Back Pain Helped by Accessible Chiropractic Care in Cost and Relief
Back pain and neck pain are not only painful but also costly and oftentimes complex. Overall health care spending in the US keeps rising: $1.4 trillion in 1996 to $3.1 trillion in 2016. It makes up 18% of the US economy as of 2020. Of the top 154 conditions that insurers pay for the coverage of,
low back pain and
neck pain were the most costly at $134.5 billion.
(If you’re curious, #2 was musculoskeletal disorders, and #3 was diabetes care.) (1) In a Medicare expenditure study of chiropractic spine care, researchers reported that $400 to $500 million was spent each year. They also noted that
more accessibility to chiropractic lowered the reliance on primary care services for painful spinal conditions. Further, some monetary savings for management of spine pain conditions was reported for ambulatory patients that may well add up to large savings since spine pain conditions are so common in older adults. (2) Ambulatory patients can get themselves to a healthcare provider, and many go to chiropractors. Chiropractors are recognized for their care of the spine and spine-related, musculoskeletal conditions. A new study reported that they, predictably, usually elected to use
spinal manipulation for clinical treatments of spinal conditions and soft tissue approaches for extremity pain conditions.
(3) Chiropractors are well-trained to diagnose co-morbidities, conditions that spine pain patients deal with in addition to spine pain that are not related to the spine. Researchers are presently collecting data that will show just how many such conditions chiropractors see in their patients.
(4) This existence of non-spine related conditions is the basis for chiropractors’ intensive diagnostic training and comfort with co-management with other medical care as needed. Your chiropractor is ready to examine, diagnose, and treat your
spine-related pain condition regardless of its complexity in a cost-effective, gentle, evidence-based manner often using
The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
TIP OF THE MONTH: Understand Spinal Muscle Care: Electrical Current
Paying attention to the spinal muscles is essential, too. This applies to the young and old! For the older folks, it’s really important as loss of skeletal spinal mass - which influences lumbar lordosis, too - makes them vulnerable to chronic low back pain. (5) Fatty infiltration of the paraspinal muscles correlated greatly with a higher risk of back pain and disability in a recent study. (6) Electrical stimulation (as well as exercise and nutrition which your chiropractor also encourages!) is helpful in enhancing spinal muscle. Interferential current was said to be better than placebo at decreasing pain and disability right after use in chronic low back pain patients. (7) Your individualized La Grande chiropractic treatment plan may incorporate such additional care alongside spinal manipulation. Embrace it!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Jay Young on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson about use of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management to manage back pain in a patient with degenerative disc disease.
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Schedule your next La Grande chiropractic visit with Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC soon. We look forward to seeing you soon! And we're happy to share our chiropractic services to help relieve your pain.
