When back pain arises (and/or has transitioned
into chronic low back pain) so too does the matter of
which healthcare provider to see. It’s
a valid question! Research maintains that the first healthcare professional
establishes 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.
Minster Chiropractic Center delivers individualized treatment plans for Minster
back pain relief and prevention.
CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: Contributing and Preventing Factors
Despite the fact that chronic low back
pain is so common in older adults, research just hasn’t
defined 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 issues
like having a job for more than 10 years that demanded
bending/lifting, etc.) and issues that may prevent chronic low
back pain (intermediate level of leisure-time physical activity). (1) These
researchers, Minster Chiropractic Center, and our patients would like to know more conclusively
what prompts chronic low back pain!
Even more wanted is guidance on how to handle
it.
REFERRALS FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE
A survey of US office-based physicians tackled how referrals
affected the care of back pain. The participating physicians
were queried 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 stated
they recommended these approaches when patients asked
for them. More female than male physicians reported
using evidence in peer-reviewed journals as reasoning
for recommending such approaches. (2) An additional concerning
factor for female back pain patients is that they are consistently
seen as having higher levels of frailty than men. (3) Frailty is always a concern in our older patients. Minster Chiropractic Center is always prepared to discuss the benefits
– perceived by patients and verified by
research – of chiropractic and more specifically, Cox® Technic, with interested healthcare
providers and spine pain sufferers.
CHIROPRACTIC RISES TO THE TOP
Another review of 3,799,593 low back pain patients turned
up this past month highlighting 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 seeing
certain providers first: orthopedist ($9434), acupuncturist ($9205), primary
care physician ($5660), and chiropractor ($5093). (4) Seeing
which provider first was the least expensive without any detrimental effect on diagnosis
or serious illness? The chiropractor! When it comes to
back pain, neck pain and spine-related pain, Minster chiropractic care
makes sense.
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Keith Bartley on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the good
outcome for a lumbar spinal stenosis low back pain sufferer who got
relief with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management after she had consulted
other healthcare providers.
Make your Minster chiropractic
appointment soon. The question of which healthcare provider
to see arises, think of your
Minster chiropractor!