Wednesday, September 5, 2012

The Cost-Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care vs. Medical Care

With a shaky economy and the unknown future of healthcare in the US, consumers need better options in relieving pain and promoting health. A visit to a medical office for neck or low back pain can quickly progress to medication dependence and thousands of dollars in medical expenses. Chiropractic care is growing in popularity due to its approach to wellness and prevention healthcare, not reaction medicine. As more research reveals the cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care for treating neuromusculoskeletal complaints such as neck and low back pain, more insurances are including it as a covered benefit, and more medical doctors are referring their patients to chiropractors for relief.

Medical care is expensive!

An average visit to a medical office ranges from $60 to $300+ depending on the doctor and nature of the visit. Even with insurance coverage, a deductible or large co-pay can quickly add up to a deep hole in your wallet. You leave the office only to go to a pharmacy to purchase prescription medications that may be harmful and/or addictive. By the end of it all, you owe about $1000 to the medical office because you hurt your back gardening last weekend. The pain medication eases the pain, but does not address the underlying injury by masking it. Once the medication is gone, the pain comes back, and long story short you become addicted to medication. This may sound all too familiar to you or someone you know. For many people this is their current situation, the insurance companies continue to pay pharmaceutical companies to keep producing chemicals to keep up the addiction rates, a vicious cycle.

The opposite view of healthcare

Same situation, but instead of seeing your family doctor for the pain, you decide to see a chiropractor. A typical visit at a chiropractic office costs between $30 and $60. Many chiropractors offer a free or discounted examination and x-rays, something you will never see at a medical office. TOTALHEALTH of Naples offers a $75 initial consultation, examination, x-rays and treatment for new patients - visit www.totalhealthnaples.com for the special pricing. The chiropractor's goal is to get you out of pain AND fix the underlying issue so the pain doesn't return. Since chiropractors do not use harmful medications, the pain relief may not be instantaneous, and can be discouraging to those looking for a "quick-fix." Initial treatment periods may last a few weeks but the overall cost of care still remains much less than going to see a medical doctor.

Chiropractic care saves you money and takes it away from Big Pharma

Recent research has been examining the cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care among other natural alternatives (physiotherapy, acupuncture, massage) versus conventional medicine. A 2012 systemic review found spinal manipulation therapy to be more cost-effective for neck and low back pain when compared with general practitioner care, physiotherapy or exercise. A study in 2007 compared care costs of a patient under the direction of a chiropractor as their primary care physician (PCP) versus a medical doctor. After 70,000 member-months spanning a 7-year period, hospital admission costs were decreased by 60.2 percent, cost of days spent in the hospital were decreased by 59.0 percent, and outpatient surgeries and procedures were down by 62.0 percent. If these numbers were not astonishing enough, the costs associated with pharmaceuticals decreased by 85 percent when compared to conventional medically driven care. All of these comparisons were done in the same time frame, geography, and health maintenance organization product.

Get the big picture?

The message would seem to be clear, but only recently have insurance providers and the medical industry began accepting chiropractic care as a viable and cost-effective treatment for neck and low back pain. If you haven't been to a chiropractor in Naples, it's time you started. Ask friends and family to refer you to a trusted chiropractor or look-up reviews online for someone in Naples. The next time you need to see a doctor, help out your body and your wallet by going to your chiropractor in Naples, FL.

Dr. Michael J. Paralovos is a chiropractor at TOTALHEALTH of Naples located in North Naples, FL. If you would like more information about how chiropractic can help you (and save you money!), visit www.totalhealthnaples.com or call 239.260.1426.

Article courtesy of Dr. Daniel Zagst and www.naturalnews.com

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Long-term Benefits of Spinal Decompression

Spinal decompression is a catchall phrase for back pain treatments that include nonsurgical options, such as traction, or operative procedures such as endoscopic decompression and laminectomy. The desired effect is the same for all three - to remove pressure from the affected discs of the spine. The long-term benefits of the spinal decompression will vary depending on prior spinal health, age, weight and the type of procedure.

Dr. Michael J. Paralovos, Chiropractor at TOTALHEALTH of Naples offers spinal decompression as well as traditional chiropractic care in his North Naples office at the Greentree Professional Center. To find out if you may benefit from spinal decompression or traditional chiropractic care visit www.totalhealthnaples.com or call 239.260.1426 to schedule an appointment.

SYMPTOM RELIEF

Herniated discs, sciatica, and failed back syndrome are painful diseases. Symptoms elicited by spinal compressive disorders include radiculopathies, or nerve-generated pains, muscle weakness and numbness of the arms or legs. A long-term benefit of spinal decompression is the reduction of these adverse symptoms, namely pain relief, by removing pressure from the nerve roots. The Mayfield Clinic found that leg pain was reduced by 80 percent after spinal decompression.

Increased Mobility

Spinal disease is compounded by obesity, but people with chronic back and neck pain cannot workout without distress. Weeks following the decompression will entail rest and physical therapy, but the long-term effect is to increase mobility. A 2002 study featured in Neurosurgery highlighted the benefits of decompression, stating that 94 percent of patients either returned to full, painless mobility or mobility with minimal restrictions.

Decreased Debility

A commonly shared fear is that of being dependent on others as the years pass. Spinal disorders, such as herniated disc, can lead to muscle weakness and atrophy and incontinence, which preclude the ability to remain in the work force. Low back pain has been cited as the second most common reason people miss work. Decreased pain and mobility will lead to the long-term benefit of the ability to continue working.

Article courtesy of www.livestrong.com and Juliet Wilkinson

Chiropractic Care Versus Doctor of Chiropractic

There are many misconceptions about what chiropractic is or what a chiropractor does. To be specific, chiropractic care is one of the treatment services provided by a doctor or chiropractic (chiropractor/chiropractic physician). This article, written by Dr. Michael J. Paralovos, Naples chiropractor, explains the differences.

Chiropractic care is best recognized as the adjustments (spinal manipulations) applied to vertebral subluxations of the spinal column. A vertebral subluxation is best defined as fixation, stiffness or misalignment of at least one vertebra of the spine resulting in aberrant nerve impulses and spinal motion. These adjustments come in different forms and application. Traditionally the diversified/ manual adjustment is what people commonly think of when they hear the term chiropractic. This maneuver can be thought of being aggressive and accompanied with an audible sound. Other adjustments can be applied via computerized instruments, drop tables and low force manual adjustments. The chiropractic adjustment is a powerful modality to help alleviate spinal pain, increase spinal range of motion and reduce subluxations. Though it’s efficacy, the chiropractic adjustment is just one specialty that the chiropractor utilizes.

On the other hand the doctor of chiropractic has the privilege to work as a portal of entry provider, perform work and school physicals, provide chiropractic adjustments and perform physical therapy, make nutritional recommendations, order MRIs and other advanced diagnostic tests, order labs and refer to other healthcare providers when necessary to name but a few services. With this being said, not all chiropractors perform exactly the same treatment. All chiropractors have the patient’s best interest in mind but have different approaches to achieving results. At TOTALHEALTH of Naples, chiropractic · functional rehab, we utilize traditional chiropractic adjustments along with physical therapy rehab procedures to help maximize treatment outcomes. We also encompass spinal decompression therapy, which helps heal damaged/spinal discs without the use of chiropractic adjustments.

So the next time you hear chiropractic or chiropractor, don’t assume you’ll automatically be adjusted. As mentioned above the chiropractor is capable of performing more than just chiropractic treatments. As research continues to validate non-allopathic healthcare expect much more from your chiropractor.

TOTALHEALTH of Naples is located in North Naples in the Greentree Professional Center. Our chiropractor, Dr. Michael J. Paralovos is accepting new patients from the Naples area. Please visit our website www.totalhealthnaples.com or call 239.260.1426 to schedule your appointment today.

*For more info on the scope of practice lookup Florida statute 460.00

7 Bad Habits That Cause Back Pain

This is a great article from www.everydayhealth.com. It discusses the 7 bad habits to kick to prevent back pain. You may also visit a Naples chiropractor for preventative and rehabilitative back care. TOTALHEALTH of Naples can help with lower back pain through chiropractic treatment. Visit www.totalhealthnaples.com or call 239.260.1426 to schedule an appointment today.

When you're in the throes of back pain or simply want to ward it off, avoiding these habits will help protect and strengthen your back and your entire body. The numbers are astounding: Back pain will affect 80 percent of us at some point in our lives. And whether it's a dull ache or a sharp stabbing sensation, back pain comes in all shapes and sizes. But if you don't yet have back pain, you might be surprised to learn that an obvious injury isn't the only cause. Often it can result from repeated behaviors that stress your body. If you're battling back pain now — or if you want to take steps to prevent an achy back — make the effort to undo these seven bad habits:

Not exercising. "The failure to perform any exercise, particularly abdominal strengthening exercises, may lead to poor posture and increased low back pain," says Nancy E. Epstein, MD, chief of neurosurgical spine and education at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. and clinical professor of neurological surgery at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, N.Y. Good exercises for back pain prevention include pilates or other trunk or "core" strengthening activities that can increase stability in the back muscles. Cardiovascular exercises such as swimming, walking, and bicycling are also recommended, along with movements that improve flexibility.
Bad posture. "Poor posture can add strain to muscles and put stress on the spine," says Tae M. Shin, MD, a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Los Angeles. Over time, he adds, the stress of poor posture can actually change the anatomical characteristics of the spine. To avoid back injuries, try to stand with your knees slightly bent and one foot forward to take pressure off the lower back and reduce back strain. When sitting, Dr. Shin advises sitting with your hips slightly higher than your knees.
Lifting incorrectly. Often back injuries occur when we try to lift heavy objects and do so incorrectly. Bend your knees and use the power of your legs, keeping the weight close to the body. Also, be sure to avoid twisting.
Being overweight. Keep your weight under control for back pain prevention. "Being overweight, especially in the mid-section, shifts your entire center of gravity forward and puts additional strain on your back muscles," says Shin. Try to stay within 10 pounds of your ideal weight to avoid experiencing unnecessary back pain. Exercise and a healthy diet can help toward this goal.
Smoking. Nicotine restricts the flow of blood to the discs that cushion your vertebrae and increases the rate of degenerative change, says Shin. Cigarette smoking also reduces calcium absorption and prevents new bone growth, leaving smokers with double the risk of an osteoporotic fracture compared with non-smokers.
Not getting enough calcium and vitamin D. These nutrients are essential for bone strength. If you don't get enough calcium and vitamin D in your daily diet, discuss the possibility of supplements with your doctor.
Being sedentary. Limiting activity as a means of pain management when you're experiencing back pain can be counterproductive. Activity increases blood flow to the affected area, decreasing inflammation and reducing muscle tension, says Shin.

When you're in the throes of back pain or simply want to ward it off, avoiding these habits will help protect and strengthen your back and your entire body. You may also visit a Naples chiropractor for preventative and rehabilitative back care. Total Health of Naples can help with lower back pain through chiropractic treatment. Visit www.totalhealthnaples.com or call 239.260.1426 to schedule an appointment today.

By Kristen Stewart

Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

http://www.everydayhealth.com/back-pain/7-bad-habits-that-cause-back-pain.aspx