“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,”
conveys 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 a year
- 1.2 million spinal surgeries annually
- $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,” is as high
as 50%. (1) With healthcare spending in the US exceeding $3.5
trillion - $10,739 per person – it is no wonder that insurers seek another way to cut costs, especially when one-third
of the money is spent for hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2)
Pflugerville Wellness Center is well-equipped and knowledgeable
in offering non-hospital-based care to help Pflugerville 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, guidelines
for low back pain relief care discourage pain medications, steroid injections
and spine surgery and encourage physical therapy and psychological therapy.
Healthcare systems tend 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interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions,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 views
are shared in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
believe it or not. (3) Pflugerville Wellness Center reads this with interest.
BACK
SURGERY CHOICE
In
light of these facts, it’s 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 see a primary care physician (PCP) or
physical therapist (PT) or chiropractor first based
on their health plan type, co-payment, and deductible. Amending
these things 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 instead of back surgery. (4) Pflugerville Wellness Center is
all for this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers must
have back surgery. (5) Pflugerville Wellness Center is prepared to assist
the remaining 99% of the Pflugerville back pain
sufferers manage 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
Pflugerville
back pain sufferers are not alone if their back pain returns. It happens. It is controllable. It’s
manageable. Some facts 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!
Pflugerville Wellness Center helps Pflugerville back pain patients navigate these recurrences and manage them so they don’t limit anyone’s enjoyment of life.
We have a treatment plan!
CONTACT
Pflugerville Wellness Center
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, Pflugerville chiropractic care at
Pflugerville Wellness Center can help you cope with repeated episodes of back
pain, too.
Schedule a Pflugerville chiropractic appointment at
Pflugerville Wellness Center 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 delivers
70%, 80%, 90% and more for many of our patients at less cost – in
terms of finances and lifestyle – than back surgery.