Minster Chiropractic Center Understands How Images Help a Back Pain Patient

“Seeing is believing.” That’s a popular saying. Minster Chiropractic Center understands that Minster back pain patients many times want to see the source of their pain. (They already believe their pain!) Today, imaging doesn’t always fulfill a patient’s desire to see the cause if it’s the result of an issue like chemical irritation when disc material is on a nerve root, so imaging can only go so far in satisfying a patient’s desire to see the cause. But Minster back pain patients can believe that their Minster chiropractor will thoroughly tell them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to alleviate that pain.

THE GOOD OF IMAGING

Imaging recommendations today seem to be all about decreasing 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, decreasing radiation dose and performing more MRI than CT. These efforts in turn reduce the cost of imaging. (1) Recommendations today are to no do imaging for 6-8 weeks of conservative treatment. Minster Chiropractic Center has followed the Cox Technic System of Spinal Pain Management which recommends 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 goes by without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are positive situations for Minster back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your Minster chiropractor most of the time.

BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”

Other times (and Minster Chiropractic Center 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 added layer of curiosity as it is “non-specific” and does not always have an obvious cause for the pain. The public and patients believe imaging helps diagnose the back pain condition. They are not alone as some healthcare professionals do, too. (2) That is probably why patients and their healthcare providers like 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 example, treating physicians rely on imaging to ascertain its severity. Specifically, a group of researchers considered the possibility that imaging helped visualize the relationship between lumbopelvic alignment and cervical alignment and subsequent cervical spine myelopathy severity. (3) Imaging has its positives. Your Minster back pain specialist at Minster Chiropractic Center wants to be sure imaging is appropriate to the treatment plan for our back pain patients’ final recovery and pain relief. We realize that “seeing is believing” and respect what imaging brings to the treatment plan when needed.

CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center

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 Minster chiropractic appointment at Minster Chiropractic Center to more fully comprehend your back pain and its relieving treatment plan whether you can see the cause or not because you certainly already believe you have pain. Minster Chiropractic Center believes in its relief. You can, too.