“Seeing is believing.” That’s a popular saying. Amelia Chiropractic Clinic knows
that Fernandina Beach back pain patients many times wish to see the cause of their pain. (They already believe
their pain!) Today, imaging doesn’t always meet a patient’s desire to see the source
if it is due to 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 Fernandina Beach back pain patients can believe that
their Fernandina Beach chiropractor will thoroughly explain to
them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to ease
that pain.
THE GOOD OF IMAGING
Today’s imaging recommendations
seem to be all about decreasing 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,
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. Amelia Chiropractic Clinic 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 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
Fernandina Beach back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your
Fernandina Beach chiropractor most of the time.
BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”
Other times (and Amelia Chiropractic Clinic 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 extra
layer of curiosity as it’s “non-specific” and does not
always have an obvious cause 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 likely why patients and their healthcare
providers like MRI and xrays.
MEDICINE AND SPINAL IMAGING
Interestingly, for years, medicine downplayed the concept
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 the severity of it. Particularly, 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 positives. Your Fernandina Beach
back pain specialist at Amelia Chiropractic Clinic wants to be sure imaging is appropriate to the treatment plan for our back pain patients’ ultimate
recovery and pain relief. We know that “seeing is believing” and
respect what imaging contributes to the treatment plan when necessary.
CONTACT Amelia Chiropractic Clinic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Dan Clark on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes how
useful imaging can be for a patient’s treatment plan and final
outcome of care.
Schedule your Fernandina Beach chiropractic appointment at
Amelia Chiropractic Clinic to more fully comprehend your back pain and
its relieving treatment plan whether you can see the cause or
not because you certainly already believe you
have pain. Amelia Chiropractic Clinic believes in its relief. You can, too.