The Role of Insurance Coverage in the Plainville 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,” conveys Crain’s Detroit Business magazine’s article called Health Insurers Look for Ways to Cut Costs with Back Surgery. What a way to begin an article! It continues:

• $90 billion on low back pain alone a year
• 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,” is as high as 50%. (1) With healthcare spending in the US over $3.5 trillion - $10,739 per person – it’s no wonder that insurers seek another way to cut costs, especially when one-third of the money goes to hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2) Layden Chiropractic is well-trained and knowledgeable in offering non-hospital-based care to help Plainville back pain – chronic and acute – patients get 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 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 are apt to struggle with these new 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 Pharmaceutical companies’ financial interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions, and legal, personal, political, and societal beliefs of us all.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 shared in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, believe it or not. (3) Layden Chiropractic reads this with interest.

BACK SURGERY CHOICE

Considering these facts, it’s not hard to believe that some back pain sufferers will decide on 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 first because of their health plan type, co-payment, and deductible. Modifying these factors to make them more valuable/less expensive/less restrictive as to provider type could inspire low back pain sufferers to choose non-hospital, conservative treatment instead of back surgery. (4) Layden Chiropractic is all for this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers require back surgery. (5) Layden Chiropractic is prepared to assist the other 99% of the Plainville back pain sufferers cope with their back pain and adapt their lifestyles to live with the spine they have and deal with its episodes of pain and relief.

RECURRENT BACK PAIN

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

CONTACT Layden Chiropractic

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, Plainville chiropractic care at Layden Chiropractic can help you cope with repeated episodes of back pain, too.

Schedule a Plainville chiropractic appointment at Layden Chiropractic 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 greater for many of our patients at less cost – in terms of finances and lifestyle – than back surgery.