“Back
surgery is one of the most overused types of surgery as well as the most common
ailment that sends patients to doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists,”
reports Crain’s Detroit Business magazine’s article called
Health Insurers Look for Ways to Cut Costs with Back Surgery. What a way
to begin an article! It goes on:
- $90 billion on low back pain alone a year
- 1.2 million spinal surgeries annually
- $60,000 to $110,000 per lumbar fusion
surgery (the fastest-growing type of surgery in the past 10 years)
The
back surgery failure rate, the so-called “failed back syndrome” or the more “politically
correct” term “post-surgical continued pain syndrome,” may be as high
as 50%. (1) With healthcare spending in the US exceeding $3.5
trillion - $10,739 a person – it’s no wonder that insurers look
for another way to cut costs, especially when one-third
of the money goes to hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2)
Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn is well-trained and knowledgeable
in offering non-hospital-based care to help Ashburn back pain –
chronic and acute – patients get relief of and handle
their back pain – as well as post-surgical continued back pain - non-surgically.
LOW
BACK PAIN FACTS
Low
back pain is the foremost cause of years lived with
disability around the world. Today, guidelines
for low back pain relief care discourage pain medications, steroid injections
and spine surgery and encourage physical therapy and psychological therapy.
Healthcare systems have a tendency to struggle with
these novel approaches. Why? Pharmaceutical companies’ financial
interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions,
and legal, personal, political, and societal beliefs of us all. These concepts
are shared in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
believe it or not. (3) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn reads this with interest.
BACK
SURGERY CHOICE
In
light of these facts, it is not hard to believe that
some back pain sufferers will decide on back surgery over
non-surgical care of their back pain. “Patients go where
insurance pays, even if it is surgery.” In one study, back pain sufferers chose to see a primary care physician (PCP) or
physical therapist (PT) or chiropractor initially because of their health plan type, co-payment, and deductible. Changing
these things to make them more valuable/less expensive/less
restrictive as to provider type could encourage
low back pain sufferers to pick non-hospital, conservative
treatment instead of back surgery. (4) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn likes this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers require back surgery. (5) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn is ready to help
the remaining 99% of the Ashburn back pain
sufferers cope with their back pain and rework their
lifestyles to be with the spine they have and deal with
its episodes of pain and relief.
RECURRENT
BACK PAIN
Ashburn
back pain sufferers are not alone if their back pain returns. It happens. It is controllable. It is
manageable. Some data first: Within a year of recovery, 69% of
patients had another episode of back pain of some sort. What
risks prompt a recurrence of back pain? Awkward
postures, long sitting times, and more than 2 prior back pain experiences. (6) It is ok though. Truly!
Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn helps Ashburn back pain patients navigate these recurrences and deal with them so they don’t limit anyone’s enjoyment of life.
We have a treatment plan!
CONTACT
Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
Listen
to Dr. Kimble Cater on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson discuss how
he helped an expectant mother with her repeated episodes of back pain. Whether you’re pregnant or not, Ashburn chiropractic care at
Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn can help you deal with repeated episodes of back
pain, too.
Schedule a Ashburn chiropractic appointment at
Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn for back pain relief. Our care is not overused! The gentle, effective, evidence-based system of
Cox®
Technic look for 50% relief within 4-6 weeks of care and often delivers
70%, 80%, 90% and greater for many of our patients at less cost – in
terms of finances and lifestyle – than back surgery.