“Seeing is believing.” That’s a popular saying. New Roads Chiropractic Center knows
that New Roads back pain patients often would
like to see the source of their pain. (They already believe
their pain!) Today, imaging does
not always satisfy a patient’s desire to see the source
if it’s because of an issue like chemical
irritation when disc material is on a nerve root, so imaging
can only go so far in meeting a patient’s desire to see the cause. But New Roads back pain patients can believe that
their New Roads chiropractor will thoroughly explain to
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 decreasing imaging exposure and
cost. The concern of radiation exposure is being dealt with by carefully examining low back pain patients for more specific findings,
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. New Roads Chiropractic Center 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 30 days during which time 50% improvement is sought. If a month goes by without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are positive situations for
New Roads back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your
New Roads chiropractor most of the time.
BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”
Other times (and New Roads Chiropractic Center totally gets
this!) patients want to “see” their diagnosis. Words and descriptions and
drawings are one thing while imaging is a lot more personal.
When it comes to non-specific back pain, there is an additional
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 determine the back
pain condition. They are not alone as some healthcare professionals do, too. (2)
That’s probably why patients and their healthcare
providers like MRI and xrays.
MEDICINE AND SPINAL IMAGING
Interestingly, for years, medicine downplayed the idea
of imaging for spine problems. 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. Particularly, a group
of researchers looked at the possibility of
how imaging helped visualize the relationship between lumbopelvic
alignment and cervical alignment and subsequent cervical spine
myelopathy severity. (3) Imaging has its good points. Your New Roads
back pain specialist at New Roads Chiropractic Center wants to be sure imaging is positively
contributory to the treatment plan for our back pain patients’ ultimate
recovery and pain relief. We know that “seeing is believing” and
respect what imaging brings to the treatment plan when needed.
CONTACT New Roads Chiropractic Center
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 New Roads chiropractic appointment at
New Roads Chiropractic Center to more fully comprehend your back pain and
its relieving treatment plan whether you can see the cause or
not because you definitely already believe you
have pain. New Roads Chiropractic Center believes in its relief. You can, too.