“Seeing is believing.” Ever heard
that saying before? Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. bets you have. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. knows
that Auburn back pain patients many times would
like to see the cause of their pain. (They already believe
their pain!) Today, imaging does
not always satisfy a patient’s desire to see the cause
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 satisfying 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
Imaging recommendations today
are all about reducing imaging exposure and
cost. The concern of radiation exposure is being dealt with by careful
examination of low back pain patients for more specific indications,
reducing radiation dose and doing more MRI
than CT. These efforts in turn decrease the cost of
imaging. (1) Recommendations today are to hold off on 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 a month during which time 50% improvement is sought. If a month pass without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are positive scenarios for
Auburn back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your
Auburn chiropractor typically.
BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”
Other times (and Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. totally gets
this!) patients want to “see” their diagnosis. Words and descriptions and
drawings are one thing while imaging is much more personal.
When it comes to non-specific back pain, there is an added
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 diagnose 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 problems. Today, medicine becomes 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 looked at the possibility of
how 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 know that “seeing is believing” and
respect what imaging contributes to the treatment plan when necessary.
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 explains 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 certainly already believe you
have pain. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. believes in its relief. You can, too.