“Seeing is believing.” Ever heard
that saying before? Layden Chiropractic bets you have. Layden Chiropractic knows
that Plainville back pain patients often would
like to see the source of their pain. (They already believe
their pain!) Today, imaging doesn’t always satisfy a patient’s desire to see the source
if it is because 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 Plainville back pain patients can believe that
their Plainville chiropractor will thoroughly explain to
them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to alleviate
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,
decreasing radiation dose and doing more MRI
than CT. These changes in turn reduce the cost of
imaging. (1) Recommendations today are to hold off on imaging for 6-8 weeks of conservative treatment. Layden Chiropractic 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 positive scenarios for
Plainville back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your
Plainville chiropractor most of the time.
BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”
Other times (and Layden Chiropractic totally gets
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 is “non-specific” and does not
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 want MRI and xrays.
MEDICINE AND SPINAL IMAGING
Interestingly, for years, medicine downplayed the concept
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. Specifically, a set
of researchers looked at the possibility of
how imaging helped see the relationship between lumbopelvic
alignment and cervical alignment and subsequent cervical spine
myelopathy severity. (3) Imaging has its good points. Your Plainville
back pain specialist at Layden Chiropractic wants to be sure imaging is positively
contributory 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 needed.
CONTACT Layden Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Dan Clark on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains how
valuable imaging can be for a patient’s treatment plan and final
outcome of care.
Schedule your Plainville chiropractic appointment at
Layden Chiropractic to understand your back pain and
its relieving treatment plan whether you can see the cause or
not because you certainly already believe you
have pain. Layden Chiropractic believes in its relief. You can, too.