The Role of Insurance Coverage in the San Jose 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 called 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 a year
• 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 over $3.5 trillion - $10,739 a person – it’s no wonder that insurers look for another way to cut costs, particularly when one-third of the money goes to hospital care of chronic illnesses. (2) Chiropractic Solutions is well-equipped and knowledgeable in offering non-hospital-based care to help San Jose back pain – chronic and acute – patients find relief of and manage their back pain – and post-surgical continued back pain - without surgery.

LOW BACK PAIN FACTS

Low back pain is the foremost cause of years lived with disability globally. 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 have a tendency 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 Pharmaceutical companies’ financial interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions, and legal, personal, political, and societal beliefs of us all.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 concepts are shared in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, believe it or not. (3) Chiropractic Solutions reads this with interest.

BACK SURGERY CHOICE

In light of these facts, it is not hard to believe that some back pain sufferers will decide on 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 based on 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 inspire low back pain sufferers to pick non-hospital, conservative treatment instead of back surgery. (4) Chiropractic Solutions is all for this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers must have back surgery. (5) Chiropractic Solutions is prepared to assist the other 99% of the San Jose back pain sufferers cope with their back pain and rework their lifestyles to live with the spine they have and deal with its episodes of pain and relief.

RECURRENT BACK PAIN

San Jose back pain sufferers are not alone if their back pain returns. It happens. It is controllable. It’s manageable. Some data first: Within a year of recovery, 69% of patients had another episode of back pain of some sort. Awkward postures, long sitting times, and more than 2 prior back pain experiences trigger the risk of back pain recurrence. (6) It’s ok though. Really! Chiropractic Solutions helps San Jose back pain patients find their way through these recurrences and deal with them so they do not limit anyone’s enjoyment of life.  We have a treatment plan!

CONTACT Chiropractic Solutions

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, San Jose chiropractic care at Chiropractic Solutions can help you deal with repeated episodes of back pain, too.

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