Stats. Stats. Stats. We humans
are well analyzed: our illnesses,
our behaviors, our lives. In healthcare, data and stats can be beneficial to improve care, particularly path for low back pain management from conservative, non-surgical to surgical when
needed. In Sitka Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is practiced
in managing this flow of back pain care and in referring when/if necessary.
LOW BACK PAIN MANAGEMENT DATA
The global 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’s the reason that Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka correlates
everything - your history, current pain, exam tests’ results, imaging, and more
- to come up with a diagnosis and a treatment plan.
And not all back pain sufferers need to go to specialists
like spine surgeons. Even the surgeons appreciate it
when patients who require their skill (surgical
skills) are referred to them. One recent study highlighted that of 500 cases referred to a neurosurgeon, only 22% were
surgical candidates. 80% of referrals made during the study’s timeframe were deemed not appropriate.
The researchers concluded that “triaging approaches led by
musculoskeletal experts may improve referral appropriateness to specialized
care.” (2) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka agrees and is prepared to perform
that role. Your Sitka chiropractor is dedicated to diagnosing
and managing low back pain
and is well aware of when to refer for specialized treatment like advanced
imaging, surgery, etc.
DATA ON CHIROPRACTIC BACK PAIN PATIENT CARE
In the chiropractic realm of healthcare,
Care Response is a filled database of info from
chiropractic patients around the world. It has been gathering
data for over 10 years about 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 incorporated
clinical outcomes (less pain, better
function, being understood as having pain and its cause), examination and description
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 reported that they wanted to
not be rushed during the visit, wanted to feel understood, wanted satisfactory
outcomes, etc. (3) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka tries hard to concentrate
on you during your time at our Sitka chiropractic clinic.
CHIROPRACTIC IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE
As your Sitka chiropractor, Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka strives
to deliver the ‘good’! And we take it one step further to maximize
quality of life for our low back pain patients. The most recent
series of questions to assist us in evaluating patients for
these outcomes is known as PROMIS that encompasses
function, pain interference, pain intensity, fatigue, sleep, depression,
anxiety, satisfaction in social life, mental health, etc. The bottom
line 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) did not improve significantly
but felt they did, (4) didn’t improve significantly or report
feeling better. (4) We strive for the ideal #1 outcome explained
above, and we want to know how you feel you are.
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Coleman Cormier on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
illustrates the relief of low back pain in a patient with a disc
herniation implementing The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management.
Schedule your Sitka chiropractic
appointment soon. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka studies the data
to best deliver quality of life-improving care for our Sitka low
back pain patients.