“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 annually
- 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 over $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)
Disc Centers Of America is well-trained and confident
in offering non-hospital-based care to help Buffalo, NY back pain –
chronic and acute – patients find relief of and handle
their back pain – as well as post-surgical continued back pain - non-surgically.
LOW
BACK PAIN FACTS
Low
back pain is the leading reason of years lived with
disability around the world. 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interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions,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 concepts
are shared in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
believe it or not. (3) Disc Centers Of America 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 care of their back pain. “Patients go where
insurance pays, even if it is surgery.” In one study, back pain sufferers chose to visit a primary care physician (PCP) or
physical therapist (PT) or chiropractor first because of their health plan type, co-payment, and deductible. Modifying
these things to make them more valuable/less expensive/less
restrictive as to provider type might well inspire
low back pain sufferers to pick non-hospital, conservative
treatment instead of back surgery. (4) Disc Centers Of America is
all for this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers must
have back surgery. (5) Disc Centers Of America is prepared to assist
the remaining 99% of the Buffalo, NY 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
Buffalo, NY
back pain sufferers are not alone if their back pain returns. It happens. It’s controllable. It’s
manageable. Some data 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 trigger
the risk of back pain recurrence. (6) It is ok though. Really!
Disc Centers Of America helps Buffalo, NY back pain patients navigate these recurrences and manage them so they don’t limit anyone’s enjoyment of life.
We have a treatment plan!
CONTACT
Disc Centers Of America
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, Buffalo, NY chiropractic care at
Disc Centers Of America can help you cope with repeated episodes of back
pain, too.
Schedule a Buffalo, NY chiropractic appointment at
Disc Centers Of America 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.