“Seeing is believing.” That’s a popular saying. Cross Chiropractic Center knows
that Sandy Springs back pain patients many times would
like to see the source of their pain. (They already believe
their pain!) Today, imaging does
not always satisfy a patient’s desire to see the cause
if it is the result 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 the cause. But Sandy Springs back pain patients can believe that
their Sandy Springs chiropractor will thoroughly tell
them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to alleviate
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 findings,
reducing radiation dose and doing more MRI
than CT. These changes in turn decrease the cost of
imaging. (1) Recommendations today are to hold off on imaging for 6-8 weeks of conservative treatment. Cross Chiropractic Center has followed the Cox Technic System of Spinal Pain Management which suggests holding off on imaging (in the absence of "red flags" which a thorough clinical examination finds) for a month during which time 50% improvement is sought. If 30 days goes by without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are positive situations for
Sandy Springs back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your
Sandy Springs chiropractor most of the time.
BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”
Other times (and Cross Chiropractic Center totally gets
this!) patients want to “see” their diagnosis. Words and descriptions and
drawings are one thing, but imaging is much more personal.
When it comes to non-specific back pain, there is an added
layer of curiosity as it is “non-specific” and doesn’t
always have an obvious cause for the pain. The
public and patients believe imaging helps diagnose the back
pain condition. They are not alone as some healthcare professionals do, too. (2)
That’s likely 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 is more
and more interested in it. For cervical spine myelopathy, for example,
treating physicians rely on imaging to ascertain its
severity. Particularly, a set
of researchers looked at the possibility of
how imaging helped visualize the relationship between lumbopelvic
alignment and cervical alignment and resulting cervical spine
myelopathy severity. (3) Imaging has its positives. Your Sandy Springs
back pain specialist at Cross Chiropractic Center wants to be sure imaging is appropriate to the treatment plan for our back pain patients’ ultimate
recovery and pain relief. We realize that “seeing is believing” and
respect what imaging brings to the treatment plan when necessary.
CONTACT Cross Chiropractic Center
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 Sandy Springs chiropractic appointment at
Cross Chiropractic Center 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. Cross Chiropractic Center believes in its relief. You can, too.