“Seeing is believing.” That’s a popular saying. Spinal Care Clinic understands
that Burlington and Hamilton back pain patients many times wish to see the source of their pain. (They believe they have pain by now!) Currently, imaging doesn’t always meet a patient’s desire to see the cause
if it’s because of an issue like chemical
irritation when disc material leaks out to a nerve root, so imaging
can only go so far in meeting a patient’s desire to see the cause. But Burlington and Hamilton back pain patients can believe that
their Burlington and Hamilton 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
are all about reducing imaging exposure and
cost. The concern of radiation exposure is being dealt with by careful
examination of low back pain patients for more specific findings,
reducing radiation dose and performing more MRI
than CT. These changes in turn reduce the cost of
imaging. (1) Recommendations today are to hold off on imaging for 6-8 weeks of conservative treatment. Spinal Care Clinic 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 a month during which time 50% improvement is sought. If 30 days pass without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are positive situations for
Burlington and Hamilton back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your
Burlington and Hamilton chiropractor typically.
BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”
Other times (and Spinal Care Clinic totally understands
this!) patients want to “see” their diagnosis. Words and descriptions and
drawings are one thing, but imaging is much more personal.
When it comes to non-specific back pain, there is an extra
layer of curiosity as it is “non-specific” and does not
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’s likely why patients and their healthcare
providers want MRI and xrays.
MEDICINE AND SPINAL IMAGING
Interestingly, for years, medicine downplayed the concept
of imaging for spine problems. Today, medicine becomes more
and more interested in it. For cervical spine myelopathy, for instance,
treating physicians rely on imaging to ascertain the severity of it. Specifically, a group
of researchers considered the possibility that imaging helped visualize the relationship between lumbopelvic
alignment and cervical alignment and resulting cervical spine
myelopathy severity. (3) Imaging has its positives. Your Burlington and Hamilton
back pain specialist at Spinal Care Clinic wants to be sure imaging is positively
contributory to the treatment plan for our back pain patients’ final
recovery and pain relief. We know that “seeing is believing” and
respect what imaging brings to the treatment plan when necessary.
CONTACT Spinal Care Clinic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Dan Clark on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes how
valuable imaging can be for a patient’s treatment plan and final
outcome of care.
Schedule your Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic appointment at
Spinal Care Clinic to more fully comprehend your back pain and
its relieving treatment plan whether you can see its source or
not because you certainly already believe you
have pain. Spinal Care Clinic believes in its relief. You can, too.