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Hollstrom & Associates Inc Understands How Images Help a Back Pain Patient

“Seeing is believing.” That’s a popular saying. Hollstrom & Associates Inc knows that Largo back pain patients many times would like to see the source of their pain. (They believe they have pain by now!) Today, imaging does not always fulfill a patient’s desire to see the source if it is because of an issue like chemical irritation when disc material leaks out to a nerve root, so imaging can only go so far in meeting a patient’s desire to see what’s going on. But Largo back pain patients can believe that their Largo 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 careful examination of low back pain patients for more specific indications, decreasing radiation dose and performing more MRI than CT. These efforts in turn reduce the cost of imaging. (1) Recommendations today are to hold off on imaging for 6-8 weeks of conservative treatment. Hollstrom & Associates Inc 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 pass without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are win-win situations for Largo back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your Largo chiropractor typically.

BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”

Other times (and Hollstrom & Associates Inc totally gets 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’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 probably why patients and their healthcare providers like MRI and xrays.

MEDICINE AND SPINAL IMAGING

Interestingly, for years, medicine downplayed the idea of imaging for spine issues. Today, medicine becomes more and more interested in it. For cervical spine myelopathy, for example, treating physicians depend on imaging to determine the severity of it. Specifically, a group of researchers considered the possibility that imaging helped see the relationship between lumbopelvic alignment and cervical alignment and subsequent cervical spine myelopathy severity. (3) Imaging has its good points. Your Largo back pain specialist at Hollstrom & Associates Inc wants to be sure imaging is appropriate to the treatment plan for our back pain patients’ final recovery and pain relief. We know that “seeing is believing” and respect what imaging contributes to the treatment plan when necessary.

CONTACT Hollstrom & Associates Inc

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 Largo chiropractic appointment at Hollstrom & Associates Inc to more fully comprehend your back pain and its relieving treatment plan whether you can see its source or not because you definitely already believe you have pain. Hollstrom & Associates Inc believes in its relief. You can, too.

 
Hollstrom & Associates Inc understands how “seeing [imaging – xray or MRI] is believing” works for back pain patients to see the cause 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."