Stats. Stats. Stats. We humans
are well scrutinized: our diseases,
our habits, our lives. In healthcare, data and stats can be quite
helpful in improving care, particularly path for low back pain management from conservative, non-surgical to surgical when
necessary. In Williamson Apple Country Chiropractic is experienced
in managing this flow of back pain care and in referring when/if necessary.
LOW BACK PAIN MANAGEMENT DATA
The worldwide top cause of
disability is low back pain. Diagnosis of the cause of low
back pain – spinal stenosis, radiculopathy, non-specific and specific low back
pain – is key to managing it. A new study commented
that low back examination tests alone aren’t always helpful
on their own. (1) That is why Apple Country Chiropractic correlates
everything - your history, current pain, exam tests’ results, imaging, and more
- to come up with a diagnosis as well as a treatment plan.
And not all back pain sufferers have to go to specialists
like spinal surgeons. Even the surgeons appreciate it
when patients who need their skill (surgical
skills) are referred to them. A recent study pointed
out that of 500 cases sent to a neurosurgeon, only 22% were
surgical candidates. 80% of referrals made during the study’s time
period were deemed not appropriate.
The researchers concluded that “triaging approaches led by
musculoskeletal experts may improve referral appropriateness to specialized
care.” (2) Apple Country Chiropractic concurs and is ready to perform
that role. Your Williamson chiropractor specializes in the diagnosis and management of low back pain
and knows when to refer for specialized treatment like advanced
imaging, surgery, etc.
DATA ON CHIROPRACTIC BACK PAIN PATIENT CARE
In the chiropractic corner of healthcare,
Care Response is a filled database of details from
chiropractic patients around the world. It’s been amassing
data for over 10 years regarding patient satisfaction. Two main
points of feedback were on what chiropractic patients felt was
good about their care and what could be improved. The good included
clinical outcomes (decreased pain, better
function, being understood as having pain and its cause), examination and explanation
of the condition and its treatment, professionalism, friendliness, feeling
valued as a person, safety, comfort, and punctuality. There is always room for
improvement, and patients shared that they wanted to
not be rushed during the visit, wanted to feel understood, wanted satisfactory
outcomes, etc. (3) Apple Country Chiropractic strives to focus
on you during your time at our Williamson chiropractic office.
CHIROPRACTIC IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE
As your Williamson chiropractor, Apple Country Chiropractic strives
to deliver the ‘good’! And we take it one step further to boost
quality of life for our low back pain patients. The most recent
series of questions to help evaluate patients for
these outcomes is called PROMIS that encompasses
function, pain interference, pain intensity, fatigue, sleep, depression,
anxiety, satisfaction in social life, mental health, etc. The final word from all the collected data found that patients (1)
improved significantly and felt they did, (2) improved significantly but did
not think they did, (3) didn’t improve significantly
but felt they did, (4) did not improve significantly or report
feeling better. (4) We strive for the ideal #1 outcome explained
above, and we want you to tell us how you feel you are.
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Coleman Cormier on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes the relief of low back pain in a patient with a disc
herniation implementing The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management.
Schedule your Williamson chiropractic
appointment soon. Apple Country Chiropractic studies the data
to best deliver quality of life-improving care for our Williamson low
back pain patients.