Back pain affects millions of people. Over 80% of the population suffers with low back pain at some point. It leads to high costs of treatment for patients, employers and insurance companies. The American Pain Society reported in 2012 that, “the annual cost of chronic pain in the United States is as high as $635 billion a year, which is more than the yearly costs for cancer, heart disease and diabetes.” Treating back pain is a large percentage of the expenditure.
Medical costs are thru the roof because medical doctors just prescribe harmful medications that just mask symptoms. Other times patients are rushed to expensive surgeries that have low success rates and high risks. Patients become reliant and addicted to the drugs. The surgeries lead to subsequent surgeries. Quality of life is affected and can lead to depression.
How can you recover from back pain more quickly and more cost effective?
Studies show there is treatment for back pain that is more effective and cost less than medical treatment. Canadian
researchers reviewed 5,511 patient cases of back pain who sought care from medical doctors, Physical Therapists and chiropractors. Duration of financial compensation and the occurrence of a second episode of compensation were compared in the three groups.
Patients who went to a chiropractor first had a shorter duration of treatment and lower treatment costs than those who first went to a medical doctor or a Physical Therapist. The patients who went to the chiropractor also missed fewer work days. Employers costs are reduced by fewer work days missed by their employees. Another huge benefit found in the study was those that go to the chiropractor first are less likely to have a recurrence. Finally, patients who went to the Physical Therapist first were more likely to need to see other healthcare providers for their back pain. While 58.6% of PT patients went on to see other doctors, only 25% of chiropractic patients went to other practitioners.
The 2016 study concludes, “The type of healthcare provider first visited for back pain is a determinant of the duration of financial compensation during the first 5 months. Chiropractic patients experience the shortest duration of compensation, and physiotherapy patients experience the longest.”
Chiropractic is the answer to help patients recover more quickly and help cut costs of treating back pain. It is a safe, natural, cost effective treatment that will help you not only feel better but to enjoy activities you love again.