Published Saturday, November 28, 2009
Back surgery isn't only answer
Thank you for the articles on Shasta County's high rate of hysterectomies and spinal surgeries. These articles are a reminder of the importance of being an informed consumer when considering what form of treatment works best for you. And while for some surgery may be the best answer, oftentimes alternative forms of treatment, such as chiropractic care, are the better option in terms of cost and results.
Spinal surgery is expensive, risky and often ineffective. As referenced in the article, patients who turn to spinal surgery to alleviate chronic back pain often see no difference after the surgery. Alternatively, studies conducted by independent researchers and published in respected medical journals affirm what users and practitioners of chiropractic care have long known - that chiropractic care is often the most effective and least expensive treatment for back and neck problems.
In 2004, an informal survey of chiropractic patients in California's workers' compensation system found that one-third of those who responded said that chiropractic treatments enabled them to avoid surgery recommended by a medical doctor at a savings of more than $80,000 per surgery including drugs and rehabilitation.
While surgery may sometimes be needed to alleviate chronic back pain, too often it is the "go to" treatment option. The result is these patients spend thousands of dollars on a treatment that doesn't always provide relief to their pain. It is critical that anyone with back pain research the different treatment options themselves to determine if surgery is a necessity, or if a more cost-effective, less-intrusive treatment such as chiropractic care might be the answer.
Dave Paris, D.C.
Redding
Dr. Aekta Erry
Chiropractor
Temple Hills, MD
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