Executive Chiropractic of Iowa Understands How Images Help a Back Pain Patient

“Seeing is believing.” Ever heard that saying before? Executive Chiropractic of Iowa bets you have. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa knows that West Des Moines back pain patients many times would like to see the source of their pain. (They already believe their pain!) Currently, imaging doesn’t always satisfy a patient’s desire to see the cause if it’s the result of an issue like chemical irritation when disc material leaks out to a nerve root, so imaging can only go so far in satisfying a patient’s desire to see the cause. But West Des Moines back pain patients can believe that their West Des Moines chiropractor will thoroughly explain to them the cause of their pain…and set a treatment plan to ease that pain.

THE GOOD OF IMAGING

Today’s imaging recommendations seem to be all about decreasing imaging exposure and cost. The concern of radiation exposure is being dealt with by carefully examining low back pain patients for more specific indications, reducing radiation dose and doing more MRI than CT. These changes in turn reduce the cost of imaging. (1) Recommendations today are to no do imaging for 6-8 weeks of conservative treatment. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa has followed the Cox Technic System of Spinal Pain Management which recommends holding off on imaging (in the absence of "red flags" which a thorough clinical examination finds) for a month during which time 50% improvement is sought. If 30 days pass without such improvement, imaging is ordered. These are win-win situations for West Des Moines back pain patients and their healthcare providers like your West Des Moines chiropractor typically.

BACK PAIN SUFFERERS WANT TO “SEE”

Other times (and Executive Chiropractic of Iowa totally understands this!) patients want to “see” their diagnosis. Words and descriptions and drawings are one thing, but imaging is much more personal. When it comes to non-specific back pain, there is an extra layer of curiosity as it’s “non-specific” and doesn’t always have an obvious cause for the pain. The public and patients believe imaging helps determine the back pain condition. They are not alone as some healthcare professionals do, too. (2) That’s probably why patients and their healthcare providers like MRI and xrays.

MEDICINE AND SPINAL IMAGING

Interestingly, for years, medicine downplayed the idea of imaging for spine issues. Today, medicine is more and more interested in it. For cervical spine myelopathy, for instance, treating physicians depend on imaging to ascertain its severity. Particularly, a set of researchers considered the possibility that imaging helped see the relationship between lumbopelvic alignment and cervical alignment and subsequent cervical spine myelopathy severity. (3) Imaging has its positives. Your West Des Moines back pain specialist at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa wants to be sure imaging is appropriate to the treatment plan for our back pain patients’ ultimate recovery and pain relief. We realize that “seeing is believing” and respect what imaging contributes to the treatment plan when needed.

CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Dan Clark on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains how valuable imaging can be for a patient’s treatment plan and final outcome of care.

Schedule your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa to more fully comprehend your back pain and its relieving treatment plan whether you can see its source or not because you definitely already believe you have pain. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa believes in its relief. You can, too.

 
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa understands how “seeing [imaging – xray or MRI] is believing” works for back pain patients to see the cause of their pain.  
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."