Dr. Butwell Shares Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain in VHA and Beyond
Chiropractic care in the Veterans’ Administration healthcare system is legally called for inclusion and growing. How chiropractic benefits the VA system and its patrons, the veterans, could show how chiropractic’s inclusion in more healthcare systems may benefit a larger population. Recent papers feature chiropractic’s benefits. Dr. Butwell shares these with our Georgetown chiropractic patients who already feel many of these benefits!
CHRONIC PAIN HELP IN VHA
Non-pharmacological treatment modalities (NPM) are promoted in consensus guideline recommendations for care of chronic pain. US healthcare systems confront barriers to such implementation of such NPM except in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) which is a more integrated healthcare system with policies encouraging such NPM. In surveys, the military veteran-patients who look for care in the VHA system are disproportionately impacted by chronic pain. Chronic pain-afflicted veterans who sought care at the VHA in the past year were more likely to receive NPM. Types of NPM available range from physical therapy, massage, chiropractic/spinal manipulation, psychotherapy, educational classes, peer groups, and yoga/tai chi. The main 3 used by chronic pain veterans were chiropractic care, educational class, or psychotherapy. The VHA policies can assist other integrated US healthcare systems integrate the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to help their patients. (1) Dr. Butwell is excited to see the addition of chiropractic treatment in the VHA to help the many musculoskeletal and chronic pain patients it serves.
HIGHER USE OF CHIROPRACTIC NPM IN VHA BUT USE IS STILL LOW
Dr. Butwell hopes to see use of chiropractic services expand. From 2005 to 2016 there was a rise in chiropractic care use – part of the VA’s efforts to expand non-pharmacological treatment options open to veterans - in the VA either at on-site VA facilities (1.27% to 1.48%) or from VA-purchased community care providers (0.29% to 1.76%). These numbers did rise but are low compared to utilization by other US healthcare chiropractic-using populations. (2) Dr. Butwell is honored to care for a bit larger percentage of Georgetown healthcare seeking patients.
CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE
There is a reason patients look for and continue to receive chiropractic care: they notice a difference. A recent study focused on how chiropractic care enhanced usual medical care affected health-related quality of life scores. United States service members at the VHA who underwent combined chiropractic care with usual medical care scored their outcomes in three different questionnaires: PROMIS-29, Roland Morris, and Global Improvement visual analog scale, the same or comparable tests used daily in chiropractic offices everywhere. Researchers recorded a statistically significant mean group difference in favor of the usual medical care plus chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Dr. Butwell sees this, too, and works with medical colleagues to help our patients.
CONTACT Dr. Butwell
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Katrina Weiland on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she discusses treatment of a US Air Force Veteran with a herniated disc and severe low back pain with the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System of Spinal Pain Management.
Set up your Georgetown chiropractic appointment today. Offering chiropractic care benefits chronic pain patients whether they have low back, neck, leg, arm or other spine-related pain condition. Chiropractic’s inclusion in Georgetown healthcare grows.
