“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 annually
- 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,” may be as high
as 50%. (1) With healthcare spending in the US exceeding $3.5
trillion - $10,739 a person – it is no wonder that insurers seek another way to cut costs, especially when one-third
of the money goes to hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2)
OrthoIllinois Chiropractic is well-trained and confident
in offering non-hospital-based care to help McHenry back pain –
chronic and acute – patients find relief of and handle
their back pain – as well as post-surgical continued back pain - non-surgically.
LOW
BACK PAIN FACTS
Low
back pain is the foremost reason of years lived with
disability globally. Today, recommendations
for low back pain relief care discourage pain medications, steroid injections
and spine surgery and encourage physical therapy and psychological therapy.
Healthcare systems are apt 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interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions,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 concepts
are presented in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
believe it or not. (3) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic reads this with interest.
BACK
SURGERY CHOICE
In
light of these facts, it is not hard to believe that
some back pain sufferers will decide on 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 made
the choice to visit a primary care physician (PCP) or
physical therapist (PT) or chiropractor first based
on their health plan type, co-payment, and deductible. Changing
these factors to make them more valuable/less expensive/less
restrictive as to provider type might well encourage
low back pain sufferers to choose non-hospital, conservative
treatment rather than back surgery. (4) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic likes this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers must
have back surgery. (5) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic is ready to assist
the remaining 99% of the McHenry back pain
sufferers cope with their back pain and rework their
lifestyles to be with the spine they have and deal with
its episodes of pain and relief.
RECURRENT
BACK PAIN
McHenry
back pain sufferers are in good company if their back pain comes
back. It happens. It is controllable. It is
manageable. Some data first: Within a year of recovery, 69% of
patients experienced another episode of back pain of some sort. What
risks prompt a recurrence of back pain? Awkward
postures, long sitting times, and more than 2 prior back pain experiences. (6) It is ok though. Truly!
OrthoIllinois Chiropractic helps McHenry back pain patients find their
way through these recurrences and deal with them so they don’t limit anyone’s enjoyment of life.
We have a treatment plan!
CONTACT
OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
Listen
to Dr. Kimble Cater on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson share how
he helped an expectant mother with her repeated episodes of back pain. Whether you
are pregnant or not, McHenry chiropractic care at
OrthoIllinois Chiropractic can help you deal with repeated episodes of back
pain, too.
Schedule a McHenry chiropractic appointment at
OrthoIllinois Chiropractic for back pain relief. Our care is not overused! The gentle, effective, evidence-based system of
Cox®
Technic look for 50% relief within 4-6 weeks of care and often gets
70%, 80%, 90% and greater for many of our patients at less cost – in
terms of finances and lifestyle – than back surgery.