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Johnson Chiropractic Understands How Images Help a Back Pain Patient

“Seeing is believing.” That’s a popular saying. Johnson Chiropractic knows that Richmond back pain patients many times want to see the source of their pain. (They believe they have pain by now!) Today, imaging doesn’t always fulfill a patient’s desire to see the source if it’s 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 satisfying a patient’s desire to see the cause. But Richmond back pain patients can believe that their Richmond chiropractor will thoroughly tell them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to alleviate that pain.

THE GOOD OF IMAGING

Today’s imaging recommendations seem to be all about reducing imaging exposure and cost. The concern of radiation exposure is being dealt with by carefully examining low back pain patients for more specific indications, decreasing radiation dose and doing more MRI than CT. These efforts in turn reduce the cost of imaging. (1) Recommendations today are to hold off on imaging for 6-8 weeks of conservative treatment. Johnson Chiropractic 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 pass without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are win-win situations for Richmond back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your Richmond chiropractor typically.

BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”

Other times (and Johnson Chiropractic 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 added layer of curiosity as it’s “non-specific” and doesn’t always have an obvious reason for the pain. The public and patients believe imaging helps determine the back pain condition. They are not alone as some healthcare professionals do, too. (2) That is 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 is more and more interested in it. For cervical spine myelopathy, for example, treating physicians depend on imaging to determine its severity. Particularly, a set of researchers looked at the possibility of how imaging helped see the relationship between lumbopelvic alignment and cervical alignment and subsequent cervical spine myelopathy severity. (3) Imaging has its positives. Your Richmond back pain specialist at Johnson Chiropractic wants to be sure imaging is positively contributory to the treatment plan for our back pain patients’ ultimate recovery and pain relief. We know that “seeing is believing” and respect what imaging brings to the treatment plan when necessary.

CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Dan Clark on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains how useful imaging can be for a patient’s treatment plan and final outcome of care.

Schedule your Richmond chiropractic appointment at Johnson Chiropractic 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. Johnson Chiropractic believes in its relief. You can, too.

 
Johnson Chiropractic understands how “seeing [imaging – xray or MRI] is believing” works for back pain patients to see the cause of their pain.  
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"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."