CHOOSING WISELY (1) – WHAT TO DO ABOUT BACK PAIN
Every profession is establishing recommendations for practitioners to follow when delivering health care in
hopes of opening conversations between patients and
their healthcare providers and among healthcare providers themselves. Your
Richmond chiropractor at Johnson Chiropractic is always ready for such a
conversation about Richmond back pain. Back pain is a big
health concern distressing 80% of us in
Richmond at some point in life. Back pain is handled by many sorts of physicians in many kinds
of specialist societies. Their societal recommendations are comparable
regarding imaging (Don’t order in
the first six weeks of pain unless there are “red
flags.”), trying non-surgical care before
imaging and/or referring for back surgery, and progressing
the patient care from passive to active care. More
specifically, the American Academy of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation recommends not ordering repeat epidural steroid
injections without checking for the reaction to
the latter one and not prescribing opioid drugs for acute disabling
low back pain without evaluation and a test of other
alternatives. (2) The American Chiropractic Association recommends not ordering
repeat imaging to see how the patient is responding,
not getting spinal imaging for acute low back pain in the first
6 weeks of pain unless red flags are present,
and staying away from long term usage of passive care
but instead move the patient to active care. (3) The American
College of Emergency Room Physicians recommends avoiding
lumbar spine imaging in non-traumatic back pain unless there are
severe or progressive neurological deficits or a suspicion of an underlying condition.
(4) The American College of Physicians recommends not getting
imaging studies in patients with non-specific low back pain. (5) The North
American Spine Society recommends not suggesting bed rest for
more than 48 hours for low back pain, not ordering EMG studies to figure
out the cause of spine pain, and not getting
advanced spinal imaging (ex MRI) in the first six weeks of
non-specific acute low back pain without red flags. (6)
The Danish Health Authority recommends not referring patients for
back surgery for a lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy except
if the severe and debilitating back pain continues
for 12 weeks notwithstanding
non-surgical treatment. (7) It’s up to you, the Richmond back
pain patient or concerned loved one, to choose wisely the path of
care for back pain relief. Consider these professions’
recommendations for back pain care to start a conversation
with your Richmond chiropractor, your Richmond back pain specialist, at Johnson Chiropractic as you decide
on the type of care suitable for your Richmond
back pain relief.
Listen to this PODCAST
from the Back Doctors' Podcast series about two cases of back pain helped with Cox Technic, one with imaging and all sorts of care and the second case without any imaging studies.
TIP OF THE MONTH: Try Non-Surgical Interventions for Richmond Back Pain
Common Richmond non-surgical interventions for
Richmond back pain relief are pain medications, exercise, manual
manipulation, massage, and heat/ice. (8, 9) Included in the top non-surgical
interventions to try before Richmond back surgery is spinal
manipulation (10) of which 90% (11) is performed by
chiropractors. The Cox Technic System of Spine Care – spinal manipulation with
exercise, nutrition and passive care for pain and inflammation reduction with increased
active care emphasis as pain reduces – fits
Choosing Wisely recommendations as it seeks 50% relief of
pain within 30 days of care (which is more than the 30% or greater improvement
in self-reported pain and function pursued by medicine [12])
before advanced imaging or surgical referral in absence of red
flags. Bring your Richmond back pain to Johnson Chiropractic! Make it your first Richmond back pain
relief healthcare stop!
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."