“Seeing is believing.” That’s a popular saying. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn knows
that Ashburn back pain patients many times would
like to see the cause of their pain. (They believe they have pain by now!) Currently, imaging does
not always meet a patient’s desire to see the cause
if it is the result of an issue like chemical
irritation when disc material leaks out to a nerve root, so imaging
can only go so far in meeting a patient’s desire to see the cause. But Ashburn back pain patients can believe that
their Ashburn chiropractor will thoroughly explain to
them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to alleviate
that pain.
THE GOOD OF IMAGING
Imaging recommendations today
are all about decreasing imaging exposure and
cost. The concern of radiation exposure is being dealt with by careful
examination of low back pain patients for more specific indications,
decreasing radiation dose and doing more MRI
than CT. These changes in turn reduce 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 30 days during which time 50% improvement is sought. If a month goes by without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are positive scenarios for
Ashburn back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your
Ashburn chiropractor typically.
BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”
Other times (and Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn totally gets
this!) patients want to “see” their diagnosis. Words and descriptions and
drawings are one thing, but imaging is a lot more personal.
When it comes to non-specific back pain, there is an additional
layer of curiosity as it is “non-specific” and doesn’t
always have a glaring 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 probably why patients and their healthcare
providers want MRI and xrays.
MEDICINE AND SPINAL IMAGING
Interestingly, for years, medicine downplayed the idea
of imaging for spine issues. Today, medicine becomes more
and more interested in it. For cervical spine myelopathy, for instance,
treating physicians rely on imaging to determine the severity of it. Specifically, a group
of researchers considered the possibility that imaging helped visualize the relationship between lumbopelvic
alignment and cervical alignment and resulting cervical spine
myelopathy severity. (3) Imaging has its positives. Your Ashburn
back pain specialist at Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn wants to be sure imaging is positively
contributory to the treatment plan for our back pain patients’ ultimate
recovery and pain relief. We realize that “seeing is believing” and
respect what imaging contributes to the treatment plan when necessary.
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
valuable imaging can be for a patient’s treatment plan and final
outcome of care.
Schedule your Ashburn chiropractic appointment at
Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn to understand your back pain and
its relieving treatment plan whether you can see its source or
not because you definitely already believe you
have pain. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn believes in its relief. You can, too.