When back pain comes up (and/or has turned
into chronic low back pain) so too does the matter of
which healthcare provider to consult. It is
a valid question! Research reports that the first healthcare provider
sets the course for care, cost, and outcome of the back pain spell.
A new study stated that first-provider chiropractic care was less expensive than care by other first-provider healthcare professionals.
Johnson Chiropractic delivers individualized treatment plans for Richmond
back pain relief and prevention.
CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: Contributing and Preventing Factors
Even though chronic low back
pain is so common in older adults, research just has not
noted clearly what contributes to it or to its
prevention. One analysis of 4 databases of 31,080 older adults uncovered
an extensive list of issues that may contribute (from being
female, obese, anxious, depressed, having had falls in the past,
lifestyle issues like smoking, having weak abdominal muscles, occupational requirements
like having a job for longer than 10 years that demanded
bending/lifting, etc.) and factors that may prevent chronic low
back pain (intermediate level of leisure-time physical activity). (1) These
researchers, Johnson Chiropractic, and our patients would like to know more conclusively
what induces chronic low back pain!
Even more wanted is direction on how to manage it.
REFERRALS FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE
A survey of US office-based physicians tackled how referrals
affected the care of back pain. The participants
were questioned as to their referrals for particular
complementary health approaches like herbs/non-vitamin supplements,
chiropractic and osteopathic manipulation, acupuncture and mind-body therapies
(meditation, guided imagery, progressive relaxation). 60% of the physicians reported
they endorsed these approaches when patients asked
for them. More female than male physicians answered
using evidence in peer-reviewed journals as rationale
for recommending such approaches. (2) An additional concerning
factor for female back pain patients is that they are consistently
seen as having greater levels of frailty than men. (3) Frailty is always of concern in our older patients. Johnson Chiropractic is always prepared to share the benefits
– perceived by patients and documented by
research – of chiropractic and more specifically, Cox® Technic, with interested healthcare
professionals and spine pain sufferers.
CHIROPRACTIC RISES TO THE TOP
Another review of 3,799,593 low back pain patients appeared this past month emphasizing how influential
the first healthcare provider was in their study on cost and outcome for back
pain. Healthcare utilization (imaging, prescriptions, tests, visits, etc.),
opioid prescribing, and cost were higher when consulting
certain providers first: orthopedist ($9434), acupuncturist ($9205), primary
care physician ($5660), and chiropractor ($5093). (4) Seeing
which provider first resulted in the least expense without any delay in diagnosis
or serious illness? The chiropractor! With regards to
back pain, neck pain and spine-related pain, Richmond chiropractic care
makes sense.
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Keith Bartley on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the good
outcome for a lumbar spinal stenosis low back pain sufferer who found
relief with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management after she had seen
other healthcare providers.
Schedule your Richmond chiropractic
appointment soon. The question of which healthcare provider
to see arises, remember your
Richmond chiropractor!