
Back Pain Helped by Accessible Chiropractic Care in Cost and Relief
Back pain and neck pain are not only painful but also costly and oftentimes complex. Overall health care spending in the United State keeps increasing: $1.4 trillion in 1996 to $3.1 trillion in 2016. It makes up 18% of the US economy as of 2020. Of the top 154 conditions that insurers pay for the coverage of,
low back pain and
neck pain were the costliest at $134.5 billion.
(What conditions followed? #2 was musculoskeletal disorders, and #3 was diabetes care.) (1) In one study of Medicare expenditures for spinal care by chiropractors, researchers found that $400 to $500 million was spent each year. They also stated that
more accessibility to chiropractic lowered the reliance on primary care services for painful spinal conditions. Further, some financial savings for care of spine pain conditions was reported for ambulatory patients that may well equate to large savings since spine pain conditions are so common in older adults. (2) Ambulatory patients can get themselves to a healthcare practitioner, and many find their way to chiropractors. Chiropractors are known for their care of the spine and spine-related, musculoskeletal conditions. A recent study noted that they, not surprisingly, most often chose
spinal manipulation for clinical treatments of spinal conditions and soft tissue approaches for extremity pain conditions.
(3) Chiropractors are well-educated to recognize co-morbidities, conditions that spine pain patients deal with in addition to spine pain that are not related to the spine. Researchers are presently collecting data that will show just how many such conditions chiropractors find in their patients.
(4) This existence of non-spine related conditions is a basis for chiropractors’ intensive diagnostic training and familiarity with co-management with other medical care as is necessary. Your chiropractor is prepared to examine, diagnose, and treat your
spine-related pain condition no matter its complexity in a cost-effective, gentle, evidence-based manner often using
The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
TIP OF THE MONTH: Understand Spinal Muscle Care: Electrical Current
Paying attention to the spinal muscles is essential, too. This applies to young and old alike! For the older folks, it is really essential as loss of skeletal spinal mass - which influences lumbar lordosis, too - makes them vulnerable to chronic low back pain. (5) Fatty infiltration of the paraspinal muscles showed a significant relationship to a greater risk of back pain and disability in a recent study. (6) Electrical stimulation (in addition to exercise and nutrition which your chiropractor also encourages!) is helpful in improving spinal muscle. Interferential current was said to be better than placebo at reducing pain and disability immediately after use in chronic low back pain patients. (7) Your individualized Groton chiropractic treatment plan may incorporate such adjunct care along with spinal manipulation. Embrace it!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Jay Young on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson about use of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management to treat and contain back pain in a patient with degenerative disc disease.
CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
Schedule your next Groton chiropractic visit with Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office now. We look forward to seeing you soon! And we're happy to share our chiropractic services to help alleviate your pain.