The Role of Insurance Coverage in the Murfreesboro 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 open an article! It goes on:

• $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,” may be as high as 50%. (1) With healthcare spending in the US over $3.5 trillion - $10,739 per person – it is 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) Most Chiropractic Clinic is well-trained and knowledgeable in offering non-hospital-based care to help Murfreesboro back pain – chronic and acute – patients find relief of and handle their back pain – as well as post-surgical continued back pain - without surgery.

LOW BACK PAIN FACTS

Low back pain is the leading cause 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 have a tendency 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 Pharmaceutical companies’ financial interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions, and legal, personal, political, and societal beliefs of us all.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) Most Chiropractic Clinic reads this with interest.

BACK SURGERY CHOICE

Considering these facts, it’s not hard to believe that some back pain sufferers will pick 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 initially because of their health plan type, co-payment, and deductible. Changing these things 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) Most Chiropractic Clinic likes this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers require back surgery. (5) Most Chiropractic Clinic is prepared to help the rest of the Murfreesboro 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

Murfreesboro 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. Really! Most Chiropractic Clinic helps Murfreesboro 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 Most Chiropractic Clinic

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’re pregnant or not, Murfreesboro chiropractic care at Most Chiropractic Clinic can help you deal with repeated episodes of back pain, too.

Schedule a Murfreesboro chiropractic appointment at Most Chiropractic Clinic 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.