The spine merits respect. Satterwhite Chiropractic
respects all Oxford spines, those in
good shape and those in not so good shape. When the spine hurts, it demands
attention. The attention the hurting spine gets isn’t always
respectful of the guidelines for its pain relief. That fact is getting
notice in the medical research. Evidence based guidelines for a painful spine’s
care are plentiful, but they are not
always respected. They are published but not always read or
implemented. The spine deserves better. Your Oxford chiropractor
respects the spine and matches its trouble to the
best evidence-based protocol for its relief which is many
times non-surgical and non-drug.
CLINICAL GUIDELINES AND APPROACHES
What is recommended and/or beneficial for
spine pain often delivered even in Oxford? The
American Pain Society and the American College of Physicians endorse
spinal manipulation for low back pain. (1) Flexion distraction (aka Cox Technic) and manual therapy
using joint mobilization techniques and flexion distraction is reported
to be effective for low back pain relief. (2) Conservative treatment in the
form of spinal manipulation
should be undertaken by patients with chronic low back pain
and disability related to low back pain.
(3) Flexion distraction delivers clinically significant
improvement in pain by 79% and disability by 70% at 14.5 months follow-up. (4) Research
states that surgical approaches and outcomes vary
from place to place for patients with the same condition. It beckons
standardization of care and the establishment of international guidelines built
regarding what works best according to such evidence. (5)
Satterwhite Chiropractic agrees that published guidelines showing what
is best require respectful use.
CLINICAL REALITY
What is really going on? A recently
published article that reviewed the care of Canadian
spine pain patients referred for spine surgery bluntly
reported that “Surgeons do not use clinical practice
guidelines before spine surgery.” What did they do? Prescribed medications to
74.2% of them 46.3% of whom got opioids. 61.1% of patients tried two or fewer
non-surgical forms of treatment. The article proposes that if
patients attempted to use evidence-based non-operative
treatments before a spine surgery consultation, fewer would be referred and, in
Canada, fewer would deteriorate as they have to wait such
a long time to get to the surgeon. (6) Lumbar cage fusion rates increased
from 3.6% to 58% in 5 years that resulted in higher
complication risk without any improvement in disability or reoperation rates. (7)
Satterwhite Chiropractic offers Oxford chiropractic spine
care with less intrusive, more effective means, particularly
with the evidence-based protocols of Cox Technic.
MAKE A Oxford CHIROPRACTIC APPOINTMENT
Listen to this PODCAST with medical doctor, Dr. David Moen,
who supports non-surgical care of back pain
with chiropractic for less costly and unnecessary medical care.
Schedule a Oxford chiropractic consultation now
with the Oxford spine specialist at Satterwhite Chiropractic where your
hurting spine is seen with respect and relieving care as evidence documents best.