Apple Country Chiropractic Understands How Images Help a Back Pain Patient

“Seeing is believing.” Ever heard that saying before? Apple Country Chiropractic bets you have. Apple Country Chiropractic knows that Williamson back pain patients often want to see the cause of their pain. (They believe they have pain by now!) Currently, imaging does not always satisfy a patient’s desire to see the cause if it’s because 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 Williamson back pain patients can believe that their Williamson chiropractor will thoroughly tell them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to ease that pain.

THE GOOD OF IMAGING

Imaging recommendations today seem to be all about reducing imaging exposure and cost. The concern of radiation exposure is being dealt with by carefully examining low back pain patients for more specific findings, reducing 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. Apple Country Chiropractic 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 30 days pass without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are positive scenarios for Williamson back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your Williamson chiropractor typically.

BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”

Other times (and Apple Country 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’s “non-specific” and does not always have an obvious reason for the pain. The public and patients believe imaging helps determine the back pain condition. They are not alone as some healthcare professionals do, too. (2) That’s likely 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 issues. Today, medicine becomes more and more interested in it. For cervical spine myelopathy, for instance, treating physicians rely on imaging to determine its severity. Particularly, a group 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 Williamson back pain specialist at Apple Country Chiropractic 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 brings to the treatment plan when necessary.

CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Dan Clark on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes how valuable imaging can be for a patient’s treatment plan and final outcome of care.

Schedule your Williamson chiropractic appointment at Apple Country Chiropractic to more fully comprehend your back pain and its relieving treatment plan whether you can see the cause or not because you definitely already believe you have pain. Apple Country Chiropractic believes in its relief. You can, too.

 
Apple Country Chiropractic understands how “seeing [imaging – xray or MRI] is believing” works for back pain patients to see the source of their pain.  
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."