An
Invitation to Step Off the Medical Merry-Go-Round
 Welcome to PNBC
If
you have spinal pain, you are not alone. Nearly all adults
will suffer from neck or back aches at some point in their
lives. Fortunately, most spine pain is transient and leaves
as quickly as it appears without the need for any serious
medical attention. These acute pain sufferers do
well in heeding their doctor's advice to 'take two aspirin,
and don't call me in the morning.' That's the good news. The not-so-good news is that for a small percentage
of individuals, spine pain becomes persistent, or relents
only temporarily. For these chronic pain
sufferers, the road to recovery is riddled with inaccurate,
misleading, and often contradictory
information. In many cases confusion is a result
of the inability
to identify the specific source of pain. Caught
on a medical merry-go-round of dependency, these patients
circulate among a vast array of health care providers who
offer an endless stream of 'feel good' treatments, most
of which have no proven effect on chronic spine pain. Relief,
if any, tends to be temporary and the next treatment du
jour is but an office visit away. Eventually, after months,
sometimes years of riding the merry-go-round, many patients
will succumb to spinal surgery whereby their back bones
are partially removed or fused
together with screws and metal plates. The final
insult to many of these individuals is the stark
realization that their pain has not resolved, and they
are not able to function the way they want. It is no surprise
that depression, frustration, disillusionment, and distrust
run high among chronic spine pain patients. For them,
there is no end in sight. At PNBC, this is where we begin.
Since 1990, PNBC has pioneered the use of aggressive
strengthening for the rehabilitation of chronic neck and
back pain. Our philosophy
of care is centered on improving the spinal function,
activity level, and personal independence of our patients
through active exercise conditioning. We do not utilize
passive modalities, because they enable rather than empower
our patients. We shy away from expensive
diagnostic procedures that rarely reveal the cause
of pain or help contribute to a treatment plan. In our
view, treatments or tests that do not contribute to lasting
relief represent
a layer of cost that should and can be eliminated.
| Our philosophy of care is centered on
improving the spinal function, activity level,
and personal independence of our patients through
active exercise conditioning. |
Our board
certified physicians and specially
trained therapy staff work together in the
same facility, guiding patients through their rehabilitation
program. This entails an educational process that
dispels many of the myths and misconceptions patients
have about their spinal condition. Perhaps our most
important role in helping patients to get well is teaching
them how to manage
their own condition long after they have left
our care. Our end goal is to send patients on their
way with little or no further need for medical treatment
of their spinal problems.
We also believe that we have a responsibility
to demonstrate through data the effectiveness of our treatment. To
date, PNBC personnel have published
over 40 studies in scientific and medical journals
that document the value of active exercise conditioning
for the prevention and treatment of spinal disorders. Our research
findings show that 7 out of 10 chronic spine pain
patients can experience significant and lasting improvements
using our treatment approach. Many are able to avoid
surgery - even those with herniated
discs.
In the end, health care providers cannot hide
their success or failure. Patients remain the ultimate
judge and jury, and reputations grow or wither based on
treatment outcomes and the word-of-mouth they produce. While
we are flattered by the national
recognition PNBC has received as a leader in spine
care, our greatest source of satisfaction comes from our
ability to help
those in the communities where we live and work.
If you are ready to step off the merry-go-round,
we are here to help.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our
web site, and please do not hesitate to contact
us with your questions.
The best of health,
Dave Carpenter
CEO |
