If you have a back problem, does it matter who you see first?

In a 2012 study researchers found Washington state workers with an occupational back injury who visited a surgeon (orthopedic, neuro or general) first with a claim between June 2002-April 2004 were significantly more likely to receive spine surgery within 3 years (42.7 percent of workers) than workers whose first visit was to a chiropractor (1.5 percent of workers). This association held true even when controlling for injury severity and other measures.

As the saying goes “If all you have is a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail”. Try chiropractic first!

-Keeney BJ, Fulton-Kehoe D, Turner JA, et al. Early predictors of lumbar spine surgery after occupational back injury: results from prospective study of workers in Washington State. Spine, Dec. 12, 2012