Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn Understands How Images Help a Back Pain Patient

“Seeing is believing.” That’s a popular saying. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn knows that Ashburn and Herndon back pain patients many times wish to see the source of their pain. (They already believe their pain!) Currently, imaging doesn’t always meet a patient’s desire to see the cause if it’s because of an issue like chemical irritation when disc material is on a nerve root, so imaging can only go so far in meeting a patient’s desire to see the cause. But Ashburn and Herndon back pain patients can believe that their Ashburn and Herndon chiropractor will thoroughly explain to them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to ease that pain.

THE GOOD OF IMAGING

Today’s imaging recommendations are all about reducing imaging exposure and cost. The concern of radiation exposure is being dealt with by carefully examining low back pain patients for more specific findings, decreasing radiation dose and doing more MRI than CT. These efforts in turn decrease the cost of imaging. (1) Recommendations today are to hold off on imaging for 6-8 weeks of conservative treatment. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn has followed the Cox Technic System of Spinal Pain Management which suggests holding off on imaging (in the absence of "red flags" which a thorough clinical examination finds) for a month during which time 50% improvement is sought. If a month goes by without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are positive situations for Ashburn and Herndon back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your Ashburn and Herndon chiropractor typically.

BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”

Other times (and Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn totally understands this!) patients want to “see” their diagnosis. Words and descriptions and drawings are one thing, but imaging is much more personal. When it comes to non-specific back pain, there is an extra layer of curiosity as it’s “non-specific” and doesn’t always have an obvious reason for the pain. The public and patients believe imaging helps diagnose the back pain condition. They are not alone as some healthcare professionals do, too. (2) That’s likely why patients and their healthcare providers want MRI and xrays.

MEDICINE AND SPINAL IMAGING

Interestingly, for years, medicine downplayed the concept of imaging for spine problems. Today, medicine is more and more interested in it. For cervical spine myelopathy, for example, treating physicians depend on imaging to ascertain its severity. Particularly, a group of researchers looked at the possibility of how imaging helped visualize the relationship between lumbopelvic alignment and cervical alignment and subsequent cervical spine myelopathy severity. (3) Imaging has its positives. Your Ashburn and Herndon back pain specialist at Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn wants to be sure imaging is appropriate to the treatment plan for our back pain patients’ final recovery and pain relief. We know that “seeing is believing” and respect what imaging contributes to the treatment plan when needed.

CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Dan Clark on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes how useful imaging can be for a patient’s treatment plan and final outcome of care.

Schedule your Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic appointment at Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn to understand your back pain and its relieving treatment plan whether you can see the cause or not because you definitely already believe you have pain. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn believes in its relief. You can, too.