“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 titled
Health Insurers Look for Ways to Cut Costs with Back Surgery. What a way
to start an article! It continues:
- $90 billion on low back pain alone annually
- 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 exceeding $3.5
trillion - $10,739 a person – it’s no wonder that insurers seek another way to cut costs, especially when one-third
of the money is spent for hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2)
Spinal Care Clinic is well-trained and knowledgeable
in offering non-hospital-based care to help Burlington and Hamilton 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 foremost reason of years lived with
disability around the world. 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 are apt to struggle with
these new 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interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions,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 concepts
are presented in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
believe it or not. (3) Spinal Care Clinic reads this with interest.
BACK
SURGERY CHOICE
Considering these facts, it’s not hard to believe that
some back pain sufferers will choose back surgery over
non-surgical care of their back pain. “Patients go where
insurance pays, even if it is surgery.” In one study, back pain sufferers made
the choice to see a primary care physician (PCP) or
physical therapist (PT) or chiropractor first based
on their health plan type, co-payment, and deductible. Modifying
these factors to make them more valuable/less expensive/less
restrictive as to provider type could inspire
low back pain sufferers to choose non-hospital, conservative
treatment instead of back surgery. (4) Spinal Care Clinic is
all for this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers require back surgery. (5) Spinal Care Clinic is ready to assist
the remaining 99% of the Burlington and Hamilton back pain
sufferers cope with their back pain and adapt their
lifestyles to be with the spine they have and deal with
its episodes of pain and relief.
RECURRENT
BACK PAIN
Burlington and Hamilton
back pain sufferers are not alone if their back pain returns. It happens. It’s controllable. It is
manageable. Some facts first: Within a year of recovery, 69% of
patients had another episode of back pain of some sort. Awkward
postures, long sitting times, and more than 2 prior back pain experiences spark
the risk of back pain recurrence. (6) It’s ok though. Really!
Spinal Care Clinic helps Burlington and Hamilton back pain patients navigate these recurrences and deal with them so they don’t limit anyone’s enjoyment of life.
We have a treatment plan!
CONTACT
Spinal Care Clinic
Listen
to Dr. Kimble Cater on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson discuss how
he helped an expectant mother with her repeated episodes of back pain. Whether you’re pregnant or not, Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic care at
Spinal Care Clinic can help you cope with repeated episodes of back
pain, too.
Schedule a Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic appointment at
Spinal Care Clinic for back pain relief. Our care is not overused! The gentle, effective, evidence-based system of
Cox®
Technic seeks 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.