Back Pain Helped by Accessible Chiropractic Care in Cost and Relief
Back pain and neck pain are often painful as well as costly and oftentimes complex. Overall health care spending in the US keeps increasing: $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 paid for by insurers,
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 stated that
higher accessibility to chiropractic reduced the reliance on primary care services for painful spinal conditions. Further, some financial savings for management of spine pain conditions was seen in the care of ambulatory patients that may well add up to bigger savings since spine pain conditions are so common in older adults. (2) Ambulatory patients can take themselves to a healthcare provider, and many go to chiropractors. Chiropractors are known 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 encounters involving spinal conditions and soft tissue approaches for extremity pain conditions.
(3) Chiropractors are well-trained to recognize co-morbidities, conditions that spine pain patients have in addition to spine pain that are not related to the spine. Researchers are working on gathering data that will show just how many such conditions chiropractors find in their patients.
(4) This existence of non-spine related conditions is a basis for chiropractors’ intensive diagnostic training and familiarity with co-management with other medical care as is necessary. Your chiropractor is ready to examine, diagnose, and treat your
spine-related pain condition no matter its complexity in a cost-effective, gentle, evidence-based manner often via
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 important, too. This applies to the young and old! For the older folks, it is really essential as loss of skeletal spinal mass - which affects 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 improving spinal muscle. Interferential current was said to be better than placebo at lowering pain and disability right after use in chronic low back pain patients. (7) Your individualized Largo chiropractic treatment plan may include such additional care along with 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 Hollstrom & Associates Inc
Make your next Largo chiropractic appointment with Hollstrom & Associates Inc now. We look forward to seeing you soon! And we're happy to share our chiropractic services to help alleviate your pain.
