It’s interesting how the more technology we have the more it tells us we are not normal, not well, need treatment, and yes – even need a surgical process for something like lower back pain when that may not really be the case. Bear in mind it is not my aspiration to say we don’t need technology or haven’t experienced various benefits because of advancements in technology and medicine. Nonetheless, I read a recent article that was a bit astonishing regarding a interconnection that exists between the larger number of lower back surgeries and the availability of MRI technology.
Studies indicate in areas, neighborhoods, etc. where there is a larger concentration of MRI scanners and where no exact lower back discomfort cause can be tracked down that there were slightly more surgeries taking place in these areas than others. In effect, this information was gathered for almost a decade and used well over 600,000 medical claims.
Studies would agree that the fundamental concern is on account of the fact that there is a growing agreement among health care providers that surgery should not be used to fight lower back pain where there is no precise reason. Hence, we should not be using MRI scans to try and diagnose lower back pain purely because we can’t come up with an immediate source on account of the fact that they are known to give false positives too typically.
As a rule, the majority of lower back pain will heal itself over time and is not severe enough to demand a surgery. Undeniably, a surgical process for lower back pain and discomfort is not easy and doesn’t provide any guarantees that it will work for you either. The article went on to say that if an MRI was utilized to scan 100 backs of healthy lower back pain sufferers, about 1 in 5 will maybe show a false positive to their health care provider.
This is alarming and research cites that, according to data they have compiled, that for each additional MRI machine in an area, neighborhood, etc you see an increase of about 2% individuals having an MRI scan for their lower back that is not needed.
In effect, this may not seem like a extreme number but it basically is in view of the fact that this increase is per additional MRI machine in an area, neighborhood, etc. That is, because there is such a close interdependence between these MRI scans, false positives, and sooner or later an unrequired surgical process where it might not have happened in a less MRI scanner dense area, neighborhood, etc.
So why is this correlation between these MRI scans, false positives, and an unneeded surgical processes presenting itself?
It’s basically incredibly easy to see why now I think. Sadly, this results all too often in the medical field or when we can’t reach the desired results we are seeking. We start going from one physician and/or therapy to the next in an ongoing spiral, out of control frequently.
After that when we realize we have been ineffective we become desparate to find an option for the problem. In the end, we meet with a health care professional who listens and cares about assisting you with your lower back pain and will exhaust every option available. Undoubtedly, if your doctor has higher than average access to MRI technology he is much more likely to request an MRI scan of your lower back. When you fall into the 20% of those with a healthy back that looks like there can be a concern, you and your physician now have solid information from the MRI device that something is indeed wrong with your lower back and that surgery may be the best resolution to cure your lower back discomfort when this is not actually correct.
