A tiny piece of meat engulfed by a massive bun caused the frail, grey haired grannie to loudly exclaim:
“WHERE’S THE BEEF?”
The now iconic statement first appeared over 30 years ago in a Wendy’s commercial as actress Clara Peller, portraying the hamburger-eating grannie, lamented a lack of substance to her meal.
Back pain treatment today has too much bun for the beef!
Commercialization and hype obscure the fact that our success rates with back pain are inadequate for the amount of money that is being spent and the number of treatments that are promoted.
So…. “WHERE IS THE BEEF?”–Consider just a few of these alarming statistics on back pain:
• More people are experiencing more back pain and it is lasting longer. The incidence of back pain has increased over 35% between 2010-2020. The percentage of people living with chronic low back pain has about doubled.
• The current total cost of treatment for low back pain is now estimated to be somewhere between 100 and 200 BILLION per year. Yes… That’s BILLION!
• Over a 2-year period, medical costs for chronic low back pain patients average $38,817 MORE than those without back pain.
• Per person spine-related expenses in the US is 73% GREATER than for individuals in other countries, yet with no difference in the success rates of treatment.
• As many as 45% of individuals experiencing their first episode of back pain now have about a 50% (toss of the coin) chance of a less than favorable treatment result.
• Floridians should be especially concerned. The cost of spinal fusions nearly tripled from $40,996 per case in 1992 to $111,662 in 2012. Along with those costs, the number of spinal fusions performed increased 16-fold during the same time frame. (and it is interesting to note that most of the studies on fusion have found them to be of equivocal benefit)
The statistics above, as alarming as they are astounding, caused researchers Dr. Janna Friedly et al to pose a critically important question:
“Are spine problems worsening over time, or are we simply using an increasing number of costly treatments that are not effective?”
In other words, she is basically asking; WHY DO WE HAVE MORE BUN (Treatments-Procedures-Expense) THAN BEEF (Results)?
As far back as 2001, researchers had noted, “There are wide variations in spine care, a fact that suggests there is professional uncertainty about the optimal approach.” Illustrating this uncertainly more poignantly was an article pointing out the over 200 different forms of “back care” that could be provided by over 23 different clinical professionals.
Today, there are more than 250 forms of treatment that has not really led to better outcomes but has caused a lot more confusion.
Do your own research. Just “GOOGLE” treatment for back, spine, sciatica, pinched nerves, neck, disc, etc. You get the idea… And you will also get an idea of some additional “devices” or “miracle cures” that were not even mentioned in the article noted above discussing the “200 different forms of care.”
So, why are there so many “BUNS” and so little “BEEF”? Lacking a single answer to explain this, a few of the more obvious reasons are:
• In most cases, the source of back pain cannot reliably be determined.
• In most cases, one cannot accurately predict the response a patient will obtain from any given form of care.
• Many treatments that have never undergone thorough scientific study often find their way to “market” and are promoted as cures to unsuspecting patients. But, there are also many people looking for the magic answer or miracle cure. (don’t let this be you because there aren’t any)
• Treatment promotional materials often over-state benefits and very rarely present the scientific evidence of effectiveness or discuss potential harms.
• Even supposedly “valid” scientific research can be tainted by commercial interests and entrepreneurialism. For example, several studies have found that your chance of having an MRI or getting surgery are much greater if your physician has a financial interest in the facility performing those procedures.
• Territoriality and professional bias can preclude cooperative effort for the benefit of the patient.
• And as a final example; there is currently a lack clinicians, appropriately trained in the subtleties of spine-related care, who function to “guide” a patient, rather that “treat” a patient.
One thing that you will never be short of is professionals who want to treat you. But what you don’t have, is someone to show you why you may not need treatment and…. it is important to know that there is so much you can do to help yourself and doing so often results in less time wasted, less money spent, and a greater sense of control over your life.
In the 1996 movie “Jerry Maguire”; Arizona wide receiver Rod Tidwall (played by Cuba Gooding) popularized the exhortation “Show me the money!” by demanding that his agent do more to obtain a high-dollar contract.
Admonishing his client, Jerry’s retort was “Help me, help you”
In other words, Jerry was saying; “Give me performance. Show me the beef. Then… I will show you the money.”
Improved results in spine-related care will only begin to occur when we discard commercialism, hype, and territoriality and focus on performance, outcomes, and what is in the best interest of the individual patient.
Improved results will only occur when our current system changes from one of creating dependency to one that creates self-reliance and independence.
Keep coming back for thought provoking articles that are designed to give you the impartial and accurate information you need to make good treatment choices.
Beating Low Back Pain Shouldn’t Be Complicated. Learn About SpineCamp Workshops HERE