The Role of Insurance Coverage in the New York City 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 start 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 10 years)
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 exceeding $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) Rosenberg Wellness Center is well-equipped and confident in offering non-hospital-based care to help New York City back pain – chronic and acute – patients find 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 cause of years lived with disability around the world. Today, recommendations 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 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 Pharmaceutical companies’ financial interests, old payment systems that favor medical care, outdated traditions, and legal, personal, political, and societal beliefs of us all.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 notions are presented in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, believe it or not. (3) Rosenberg Wellness Center reads this with interest.
BACK SURGERY CHOICE
Considering these facts, it’s not hard to believe that some back pain sufferers will pick back surgery over non-surgical management of their back pain. “Patients go where insurance pays, even if it is surgery.” In one study, back pain sufferers chose to see a primary care physician (PCP) or physical therapist (PT) or chiropractor initially 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) Rosenberg Wellness Center likes this! Less than 1% of back pain sufferers require back surgery. (5) Rosenberg Wellness Center is ready to help the other 99% of the New York City 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
New York City back pain sufferers are in good company if their back pain returns. It happens. It is controllable. It’s manageable. Some facts first: Within a year of recovery, 69% of patients experienced another episode of back pain of some sort. What risks spark a return of back pain? Awkward postures, long sitting times, and more than 2 prior back pain experiences. (6) It is ok though. Truly! Rosenberg Wellness Center helps New York City 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 Rosenberg Wellness Center
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, New York City chiropractic care at Rosenberg Wellness Center can help you cope with repeated episodes of back pain, too.
Schedule a New York City chiropractic appointment at Rosenberg Wellness Center 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.
