The Role of Insurance Coverage in the Easley 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 titled Health Insurers Look for Ways to Cut Costs with Back Surgery. What a way to begin an article! It goes on:

• $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,” is as high as 50%. (1) With healthcare spending in the US exceeding $3.5 trillion - $10,739 a person – it is no wonder that insurers seek another way to cut costs, particularly when one-third of the money goes to hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2) Young Chiropractic is well-equipped and confident in offering non-hospital-based care to help Easley back pain – chronic and acute – patients get relief of and manage 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 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 Pharmaceutical companies’ financial interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions, and legal, personal, political, and societal beliefs of us all.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 notions are presented in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, believe it or not. (3) Young Chiropractic reads this with interest.

BACK SURGERY CHOICE

In light of 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 see a primary care physician (PCP) or physical therapist (PT) or chiropractor first because of their health plan type, co-payment, and deductible. Amending these things 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 rather than back surgery. (4) Young Chiropractic is all for this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers must have back surgery. (5) Young Chiropractic is ready to help the rest of the Easley back pain sufferers cope with their back pain and rework their lifestyles to be with the spine they have and cope with its episodes of pain and relief.

RECURRENT BACK PAIN

Easley back pain sufferers are in good company if their back pain comes back. It happens. It’s controllable. It is manageable. Some facts first: Within a year of recovery, 69% of patients experienced another episode of back pain of some sort. Awkward postures, long sitting times, and more than 2 prior back pain experiences prompt the risk of back pain recurrence. (6) It’s ok though. Truly! Young Chiropractic helps Easley 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 Young 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, Easley chiropractic care at Young Chiropractic can help you cope with repeated episodes of back pain, too.

Schedule a Easley chiropractic appointment at Young Chiropractic 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 delivers 70%, 80%, 90% and more for many of our patients at less cost – in terms of finances and lifestyle – than back surgery.