Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. Understands How Images Help a Back Pain Patient

“Seeing is believing.” That’s a popular saying. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. understands that Auburn back pain patients many times wish to see the source of their pain. (They already believe their pain!) Currently, imaging doesn’t always meet a patient’s desire to see the source if it is the result of an issue like chemical irritation when disc material is on a nerve root, so imaging can only go so far in meeting a patient’s desire to see what’s going on. But Auburn back pain patients can believe that their Auburn chiropractor will thoroughly explain to them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to ease that pain.

THE GOOD OF IMAGING

Today’s imaging recommendations are 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 findings, reducing radiation dose and doing more MRI than CT. These efforts in turn decrease the cost of imaging. (1) Recommendations today are to no do imaging for 6-8 weeks of conservative treatment. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. has followed the Cox Technic System of Spinal Pain Management which suggests holding off on imaging (in the absence of "red flags" which a thorough clinical examination finds) for 30 days during which time 50% improvement is sought. If 30 days pass without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are win-win situations for Auburn back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your Auburn chiropractor most of the time.

BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”

Other times (and Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. totally understands this!) patients want to “see” their diagnosis. Words and descriptions and drawings are one thing, but imaging is much more personal. When it comes to non-specific back pain, there is an additional layer of curiosity as it’s “non-specific” and doesn’t always have an obvious cause 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 probably why patients and their healthcare providers like MRI and xrays.

MEDICINE AND SPINAL IMAGING

Interestingly, for years, medicine downplayed the concept of imaging for spine issues. Today, medicine is more and more interested in it. For cervical spine myelopathy, for example, treating physicians depend on imaging to ascertain its severity. 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 positives. Your Auburn back pain specialist at Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. 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 needed.

CONTACT Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Dan Clark on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes how useful imaging can be for a patient’s treatment plan and final outcome of care.

Schedule your Auburn chiropractic appointment at Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. to more fully comprehend your back pain and its relieving treatment plan whether you can see its source or not because you definitely already believe you have pain. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. believes in its relief. You can, too.