“Seeing is believing.” That’s a popular saying. Aaron Chiropractic Clinic understands
that Fort Wayne back pain patients many times want to see the cause of their pain. (They already believe
their pain!) Currently, imaging does
not always meet a patient’s desire to see the cause
if it is the result of an issue like chemical
irritation when disc material leaks out to a nerve root, so imaging
can only go so far in satisfying a patient’s desire to see what’s
going on. But Fort Wayne back pain patients can believe that
their Fort Wayne chiropractor will thoroughly explain to
them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to alleviate
that pain.
THE GOOD OF IMAGING
Imaging recommendations today
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 indications,
reducing radiation dose and performing 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. Aaron Chiropractic Clinic has followed the Cox Technic System of Spinal Pain Management which recommends 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 a month goes by without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are win-win scenarios for
Fort Wayne back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your
Fort Wayne chiropractor most of the time.
BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”
Other times (and Aaron Chiropractic Clinic totally understands
this!) patients want to “see” their diagnosis. Words and descriptions and
drawings are one thing while imaging is a lot more personal.
When it comes to non-specific back pain, there is an added
layer of curiosity as it is “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’s likely 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 issues. Today, medicine is more
and more interested in it. For cervical spine myelopathy, for instance,
treating physicians depend on imaging to ascertain the severity of it. Specifically, 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 good points. Your Fort Wayne
back pain specialist at Aaron Chiropractic Clinic wants to be sure imaging is appropriate to the treatment plan for our back pain patients’ final
recovery and pain relief. We realize that “seeing is believing” and
respect what imaging brings to the treatment plan when necessary.
CONTACT Aaron Chiropractic Clinic
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 Fort Wayne chiropractic appointment at
Aaron Chiropractic Clinic to understand your back pain and
its relieving treatment plan whether you can see its source or
not because you certainly already believe you
have pain. Aaron Chiropractic Clinic believes in its relief. You can, too.