine is a patented device.
• Axiom has repeatedly and falsely claimed the DRX is FDA-approved.
• Axiom has repeatedly and falsely claimed the DRX machine was designed by NASA engineers.
• Axiom illegally used registered North American Medical trademarks.
Judge Camp ruled that there was a substantial likelihood that NAM would prevail at the trial of this case on each of these specific claims. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld these rulings by Judge Camp.
Posted by Spine Doc on 10/20/08 at 21:26
The case file cited below relates to a civil -- not a criminal -- investigation. The existence of an investigation does not constitute proof of any violation of law.
Case Number: L07-3-1108
Subject of investigation:
Axiom Worldwide, Inc.; James Gibson; and Nicholas Exarhos.
Subject's address:
9423 Corporate Lake Drive, Tampa, FL 33634
Subject's business:
Medical
Allegation or issue being investigated:
Possible deceptive and unfair trade practices under Chapter 501, Part II, Fla. Stat., relating to the sales and marketing of spinal decompression devices, specifically including the DRX9000, for false and misleading advertising, making unsubstantiated claims, and facilitating further dissemination of sales and marketing materials with such claims.
AG unit handling case:
Economic Crimes Division in Tampa, Florida
Posted by ejw on 10/25/08 at 19:42
Posted by ejw on 10/25/08 at 20:07
I am in sothern CA and have recently aborted my DRX9000 treatment after collapsing on the floor with severe crippling spasms associated with the treatment. I was also told to keep coming after several visits when the techs said, 'oh that pain is just old scar tissue tearing.' I immediately had a new MRI and it turns out that was complete bullsh*t and now my pain is no better and I am completely unstable in my lumbar and factet joint areas. I can barely drive myself to work each day and have to take lots of meds to get through even a 4-6 hour day. I have since shown my MRI to another DC and an Ortho/Neuro surgeon who both confirmed that I never shoul have been put on this treatment as there was no chance of improvement with the virtually no nucleus pulposus material left in the discs. I'm incredibly angry and have received a full refund, but now I can barely work a 4-day work week and spend every other waking hour laying on the floor with muscle relaxants, opiates, and ice packs. I see lots of suits by DCs against Axiom, but no suits by patients and would like to join forces with other people who have been injured. Please contact me if you would like to discuss this. Thanks,
831-420-1842
Posted by Axiom Victim on 10/27/08 at 11:26
You are welcome to contact me at stopaxiom at live.com - I have been working with a lot of other people who were harmed by Axiom and their greed trained chiropractors.
Posted by Spine Doc on 10/30/08 at 21:31
Axiom has repeatedly and falsely claimed their DRX-9000 machine is a patented device.
• Axiom has repeatedly and falsely claimed the DRX is FDA-approved.
• Axiom has repeatedly and falsely claimed the DRX machine was designed by NASA engineers.
• Axiom illegally used registered North American Medical trademarks.
Judge Camp ruled that there was a substantial likelihood that NAM would prevail at the trial of this case on each of these specific claims. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld these rulings by Judge Camp.
Posted by DCT on 11/12/08 at 11:16
Posted by LG on 11/21/08 at 07:57
Chiropractor Dr. Arthur Hargraves, 67, of Douglasville, got three years and five months in prison.
Dr. Daniel Puffenberger, 52, of Kissimmee, Fla., was sentenced to three years and months in prison.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Howard Berkowitz, 58, of Atlanta got a sentence of one year and six months in prison, because he accepted responsibility prior to trial and also assisted the government in the prosecution of the case. Berkowitz has already re-paid the entire $2.5 million restitution owed to the insurance company.
Berkowitz, Hargraves, and Puffenberger operated a group of back pain clinics in North Georgia and Tennessee known as the Associated Spinal Care Network (ASCN). The three defendants were convicted of running a fraud scheme involving ASCN’s billing for a back pain procedure known as spinal decompression. Manufactureres of this equipment include Vax D, North American Medical Corporation and Axiom Worldwide.
Posted by Chris on 11/29/08 at 02:12
Posted by Chris on 11/29/08 at 02:18
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 11/29/08 at 12:53
I am pleased to hear that you and your spouse had a good outcome with mechanical traction (spinal decompression).
The main point that readers should glean from this discussion is that as in any other treatment or modality, there are successes and failures and those should be reported to the public in an effort to provide reliable, honest treatment based outcomes to potential patients.
Instead we have witnessed a cult of fallacious mistruths, marketing hype and profiteering off of those same patients for a device that is dramatically over-priced (both to the doctor and the consumer).
Hopefully the industry will abandon the old lexicon, spinal decompression and call it what it is, mechanical traction. Perhaps then insurers will open the door to more studies and standardization of the treatment. a separate CPT code used to bill for this device and delineate it from standard mechanical traction would possibly allow higher reimbursement based on these studies and the positive outcomes.
To date the marketing and usage of some of these machines is very much like the cowboy old west. The gunfights between the manufacturers have left a cloud of suspicion on a modality that may have great value but instead is the pariah of health care and the focus of many malpractice and industrial lawsuits.
Posted by Still a bit confused on 11/30/08 at 11:26
Chris
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 11/30/08 at 12:06
Although mechanical traction is termed an 'unattended' procedure the doctor should set up the patient, the machine and monitor the treatment throughout the course of care for that patient.
Chris may have hit the nail on the head here as to why there are so many reported failures and negative outcomes with 'spinal decompression'; a lack of professional oversight due to greed.
Posted by Still a bit confused on 11/30/08 at 14:45
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 11/30/08 at 17:01
I agree with you that these machines have value and have never doubted that (for that matter so does medication, surgery and conservative measures such rest, spinal manipulation, physical medicine etc). Are these machines the panacea that that SOME manufacturers and SOME doctors claim? No, they have a success and failure rate as does everything else that is dependant upon choosing the correct treatment for that patients presentation and probable outcome.
The trick is finding a doctor who is more concerned about your outcome than their income.
If they would simply be more discriminating in selecting their patients based on the probability of a good outcome, state the facts to patients up front and present a reasonable treatment plan based on the available research and outcomes and for a reasonable fee, we would not have this ignominious and despicable mess that we see today.
The real problem as I personally see it (and this is just an educated opinion is that one company went completely cowboy and made the most sweeping misstatements in their marketing and misled the doctors about the billing of this procedure, the origin and testing of their machine and manipulated their data to reflect a far too positive set of outcomes to sell their product.
Chris you wrote:
'My insurance pays for one round of twenty treatments per year'
I would be cautious about what CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code is being billed for your therapy if they are paying specifically for the Vax-D decompression procedure. As I have stated here before I am not aware of any insurer (including Medicare) that pays for this service under any code other than the 97012 code for mechanical traction and I use that code in my office and charge $25.00 (of course I do not own a 'spinal decompression' machine).
The only appropriate codes to bill an insurer for 'spinal decompression' on any of these machines is S9090 (Medicare requires the use of 97799) and again, NO insurer pays for this procedure under your policy benefits to my knowledge.
That could leave you or the provider open to the insurer asking for a refund if they audit these claims. Word to the wise; this is essentially a 'cash business' at this time.
If you still have your Eplanation of Benefits (EOB) from the insurer I would like to know (as would the doctors who own these machines) which company is paying for this procedure under the above guidelines.
Continued good health and progress to you and your spouse Chris.
Posted by Dan M on 12/25/08 at 21:33
Posted by Sandy G on 2/02/09 at 11:55
finished being built. Would I recommend this procedure? I can't honestly say I would tell anyone to spend that kind of money and not have guaranteed results for the price paid. If they are willing to give you your money back if is does not do exactly as they claim, then I would do it. The Ann Arbor Spine Institute guaranteed my satisfaction and I am not satisfied. He still has my $9,200 and I am still hurting.
Posted by Axiom Victim on 2/03/09 at 13:46
Good luck.
Posted by Glenn W on 2/19/09 at 06:47
Posted by Don W. on 2/19/09 at 11:37
A class action suit charging Fraud is in progress out of Reno Nevada against Axiom. I am interested in suing the Leasing Company who worked with Axiom there at their factory in Tampa. I am told that there were kickbacks to the Lease Company amounting to collusion.
Any information in this regard would be appreciated.
wilsondonald64 at yahoo.com
Posted by Axiom Victim 2 on 2/19/09 at 14:20
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 2/19/09 at 14:26
Thank you for posting, it is good to hear from DC's who own these machines their perspective on the industry and in particular Axiom's DRX machine marketing.
I am curious if you still offer this service at your practice?
I found your website and enjoyed reading a bit more about you and your practice.
Posted by Axiom Victim 3 on 4/02/09 at 21:27
Posted by Dr. Wedemeyer on 4/04/09 at 13:35
In my office we observe a reasonable approach which is that depending on the nature and severity of the condition and a patient's initial subjective complaint and objective findings, if after a reasonable period of time their subjective and objective findings are nor improving, we discontinue care and refer the patient out to a logical and appropriate medical provider for evaluation.
I am not familiar with the established protocols for determining when it is more reasonable to discontinue treatment and refer, discuss other options etc. in the spinal decompression field. I would think that if a typical treatment course is 20 treatments over a period of two or more months that if after one month no improvement was seen or reported by you that it is not reasonable to continue care and continue to charge you for failed treatment.
This is why I am so against collecting payment in advance for treatment unless it is established that there is a reasonable amount of evidence that your care will be of a long duration.
It is always within your rights of course to contact the doctor and discuss your concerns and that you be given a reasonable explanation as to why treatment was continued despite any real improvement. Did the doctor document any change that would hold up to a hearing from their respective board if an inquiry were initiated?
I would query your doctor and possibly other doctors offering this service in your area (and the manufacturer and possibly the state board) as to what the established protocols are for determining what criteria constitute the appropriate necessity of continuing or discontinuing care related to this treatment. This is not a mainstream medical or chiropractic technique but a specialized ancillary modality and I wonder what protections are in place for the welfare of the patient whose complaints are unresolved and in what time frame.
If you find out anything of value with respect to the above, I would personally appreciate you reporting back to us. It could be very helpful to the other readers.
Good luck
Posted by whiskeycat on 5/25/09 at 20:58
My own chiropractor has a traction machine that I'm sure cost a fraction of the DRX-9000, and I have used it.
So my question is what is the difference? This is an electronic marvel, very expensive so the doctors have to charge us a pretty
penny to use it.
Posted by whiskeycat on 5/25/09 at 21:05
Posted by whiskeycat on 5/25/09 at 21:09
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Posted by PamO on 6/07/09 at 05:33
Posted by grego on 6/24/09 at 08:27
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Posted by spind on 9/03/09 at 14:27
Posted by john baker on 9/04/09 at 18:06
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Posted by rj on 12/17/09 at 01:08
Posted by Sick of morons on 1/06/10 at 11:27
procedures if any of you think precription drugs and butcher surgeons are more effective then use them. One last thing the insurance companys that pay for pills and needless surgery should be put out of business for refusing to pay for alternative teatments like the DRX9000 and laser treatment. This means you 'TRAVELERS'!!
