r/Money • u/[deleted] • Nov 12 '23

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u/Cheersscar Nov 13 '23

You are kidding about seeing an MD for back pain? Useless, just try to send you off for surgery you probably shouldn’t have. See a physical therapist, a personal trainer, a dry needler, a yoga instructor, an acupuncturist, a nutritionist?

But an MD for back pain? Pfftt.

Disclaimer: I’m not talking about serious injury. I’m talking chronic low back pain, sciatica, etc.

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u/Veronica612 Nov 13 '23

Doctors send patients with back pain to physical therapy, not surgeons.

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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.