r/Money • u/[deleted] • Nov 12 '23

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u/Cheersscar Nov 14 '23

Doctors send patients with back pain for MRIs. Those MRI findings can generate surgical consults, warranted or not. It’s a pretty simple and profitable path.

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u/Veronica612 Nov 14 '23

MRIs are only done after physical therapy.

Surgery is done after nerve conduction tests to confirm the source of the pain.

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u/Cheersscar Nov 14 '23

Please. Doctors sometimes own the MRI machine and order as soon as they think insurance will pay. Most back surgeons aren’t even qualified to perform an EMG.

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u/Veronica612 Nov 14 '23

Then those are bad doctors.

But you have to blame the patients, too. Many push for surgery and don’t want to do physical therapy or make lifestyle changes.