“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 titled
Health Insurers Look for Ways to Cut Costs with Back Surgery. What a way
to begin an article! It goes on:
- $90 billion on low back pain alone a year
- 1.2 million spinal surgeries annually
- $60,000 to $110,000 per lumbar fusion
surgery (the fastest-growing type of surgery in the past decade)
The
back surgery failure rate, the so-called “failed back syndrome” or the more “politically
correct” term “post-surgical continued pain syndrome,” is as high
as 50%. (1) With healthcare spending in the US over $3.5
trillion - $10,739 per person - it’s no wonder that insurers look
for another way to cut costs, particularly when one-third
of the money is spent for hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2)
Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center is well-trained and knowledgeable
in offering non-hospital-based care to help Pensacola back pain -
chronic and acute - patients find relief of and manage
their back pain - as well as post-surgical continued back pain - non-surgically.
LOW
BACK PAIN FACTS
Low
back pain is the leading cause of years lived with
disability around the world. 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 tend to struggle with
these novel 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interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions,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 concepts
are shared in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
believe it or not. (3) Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center reads this with interest.
BACK
SURGERY CHOICE
Considering these facts, it’s not hard to believe that
some back pain sufferers will pick 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 first because of 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 inspire
low back pain sufferers to choose non-hospital, conservative
treatment instead of back surgery. (4) Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center is
all for this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers require back surgery. (5) Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center is ready to help
the remaining 99% of the Pensacola back pain
sufferers cope with their back pain and rework their
lifestyles to live with the spine they have and deal with
its episodes of pain and relief.
RECURRENT
BACK PAIN
Pensacola
back pain sufferers are in good company if their back pain comes
back. It happens. It is controllable. It is
manageable. Some facts first: Within a year of recovery, 69% of
patients experienced 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!
Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center helps Pensacola back pain patients navigate these recurrences and deal with them so they don’t limit anyone’s enjoyment of life.
We have a treatment plan!
CONTACT
Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center
Listen
to Dr. Kimble Cater on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson share how
he helped an expectant mother with her repeated episodes of back pain. Whether you
are pregnant or not, Pensacola chiropractic care at
Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center can help you deal with repeated episodes of back
pain, too.
Schedule a Pensacola chiropractic appointment at
Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center for back pain relief. Our care is not overused! The gentle, effective, evidence-based system of
Cox®
Technic seeks 50% relief within 4-6 weeks of care and often delivers
70%, 80%, 90% and greater for many of our patients at less cost - in
terms of finances and lifestyle - than back surgery.