VSI Blog

WHERE DO I SEEK TREATMENT FOR MY BACK PAIN? NOT ALL SPINE INSTITUTES ARE CREATED EQUAL.

When individuals suffer from neck or back pain, especially for the first time, they are unaware as to where to seek treatment. Ideally they want to go to the place that will get them pain free the safest and fastest, and preferably without surgery. In addition to the stress of deciding where to go to seek treatment the anxiety of the unknown exacerbates the pain. Is there a tumor? A fracture? Is there nerve damage?

There is a misconception that all spine institute’s were created equal.

Often times there is confusion in choosing where to receive treatment. This is where the all-under-one-roof spine institute is most beneficial to the patient. These spine institutes comprise physicians of multi disciplines (spinal specialists, pain management physicians, and physical therapists) working together in one location to provide convenience of specialty care. When physicians of multiple specialties work side by side it results in the most rapid recovery getting the patient back to their lifestyle more quickly. These spinal specialists are double board certified in spinal surgery as well as their own primary specialty of orthopaedic surgery or neurosurgery and lead practices that are dedicated 100% to spinal health care. They work along side pain management doctors of physiatry and/or anesthesia backgrounds to optimize patient care and safety. It is important that they also have expert in-house rehabilitation (physical therapy) focused on the spine and pain resolution. When all of these treatment capabilities are combined under one roof by doctors working on the same team for the benefit of the patient, outstanding results can be obtained.

However, the confusion for the consumer sets in when hospital and university systems market themselves as “spine institutes”. These fabricated models present themselves as “store fronts” comprising various providers working out of their independent institutions with separate sets of goals. Furthermore, many of the physicians who are in these “spine institutes” are not board certified in spinal surgery or in their sub specialties and are merely general neurosurgeons or orthopaedic doctors that perform spine surgery part-time. This poses as a disservice to the patient as they end up traveling from facility to facility (while in pain) with separate medical records which may create disjointed diagnoses and treatment. All of this lengthens the patient treatment process and increases the chance for duplication and the risk for complications. Often times this creates a misconception for the patient that they are dealing with an expert because of the marketing campaign by the hospital system and/or university. This is can pose as a risk to the patient.

Make sure when you experience neck or back symptoms to be diligent in seeking the most comprehensive care from qualified specialists who are solely dedicated to the spine. Where did you turn when you experienced the first symptoms of neck or back pain?

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