The Role of Insurance Coverage in the Fort Wayne 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 annually
- 1.2 million spinal surgeries a year
- $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’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) Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc is well-equipped and confident in offering non-hospital-based care to help Fort Wayne 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 reason of years lived with disability around the world. Today, guidelines for low back pain relief care discourage pain medications, steroid injections and spine surgery and encourage physical therapy and psychological therapy. Healthcare systems tend 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 Pharmaceutical companies’ financial interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions, and legal, personal, political, and societal beliefs of us all.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) Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc reads this with interest.
BACK SURGERY CHOICE
Considering 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 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. Amending 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 rather than back surgery. (4) Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc is all for this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers must have back surgery. (5) Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc is prepared to assist the rest of the Fort Wayne back pain sufferers manage their back pain and adapt their lifestyles to be with the spine they have and deal with its episodes of pain and relief.
RECURRENT BACK PAIN
Fort Wayne back pain sufferers are in good company if their back pain comes back. It happens. It is controllable. It is manageable. Some data first: Within a year of recovery, 69% of patients experienced another episode of back pain of some sort. What risks prompt a recurrence of back pain? Awkward postures, long sitting times, and more than 2 prior back pain experiences. (6) It’s ok though. Really! Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc helps Fort Wayne back pain patients find their way through these recurrences and deal with them so they don’t limit anyone’s enjoyment of life. We have a treatment plan!
CONTACT Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc
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 are pregnant or not, Fort Wayne chiropractic care at Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc can help you cope with repeated episodes of back pain, too.
Schedule a Fort Wayne chiropractic appointment at Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc 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 more for many of our patients at less cost – in terms of finances and lifestyle – than back surgery.
