Got back pain? Doctor says Grand River Hospital clinic can save people a trip to ER
'Patients will leave their first visit with a better understanding of their back pain,' Dr. Mark Kubert
The vast majority of people who go to the emergency department at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener for back pain are sent home.
Hospital numbers show over the past three years, about 3,300 people went to emergency with lower back pain and 95 per cent of them were not admitted for care.
But Dr. Mark Kubert says it's not because they aren't in pain.
It's why he's working to raise awareness of the low back pain rapid access clinic located at Grand River Hospital's Freeport campus. The clinic's goal is to help people manage their back pain and hopefully avoid the use of imaging or a referral to a specialist. It has existed since April 2019, but Kubert says many people may not know the clinic exists, or may have avoided using it if they didn't feel comfortable going to the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kubert, the practice lead at the clinic, says "patients will leave their first visit with a better understanding of their back pain condition."
Patients will undergo a physical examination that will go over their range of movement and reflexes. This will confirm there is no dangerous causes of their back pain, Kubert said.
Patients will receive exercises to help them recover and many may only need one visit to the clinic, he said.
Patients do need to be referred to the program by a family doctor.
"There's a fairly broad criteria for referral. It's anyone who has low back pain or leg pain that's been going on anywhere from six weeks to 12 months. That covers a large portion of back pain, considering that 30 per cent of the population is suffering from back pain at any one time," Kubert said.
A referred patient is also matched up with an advanced practice provider in the region. Those are either chiropractors or physiotherapists who have been specially trained at Grand River Hospital by spinal surgeons.
A small number of cases may need further evaluation and testing, which could result in x-rays, MRIs or a consultation with a spinal surgery.