Another article looks at the question of whether imaging is helpful for the management of back pain.
Ever since my MRI in 1989, I've known I had an L5S1 disc herniation. (I'm not alone, of course) The MRI didn't change my treatment – indeed, I think that in the first few years after my diagnosis .. I was less active because of it.
The pressure to do something and know what it is often is blamed on the patient, but I think physicians are guilty of such behavior just as much – if not more. Patients learn from the physician .. and I can say with some confidence that patients and physicians can learn from each other to work toward healing without ordering unnecessary tests.
… and speaking of unnecessary tests, I ordered a PSA last week for a patient who had chosen (after lengthy discussions) not to have it done the previous two years.
The result was not what we wanted .. and I thought instantly of the recent JAMA paper. oy.
Next topic …
Lyme disease is quite prevalent in these parts. I've seen a handful of very severe cases, and saw my first case of a true Erythema Migrans rash today. Impressive.
