“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 over $3.5
trillion - $10,739 a person – it’s no wonder that insurers seek another way to cut costs, particularly when one-third
of the money is spent for hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2)
Johnson Chiropractic is well-equipped and knowledgeable
in offering non-hospital-based care to help Richmond back pain –
chronic and acute – patients get relief of and handle
their back pain – and post-surgical continued back pain - without
surgery.
LOW
BACK PAIN FACTS
Low
back pain is the leading reason of years lived with
disability globally. 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interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions,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 thoughts
are shared in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
believe it or not. (3) Johnson Chiropractic reads this with interest.
BACK
SURGERY CHOICE
In
light of these facts, it’s not hard to believe that
some back pain sufferers will choose back surgery over
non-surgical management 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 based
on their health plan type, co-payment, and deductible. Modifying
these things to make them more valuable/less expensive/less
restrictive as to provider type could encourage
low back pain sufferers to choose non-hospital, conservative
treatment rather than back surgery. (4) Johnson Chiropractic is
all for this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers require back surgery. (5) Johnson Chiropractic is prepared to help
the rest of the Richmond back pain
sufferers manage their back pain and rework their
lifestyles to live with the spine they have and cope with
its episodes of pain and relief.
RECURRENT
BACK PAIN
Richmond
back pain sufferers are in good company if their back pain returns. It happens. It’s controllable. It’s
manageable. Some facts first: Within a year of recovery, 69% of
patients experienced another episode of back pain of some sort. What
risks spark a return of back pain? Awkward
postures, long sitting times, and more than 2 prior back pain experiences. (6) It is ok though. Truly!
Johnson Chiropractic helps Richmond back pain patients navigate these recurrences and manage them so they do
not limit anyone’s enjoyment of life.
We have a treatment plan!
CONTACT
Johnson Chiropractic
Listen
to Dr. Kimble Cater on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson share how
he helped an expectant mother with her repeated episodes of back pain. Whether you
are pregnant or not, Richmond chiropractic care at
Johnson Chiropractic can help you cope with repeated episodes of back
pain, too.
Schedule a Richmond chiropractic appointment at
Johnson Chiropractic 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 gets
70%, 80%, 90% and greater for many of our patients at less cost – in
terms of finances and lifestyle – than back surgery.