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The Role of Insurance Coverage in the Carrolltown 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 open an article! It continues:

  • $90 billion on low back pain alone a year
  • 1.2 million spinal surgeries a year
  • $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 exceeding $3.5 trillion - $10,739 a person – it’s no wonder that insurers seek another way to cut costs, especially when one-third of the money is spent for hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation is well-trained and confident in offering non-hospital-based care to help Carrolltown back pain – chronic and acute – patients find 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 reason of years lived with disability around the world. Today, guidelines for low back pain relief care discourage pain medications, steroid injections and spine surgery and encourage physical therapy and psychological therapy. Healthcare systems are apt 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 Pharmaceutical companies’ financial interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions, and legal, personal, political, and societal beliefs of us all.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 views are presented in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, believe it or not. (3) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation reads this with interest.

BACK SURGERY CHOICE

Considering these facts, it’s not hard to believe that some back pain sufferers will choose 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 could inspire low back pain sufferers to pick non-hospital, conservative treatment instead of back surgery. (4) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation is all for this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers must have back surgery. (5) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation is prepared to assist the remaining 99% of the Carrolltown back pain sufferers manage their back pain and rework their lifestyles to be with the spine they have and deal with its episodes of pain and relief.

RECURRENT BACK PAIN

Carrolltown back pain sufferers are not alone if their back pain comes back. It happens. It is controllable. It is manageable. Some facts first: Within a year of recovery, 69% of patients had another episode of back pain of some sort. What risks spark a recurrence of back pain? Awkward postures, long sitting times, and more than 2 prior back pain experiences. (6) It is ok though. Truly! Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation helps Carrolltown back pain patients find their way through these recurrences and manage them so they do not limit anyone’s enjoyment of life.  We have a treatment plan!

CONTACT Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation

Listen to Dr. Kimble Cater on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson discuss how he helped an expectant mother with her repeated episodes of back pain. Whether you are pregnant or not, Carrolltown chiropractic care at Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation can help you cope with repeated episodes of back pain, too.

Schedule a Carrolltown chiropractic appointment at Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation for back pain relief. Our care is not overused!  The gentle, effective, evidence-based system of Cox® Technic look for 50% relief within 4-6 weeks of care and often gets 70%, 80%, 90% and more for many of our patients at less cost – in terms of finances and lifestyle – than back surgery.

Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation notes that back pain sufferers may choose their back pain treatment option based on insurance coverage. If insurance pays for back surgery, will you choose that?  
 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."