“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,”
reports Crain’s Detroit Business magazine’s article called
Health Insurers Look for Ways to Cut Costs with Back Surgery. What a way
to begin 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 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 a person – it’s no wonder that insurers seek another way to cut costs, particularly when one-third
of the money goes to hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2)
Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office is well-trained and knowledgeable
in offering non-hospital-based care to help Groton back pain –
chronic and acute – patients get relief of and handle
their back pain – and post-surgical continued back pain - without
surgery.
LOW
BACK PAIN FACTS
Low
back pain is the foremost cause of years lived with
disability globally. Today, guidelines
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interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions,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 notions
are shared in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
believe it or not. (3) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office reads this with interest.
BACK
SURGERY CHOICE
In
light of these facts, it’s not hard to believe that
some back pain sufferers will choose back surgery over
non-surgical care of their back pain. “Patients go where
insurance pays, even if it is surgery.” In one study, back pain sufferers chose to see a primary care physician (PCP) or
physical therapist (PT) or chiropractor first because of their health plan type, co-payment, and deductible. Changing
these things to make them more valuable/less expensive/less
restrictive as to provider type could encourage
low back pain sufferers to choose non-hospital, conservative
treatment instead of back surgery. (4) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office likes this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers must
have back surgery. (5) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office is ready to assist
the rest of the Groton back pain
sufferers manage their back pain and rework their
lifestyles to be with the spine they have and cope with
its episodes of pain and relief.
RECURRENT
BACK PAIN
Groton
back pain sufferers are not alone if their back pain comes
back. It happens. It’s controllable. It is
manageable. Some data 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 is ok though. Really!
Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office helps Groton back pain patients navigate these recurrences and deal with them so they do
not limit anyone’s enjoyment of life.
We have a treatment plan!
CONTACT
Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
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
are pregnant or not, Groton chiropractic care at
Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office can help you cope with repeated episodes of back
pain, too.
Schedule a Groton chiropractic appointment at
Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office 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.