“Back
surgery is one of the most overused types of surgery as well as the most common
ailment that sends patients to doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists,”
conveys Crain’s Detroit Business magazine’s article called
Health Insurers Look for Ways to Cut Costs with Back Surgery. What a way
to open an article! It continues:
- $90 billion on low back pain alone a year
- 1.2 million spinal surgeries a
year
- $60,000 to $110,000 per lumbar fusion
surgery (the fastest-growing type of surgery in the past 10 years)
The
back surgery failure rate, the so-called “failed back syndrome” or the more “politically
correct” term “post-surgical continued pain syndrome,” may be as high
as 50%. (1) With healthcare spending in the US over $3.5
trillion - $10,739 per person – it is no wonder that insurers seek another way to cut costs, especially when one-third
of the money goes to hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2)
Vancouver Spine Care Centre is well-trained and knowledgeable
in offering non-hospital-based care to help Vancouver back pain –
chronic and acute – patients get relief of and manage
their back pain – as well as post-surgical continued back pain - without
surgery.
LOW
BACK PAIN FACTS
Low
back pain is the leading reason of years lived with
disability globally. Today, recommendations
for low back pain relief care discourage pain medications, steroid injections
and spine surgery and encourage physical therapy and psychological therapy.
Healthcare systems have a tendency to struggle with
these new approaches. Why? Pharmaceutical companies’ financial
interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions,
and legal, personal, political, and societal beliefs of us all. These thoughts
are presented in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
believe it or not. (3) Vancouver Spine Care Centre reads this with interest.
BACK
SURGERY CHOICE
Considering these facts, it’s not hard to believe that
some back pain sufferers will choose back surgery over
non-surgical management of their back pain. “Patients go where
insurance pays, even if it is surgery.” In one study, back pain sufferers made
the choice to visit a primary care physician (PCP) or
physical therapist (PT) or chiropractor initially based
on their health plan type, co-payment, and deductible. Modifying
these things to make them more valuable/less expensive/less
restrictive as to provider type might well encourage
low back pain sufferers to pick non-hospital, conservative
treatment rather than back surgery. (4) Vancouver Spine Care Centre is
all for this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers require back surgery. (5) Vancouver Spine Care Centre is ready to help
the rest of the Vancouver back pain
sufferers cope with their back pain and rework their
lifestyles to live with the spine they have and cope with
its episodes of pain and relief.
RECURRENT
BACK PAIN
Vancouver
back pain sufferers are not alone if their back pain returns. It happens. It’s controllable. It’s
manageable. Some facts first: Within a year of recovery, 69% of
patients had another episode of back pain of some sort. Awkward
postures, long sitting times, and more than 2 prior back pain experiences spark
the risk of back pain recurrence. (6) It’s ok though. Really!
Vancouver Spine Care Centre helps Vancouver back pain patients navigate these recurrences and manage them so they don’t limit anyone’s enjoyment of life.
We have a treatment plan!
CONTACT
Vancouver Spine Care Centre
Listen
to Dr. Kimble Cater on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson discuss how
he helped an expectant mother with her repeated episodes of back pain. Whether you’re pregnant or not, Vancouver chiropractic care at
Vancouver Spine Care Centre can help you deal with repeated episodes of back
pain, too.
Schedule a Vancouver chiropractic appointment at
Vancouver Spine Care Centre for back pain relief. Our care is not overused! The gentle, effective, evidence-based system of
Cox®
Technic look for 50% relief within 4-6 weeks of care and often gets
70%, 80%, 90% and more for many of our patients at less cost – in
terms of finances and lifestyle – than back surgery.