“Seeing is believing.” That’s a popular saying. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center understands
that Manahawkin back pain patients often want to see the source of their pain. (They believe they have pain by now!) Today, imaging does
not always meet a patient’s desire to see the source
if it is due to an issue like chemical
irritation when disc material leaks out to a nerve root, so imaging
can only go so far in meeting a patient’s desire to see what’s
going on. But Manahawkin back pain patients can believe that
their Manahawkin chiropractor will thoroughly explain to
them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to alleviate
that pain.
THE GOOD OF IMAGING
Imaging recommendations today
seem to be all about reducing imaging exposure and
cost. The concern of radiation exposure is being dealt with by careful
examination of low back pain patients for more specific findings,
reducing radiation dose and performing more MRI
than CT. These efforts in turn reduce the cost of
imaging. (1) Recommendations today are to hold off on imaging for 6-8 weeks of conservative treatment. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center has followed the Cox Technic System of Spinal Pain Management which suggests holding off on imaging (in the absence of "red flags" which a thorough clinical examination finds) for 30 days during which time 50% improvement is sought. If 30 days goes by without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are win-win situations for
Manahawkin back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your
Manahawkin chiropractor typically.
BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”
Other times (and Manahawkin Chiropractic Center totally understands
this!) patients want to “see” their diagnosis. Words and descriptions and
drawings are one thing while imaging is much more personal.
When it comes to non-specific back pain, there is an extra
layer of curiosity as it is “non-specific” and doesn’t
always have a glaring cause for the pain. The
public and patients believe imaging helps diagnose the back
pain condition. They are not alone as some healthcare professionals do, too. (2)
That is probably why patients and their healthcare
providers want MRI and xrays.
MEDICINE AND SPINAL IMAGING
Interestingly, for years, medicine downplayed the idea
of imaging for spine issues. Today, medicine becomes more
and more interested in it. For cervical spine myelopathy, for example,
treating physicians depend on imaging to determine the severity of it. Particularly, a set
of researchers considered the possibility that imaging helped visualize the relationship between lumbopelvic
alignment and cervical alignment and subsequent cervical spine
myelopathy severity. (3) Imaging has its good points. Your Manahawkin
back pain specialist at Manahawkin Chiropractic Center wants to be sure imaging is positively
contributory to the treatment plan for our back pain patients’ final
recovery and pain relief. We know that “seeing is believing” and
respect what imaging contributes to the treatment plan when needed.
CONTACT Manahawkin Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Dan Clark on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes how
valuable imaging can be for a patient’s treatment plan and final
outcome of care.
Schedule your Manahawkin chiropractic appointment at
Manahawkin Chiropractic Center to understand your back pain and
its relieving treatment plan whether you can see the cause or
not because you certainly already believe you
have pain. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center believes in its relief. You can, too.