topic Re: Back issue....how to proceed? in Wellness

Back issue....how to proceed?

Mom2Dogs — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 12:40:54 GMT

Recently I posted about having a back issue...my chriopractor suggested an x ray because I was not improving....long story short, there seems to be an issue with my spine and he wants me to have an MRI. That was discussed last Monday 8-1-16. His office was to call me with the date and time of the MRI.....fast forward 1 week. I have yet to hear back about the appointment.

If I decide to go around my chriopractor, can someone tell me who I should contact...another chriopractor or a doctor...and which type of doctor would I contact, an ortho doctor?

My current chriopractor (which I am not fond of his office practices) implied that I might need injections or possibly an out patient surgery based on the xray.

Any advice appreciated!

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

KingstonsMom — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 12:44:40 GMT

Personally, I would make an appt.with an Orthopaedic Surgeon.

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

151949 — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:00:48 GMT

I would call my PCP and ask for the MRI then if there is something found there he can send you to a spinal surgeon. More & more doctors are specializing in spinal surgery these days - some are neurosurgeons and some are ortho surgeons but they all seem to be equally qualified to do a great job for you. Good luck.

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

nomless — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:08:19 GMT

And don't be apprehensive about going to a spinal surgeon if it turns out that's what is needed. In my experience, such docs try many things before resorting to surgery.

Good luck to you.

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

NicksmomESQ — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:09:55 GMT

YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY SEE AN ORTHOPEDIST!! MY HUSBAND HAS A BACK ISSUE & is currently under his care.The doc prescribed physical therapy which he is going for now! An orthopedist can better assess your issues & advance you to the next level!!

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

Winkk — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:30:59 GMT

I agree with @151949. With my insurance I have to go to my primary care doctor for all referrals and scripts for xrays, mri, etc.

After you see him/her then go from there. I would not get any work done based on what your chiropractor said. Nothing against him (I have gone to one for 5 years) but I wouldn't get an mri with just his say so.

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

151949 — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:17:10 GMT

I don't know why people don't get the simple concept of ALWAYS starting with your PCP. That is what he is there for - to be the person who evaluates what you need next, and coordinates all your care.

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

PamfromCT — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:44:02 GMT

I have back issues myself, and I hope I can offer you some good advice.

Start with your PCP. Once you have an MRI, your exact problem will be known. Not all back pain leads to surgery. It all depends on the source of your problem. The answer might be physical therapy and lifestyle changes, as well as appropriate medication for pain. I have arthritis in my low back. Surgery can't help this. But I manage with appropriate meds, and I wear "Spanx" that covers my lower back every day. It really helps.

Please let everyone know how you are doing. You are not alone.

So many people have back problems. Trust your PCP to direct your care. Quit going to someone who is treating your back without knowing your exact problem. Your PCP can order physical therapy with someone you can trust!

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

151949 — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:50:30 GMT

Actually, a PCP should not be ordering PT or any other treatment - he should look at the MRI and then send you to an approprite specialist for treatment. If you see the spine doctor and he doesn't feel you need surgery he will know what you need instead - maybe injections - maybe PT - maybe both.

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

Mom2Dogs — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 14:09:36 GMT

Thanks for the advice....currently I do not hve PCP!! The doctor I had for 30+ years retired and I cannot get into a doctor for months!

For my wellness check this year I saw a Nurse Practioner at a different location, but still in my network. Maybe I should call her for an appointment....but she does not have access to my x-ray, and I am sure the insurance is not going to pay for a 2nd xray.

Fortunately I have had very little illness in my 60+years of life so navigating doctors and insurance is not familiar to me.

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

PamfromCT — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 14:10:47 GMT

I forgot to add something to my reply. Always apply cold to your back when you are in a lot of pain. Never heat. Hear feels good, but it is not recommended, as it might add to inflammation. You can buy large, flat pads in your pharmacy that you can keep in your freezer. You might want to get onto WebMD to read more about back pain. Best of luck to you!

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

PamfromCT — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 14:29:46 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
Thanks for the advice....currently I do not hve PCP!! The doctor I had for 30+ years retired and I cannot get into a doctor for months!
For my wellness check this year I saw a Nurse Practioner at a different location, but still in my network. Maybe I should call her for an appointment....but she does not have access to my x-ray, and I am sure the insurance is not going to pay for a 2nd xray.

Fortunately I have had very little illness in my 60+years of life so navigating doctors and insurance is not familiar to me.

You can get a copy of your x-ray from your previous provider. At this point, it would seem an MRI is in order. Your insurance will pay for that. Perhaps your Nurse Practioner can get you an appointment with a PCP or specialist. I would not start out with a surgeon.

I can sympathize with your situation. Our PCP retired after many years. You do need to get a good PCP. Look for someone who is board certified in Internal Medicine. We are so happy with our new PCP. Not only is it essential for your healthcare, a PCP will always know where to send you if you need a specialist. Ours is in a large network of doc's affiliated with one certain major hospital, and we have always been happy with his referrals. You can do research online, which will give you background information you need. So many doc's are in large networks, so it is also important for you to be comfortable with the major hospital affiliation.

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

Lipstickdiva — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 15:32:15 GMT

I have a PCP and when I was having a major shoulder issue last year, that is where I started. After 3 visits, when what he was doing wasn't providing me any relief, I went to an orthopod on my own. I am lucky my insurance is a PPO and I don't need a referral.

The orthopod knew immediately what my problem was (frozen shoulder). When I seemed to be recovering and then had a relapse, he ordered an MRI which they had to get approval for first from my insurance. Both my orthopod and my PCP were very anti-chiropractor and anti-therapy because they both said sometimes they get too aggressive and make things worse.

The reason why some people don't start off with their PCP is because there are some things a PCP shouldn't be handling. I would never go to my PCP for gynecological issues, including my yearly exam.

In this instance, I would start off with a PCP and if you aren't happy, go to an orthopod yourself. I'd stop with the chiropractor.

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

ALRATIBA — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 15:18:14 GMT

I always go to my PCP for a referral. She generally orders preliminary testing / xrays /etc. and then refers me to specialist.

I trust my PCP ... she's been my doctor for more than 20 years.

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

kitty60 — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 15:25:20 GMT

I agree with going to your PCP. My son had severe back problems and wasted months and dollars with one chiropractor who insisted he was helping him. His PCP did MRI and immediately sent him to orthopedist who specialized in backs. He had surgery to correct a couple of discs. It was an overnight stay and he had immediate relief. Had to miss a few weeks of work to heal but it was worth it. He now us a different chiropractor for "maintenance."

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

Yardlie — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 15:35:22 GMT

@Mom2Dogs ... Have you thought about calling your chiropractor and asking about why you were not called back? Errors happen in offices...paperwork gets lost, etc.

Personally, even though I was a health professional, I would call the chiropractor rather than an orthopedic doctor regarding the MRI. Orthopedic doctors make their money doing surgery. I would try everything else before surgery. Your PCP is going to need to see you before he could recommend an MRI. He would probably refer you to an orthopedist. That is not to say that you do not need surgery, but why not give the chiropractor a chance before jumping into it...or see another chiropractor for a second opinion.

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

KingstonsMom — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 16:23:14 GMT

@Brinklii wrote:
@Mom2Dogs ... Have you thought about calling your chiropractor and asking about why you were not called back? Errors happen in offices...paperwork gets lost, etc.

Personally, even though I was a health professional, I would call the chiropractor rather than an orthopedic doctor regarding the MRI. Orthopedic doctors make their money doing surgery. I would try everything else before surgery. Your PCP is going to need to see you before he could recommend an MRI. He would probably refer you to an orthopedist. That is not to say that you do not need surgery, but why not give the chiropractor a chance before jumping into it...or see another chiropractor for a second opinion.

I disagree with this, no ethical surgeon would perform surgery if it wasn't necessary.

My orthopaedic surgeon tried everything else before resorting to surgery after a bad car accident.

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

willdob3 — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 17:22:10 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
Recently I posted about having a back issue...my chriopractor suggested an x ray because I was not improving....long story short, there seems to be an issue with my spine and he wants me to have an MRI. That was discussed last Monday 8-1-16. His office was to call me with the date and time of the MRI.....fast forward 1 week. I have yet to hear back about the appointment.

If I decide to go around my chriopractor, can someone tell me who I should contact...another chriopractor or a doctor...and which type of doctor would I contact, an ortho doctor?

My current chriopractor (which I am not fond of his office practices) implied that I might need injections or possibly an out patient surgery based on the xray.

Any advice appreciated!

I'm confused as to why you haven't called the chiropractor to say that you still haven't received an appointment for the MRI? Sounds like the office staff may have missed that request.

You should really get the MRI through the chiro & go from there. He is the one who sees a need for it. You really won't know if you need anyone else or what options you have until then.

Generally speaking, this is not something a PCP would deal with unless he was the original person who wanted the MRI.

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

Mom2Dogs — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 17:25:19 GMT

@willdob3 wrote:
@Mom2Dogs wrote:
Recently I posted about having a back issue...my chriopractor suggested an x ray because I was not improving....long story short, there seems to be an issue with my spine and he wants me to have an MRI. That was discussed last Monday 8-1-16. His office was to call me with the date and time of the MRI.....fast forward 1 week. I have yet to hear back about the appointment.

If I decide to go around my chriopractor, can someone tell me who I should contact...another chriopractor or a doctor...and which type of doctor would I contact, an ortho doctor?

My current chriopractor (which I am not fond of his office practices) implied that I might need injections or possibly an out patient surgery based on the xray.

Any advice appreciated!

I'm confused as to why you haven't called the chiropractor to say that you still haven't received an appointment for the MRI? Sounds like the office staff may have missed that request.

You should really get the MRI through the chiro & go from there. He is the one who sees a need for it. You really won't know if you need anyone else or what options you have until then.

Generally speaking, this is not something a PCP would deal with unless he was the original person who wanted the MRI.

@willdob3....I called....they said my insurance company had not gotten back with them yet!...According to the office it takes upwards of 5+ business days for a decision!

Re: Back issue....how to proceed?

willdob3 — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 17:27:48 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@willdob3 wrote:
@Mom2Dogs wrote:
Recently I posted about having a back issue...my chriopractor suggested an x ray because I was not improving....long story short, there seems to be an issue with my spine and he wants me to have an MRI. That was discussed last Monday 8-1-16. His office was to call me with the date and time of the MRI.....fast forward 1 week. I have yet to hear back about the appointment.

If I decide to go around my chriopractor, can someone tell me who I should contact...another chriopractor or a doctor...and which type of doctor would I contact, an ortho doctor?

My current chriopractor (which I am not fond of his office practices) implied that I might need injections or possibly an out patient surgery based on the xray.

Any advice appreciated!

I'm confused as to why you haven't called the chiropractor to say that you still haven't received an appointment for the MRI? Sounds like the office staff may have missed that request.

You should really get the MRI through the chiro & go from there. He is the one who sees a need for it. You really won't know if you need anyone else or what options you have until then.

Generally speaking, this is not something a PCP would deal with unless he was the original person who wanted the MRI.

@willdob3....I called....they said my insurance company had not gotten back with them yet!...According to the office it takes upwards of 5+ business days for a decision!

Ah! I have had that happen before. Next step is to call your insurance company & make sure they are on the ball.