The Role of Insurance Coverage in the Tonawanda Back Surgery or Non-Surgical Care Choice
“Back surgery is one of the most overused types of surgery as well as the most common ailment that sends patients to doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists,” reports Crain’s Detroit Business magazine’s article called Health Insurers Look for Ways to Cut Costs with Back Surgery. What a way to start an article! It continues:
- $90 billion on low back pain alone annually
- 1.2 million spinal surgeries annually
- $60,000 to $110,000 per lumbar fusion surgery (the fastest-growing type of surgery in the past decade)
The back surgery failure rate, the so-called “failed back syndrome” or the more “politically correct” term “post-surgical continued pain syndrome,” may be as high as 50%. (1) With healthcare spending in the US over $3.5 trillion - $10,739 a person – it is no wonder that insurers look for another way to cut costs, particularly when one-third of the money is spent for hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2) Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation is well-equipped and confident in offering non-hospital-based care to help Tonawanda back pain – chronic and acute – patients get relief of and manage their back pain – and post-surgical continued back pain - non-surgically.
LOW BACK PAIN FACTS
Low back pain is the foremost cause of years lived with disability globally. Today, recommendations for low back pain relief care discourage pain medications, steroid injections and spine surgery and encourage physical therapy and psychological therapy. Healthcare systems tend to struggle with these novel approaches. Why? Pharmaceutical companies’ financial interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions, and legal, personal, political, and societal beliefs of us all. These notions are shared in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, believe it or not. (3) Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation reads this with interest.
BACK SURGERY CHOICE
In light of these facts, it is not hard to believe that some back pain sufferers will pick back surgery over non-surgical management of their back pain. “Patients go where insurance pays, even if it is surgery.” In one study, back pain sufferers made the choice to see a primary care physician (PCP) or physical therapist (PT) or chiropractor initially based on their health plan type, co-payment, and deductible. Changing these factors to make them more valuable/less expensive/less restrictive as to provider type might well encourage low back pain sufferers to choose non-hospital, conservative treatment instead of back surgery. (4) Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation likes this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers must have back surgery. (5) Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation is prepared to assist the rest of the Tonawanda back pain sufferers manage their back pain and adapt their lifestyles to be with the spine they have and deal with its episodes of pain and relief.
RECURRENT BACK PAIN
Tonawanda back pain sufferers are not alone if their back pain returns. It happens. It’s controllable. It is manageable. Some facts first: Within a year of recovery, 69% of patients had another episode of back pain of some sort. Awkward postures, long sitting times, and more than 2 prior back pain experiences spark the risk of back pain recurrence. (6) It is ok though. Truly! Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation helps Tonawanda back pain patients navigate these recurrences and deal with them so they do not limit anyone’s enjoyment of life. We have a treatment plan!
CONTACT Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation
Listen to Dr. Kimble Cater on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson share how he helped an expectant mother with her repeated episodes of back pain. Whether you are pregnant or not, Tonawanda chiropractic care at Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation can help you cope with repeated episodes of back pain, too.
Schedule a Tonawanda chiropractic appointment at Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation for back pain relief. Our care is not overused! The gentle, effective, evidence-based system of Cox® Technic seeks 50% relief within 4-6 weeks of care and often delivers 70%, 80%, 90% and more for many of our patients at less cost – in terms of finances and lifestyle – than back surgery.
