Benefits of Continued La Grande Chiropractic Care for Back Pain
“Doc, must I see you for a long time?”
“No, but you might well want to!”
Researchers are documenting the support for chiropractic care in the shorter and longer term also known as maintenance care. Benefits consist of pain relief and return of function in the short term and sustained pain relief, prolonged function, and boosted confidence in performing activities of daily living. Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC leaves it up to our La Grande chiropractic clients who know themselves and their bodies best.
CHIROPRACTIC RELIEF: TIME, VISITS AND WORSE PAIN, FUNCTION RETURN
A RAND Human Subjects Protection Committee-approved study of chronic back pain (1362) and chronic neck pain (1214) patients analyzed how quickly they got better with chiropractic care and how much functional improvement they experienced. These patients were documented as suffering with mild pain for the most part. Back and neck pain decreased, and function improved gradually over three months of chiropractic care. When frequency of chiropractic visits was blended into the analysis, those who had the worst pain went for more visits. Only visits more than once a week for chronic low back pain patients made a difference in terms of more improvement. (1) Studies like this can help patients with their expectations and payers with their treatment plan decision-making for coverage. Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC is so glad to read about these published studies to share with our La Grande back pain patients.
TREATMENT PLANNING FOR BACK PAIN RELIEF: Chiropractic Maintenance Care
Not all back pain patients are the same. La Grande back pain has biological, social, and psychological influences]30] that should be addressed, too. A collection of back pain patients’ response to chiropractic care alone versus multidisciplinary care found a relatively small difference in outcome which makes sense that adding ancillary care helps. (2) Same with continued chiropractic care. Patients who followed maintenance care recommendations noted fewer pain days and fewer activity-limited days. (3) Back pain patients who observed recommendations for maintenance care valued its being patient-centered. Cost, low availability, and fear of treatment were factors they thought prevented them from following recommended maintenance care. (4) One patient with a 13-year history of chiropractic once a month maintenance care including cervical spine long-y distraction for cervical radiculopathy and related retrolisthesis (backward slipping of one spinal vertebral bone on its spinal neighbors) maintained the patient’s asymptomatic state, kept the spine functioning as best as possible, and brought about a gradual decrease in the cervical spine retrolisthesis. Older neck pain patients who underwent long-term chiropractic care and exercise for neck pain experienced greater improvement in pain, function, balance, and self-efficacy (confidence in doing daily activities and such). Chiropractic care was thought to positively impact pain and control symptoms while exercise boosted self-efficacy and confidence to be able to keep active and mobile and in being able to self-handle their condition. (6) Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC carefully creates a treatment plan for each unique patient for best possible outcomes for each.
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Robert Borzone on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains the benefit of continued chiropractic care with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for his patient with a disc herniation.
Schedule your next La Grande chiropractic appointment with Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC. Our back pain and neck pain patients do not have to see us, but many choose to because they feel good and want to stay that way.
