“Seeing is believing.” Ever heard
that saying before? Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation bets you have. Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation knows
that Tonawanda back pain patients many times would
like to see the cause of their pain. (They already believe
their pain!) Today, imaging does
not always meet a patient’s desire to see the cause
if it is 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 Tonawanda back pain patients can believe that
their Tonawanda chiropractor will thoroughly explain to
them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to alleviate
that pain.
THE GOOD OF IMAGING
Imaging recommendations today
are 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 indications,
decreasing radiation dose and doing 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. Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation 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 30 days during which time 50% improvement is sought. If 30 days pass without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are win-win scenarios for
Tonawanda back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your
Tonawanda chiropractor most of the time.
BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”
Other times (and Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation totally understands
this!) patients want to “see” their diagnosis. Words and descriptions and
drawings are one thing while imaging is much more personal.
When it comes to non-specific back pain, there is an additional
layer of curiosity as it’s “non-specific” and doesn’t
always have a glaring 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 concept
of imaging for spine issues. Today, medicine is 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 set
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 good points. Your Tonawanda
back pain specialist at Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation 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 Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation
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 Tonawanda chiropractic appointment at
Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation to more fully comprehend your back pain and
its relieving treatment plan whether you can see its source or
not because you definitely already believe you
have pain. Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation believes in its relief. You can, too.