“Seeing is believing.” Ever heard
that saying before? The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR bets you have. The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR understands
that Colorado Springs back pain patients many times want to see the cause of their pain. (They believe they have pain by now!) Today, imaging does
not always meet a patient’s desire to see the cause
if it’s the result of an issue like chemical
irritation when disc material leaks out to a nerve root, so imaging
can only go so far in meeting a patient’s desire to see what’s
going on. But Colorado Springs back pain patients can believe that
their Colorado Springs chiropractor will thoroughly tell
them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to ease
that pain.
THE GOOD OF IMAGING
Today’s imaging recommendations
seem to be 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 indications,
reducing radiation dose and doing more MRI
than CT. These changes in turn decrease the cost of
imaging. (1) Recommendations today are to hold off on imaging for 6-8 weeks of conservative treatment. The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR has followed the Cox Technic System of Spinal Pain Management which recommends holding off on imaging (in the absence of "red flags" which a thorough clinical examination finds) for a month during which time 50% improvement is sought. If 30 days goes by without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are win-win situations for
Colorado Springs back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your
Colorado Springs chiropractor most of the time.
BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”
Other times (and The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR totally understands
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 extra
layer of curiosity as it’s “non-specific” and doesn’t
always have an obvious reason 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 is likely why patients and their healthcare
providers want 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 example,
treating physicians rely on imaging to determine the severity of it. Particularly, a group
of researchers considered the possibility that imaging helped visualize the relationship between lumbopelvic
alignment and cervical alignment and resulting cervical spine
myelopathy severity. (3) Imaging has its good points. Your Colorado Springs
back pain specialist at The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR wants to be sure imaging is appropriate to the treatment plan for our back pain patients’ ultimate
recovery and pain relief. We realize that “seeing is believing” and
respect what imaging brings to the treatment plan when necessary.
CONTACT The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Dan Clark on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains how
useful imaging can be for a patient’s treatment plan and final
outcome of care.
Schedule your Colorado Springs chiropractic appointment at
The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR 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. The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR believes in its relief. You can, too.