When back pain arises (and/or has transitioned
into chronic low back pain) so too does the matter of
which healthcare provider to consult. It’s
a valid question! Research maintains that the first healthcare professional
sets 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.
Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc delivers individualized treatment plans for Fort Wayne
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
noted clearly what contributes to it or to its
prevention. One review 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 requirements
like having a job for longer than 10 years that necessitated
bending/lifting, etc.) and issues that may prevent chronic low
back pain (intermediate level of leisure-time physical activity). (1) These
researchers, Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc, and our patients would like to know more definitively
what influences chronic low back pain!
Even more desired is guidance on how to manage it.
REFERRALS FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE
A survey of US office-based physicians tackled how referrals
affected the care of back pain. The participants
were questioned 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 reported
they endorsed these approaches when patients asked
for them. More female than male physicians related
using evidence in peer-reviewed journals as rationale
for suggesting such approaches. (2) An additional troubling
factor for female back pain patients is that they are consistently
seen as having greater levels of frailty than men. (3) Frailty is always a concern in our older patients. Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc is always ready to discuss the benefits
– recognized by patients and documented 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 important
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 greater when consulting
certain providers first: orthopedist ($9434), acupuncturist ($9205), primary
care physician ($5660), and chiropractor ($5093). (4) Consulting
which provider first was the least expensive without any detrimental effect on diagnosis
or serious illness? The chiropractor! With regards to
back pain, neck pain and spine-related pain, Fort Wayne chiropractic care
makes sense.
CONTACT Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Keith Bartley on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the positive
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 professionals.
Schedule your Fort Wayne chiropractic
appointment today. The question of which healthcare professional
to see arises, remember your
Fort Wayne chiropractor!