The Role of Insurance Coverage in the Largo Back Surgery or Non-Surgical Care Choice
“Back surgery is one of the most overused types of surgery as well as the most common ailment that sends patients to doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists,” conveys Crain’s Detroit Business magazine’s article called Health Insurers Look for Ways to Cut Costs with Back Surgery. What a way to open an article! It goes on:
- $90 billion on low back pain alone annually
- 1.2 million spinal surgeries a year
- $60,000 to $110,000 per lumbar fusion surgery (the fastest-growing type of surgery in the past 10 years)
The back surgery failure rate, the so-called “failed back syndrome” or the more “politically correct” term “post-surgical continued pain syndrome,” may be as high as 50%. (1) With healthcare spending in the US exceeding $3.5 trillion - $10,739 per person – it is no wonder that insurers seek another way to cut costs, especially when one-third of the money is spent for hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2) Hollstrom & Associates Inc is well-equipped and knowledgeable in offering non-hospital-based care to help Largo back pain – chronic and acute – patients get relief of and handle their back pain – and post-surgical continued back pain - without surgery.
LOW BACK PAIN FACTS
Low back pain is the foremost reason of years lived with disability around the world. Today, guidelines for low back pain relief care discourage pain medications, steroid injections and spine surgery and encourage physical therapy and psychological therapy. Healthcare systems tend to struggle with these novel approaches. Why? Pharmaceutical companies’ financial interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions, and legal, personal, political, and societal beliefs of us all. These notions are presented in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, believe it or not. (3) Hollstrom & Associates Inc reads this with interest.
BACK SURGERY CHOICE
Considering these facts, it’s not hard to believe that some back pain sufferers will pick back surgery over non-surgical care of their back pain. “Patients go where insurance pays, even if it is surgery.” In one study, back pain sufferers made the choice to visit a primary care physician (PCP) or physical therapist (PT) or chiropractor initially based on their health plan type, co-payment, and deductible. Modifying these things to make them more valuable/less expensive/less restrictive as to provider type could encourage low back pain sufferers to pick non-hospital, conservative treatment rather than back surgery. (4) Hollstrom & Associates Inc likes this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers must have back surgery. (5) Hollstrom & Associates Inc is prepared to help the rest of the Largo back pain sufferers manage their back pain and rework their lifestyles to live with the spine they have and deal with its episodes of pain and relief.
RECURRENT BACK PAIN
Largo back pain sufferers are not alone if their back pain comes back. It happens. It is controllable. It is manageable. Some facts first: Within a year of recovery, 69% of patients had another episode of back pain of some sort. Awkward postures, long sitting times, and more than 2 prior back pain experiences prompt the risk of back pain recurrence. (6) It is ok though. Truly! Hollstrom & Associates Inc helps Largo back pain patients find their way through these recurrences and manage them so they do not limit anyone’s enjoyment of life. We have a treatment plan!
CONTACT Hollstrom & Associates Inc
Listen to Dr. Kimble Cater on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson share how he helped an expectant mother with her repeated episodes of back pain. Whether you’re pregnant or not, Largo chiropractic care at Hollstrom & Associates Inc can help you deal with repeated episodes of back pain, too.
Schedule a Largo chiropractic appointment at Hollstrom & Associates Inc for back pain relief. Our care is not overused! The gentle, effective, evidence-based system of Cox® Technic look for 50% relief within 4-6 weeks of care and often gets 70%, 80%, 90% and greater for many of our patients at less cost – in terms of finances and lifestyle – than back surgery.
