“Seeing is believing.” That’s a popular saying. Capitol Spine & Rehabilitation understands
that Baton Rouge back pain patients many times want to see the source of their pain. (They already believe
their pain!) Currently, 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 Baton Rouge back pain patients can believe that
their Baton Rouge chiropractor will thoroughly explain to
them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to alleviate
that pain.
THE GOOD OF IMAGING
Today’s imaging recommendations
seem to be all about reducing imaging exposure and
cost. The concern of radiation exposure is being dealt with by carefully examining low back pain patients for more specific findings,
decreasing radiation dose and doing more MRI
than CT. These efforts in turn decrease the cost of
imaging. (1) Recommendations today are to hold off on imaging for 6-8 weeks of conservative treatment. Capitol Spine & Rehabilitation 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 30 days goes by without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are win-win scenarios for
Baton Rouge back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your
Baton Rouge chiropractor typically.
BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”
Other times (and Capitol Spine & Rehabilitation totally understands
this!) patients want to “see” their diagnosis. Words and descriptions and
drawings are one thing while imaging is much 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 is 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 instance,
treating physicians depend on imaging to determine the severity of it. Specifically, a set
of researchers looked at the possibility of
how imaging helped see the relationship between lumbopelvic
alignment and cervical alignment and resulting cervical spine
myelopathy severity. (3) Imaging has its good points. Your Baton Rouge
back pain specialist at Capitol Spine & Rehabilitation wants to be sure imaging is positively
contributory 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 needed.
CONTACT Capitol Spine & Rehabilitation
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Dan Clark on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains how
valuable imaging can be for a patient’s treatment plan and final
outcome of care.
Schedule your Baton Rouge chiropractic appointment at
Capitol Spine & Rehabilitation 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. Capitol Spine & Rehabilitation believes in its relief. You can, too.