Chiropractor Recommends Surgery for Severe Injuries

Dr. Andrew Dixon injured his back playing football, of which chiropractic could not repair. He found the open, upright MRI is the key to accurate diagnosis before surgery.

I come from a unique perspective as far as back pain. I’m a doctor of chiropractic here in Nashville, but at the same time I’m also a back pain patient. I injured my spine playing football in college which led me to my chiropractic profession, but at the same time it didn’t correct the injury. Eventually that injury required surgery, and as a practicing chiropractor, our job is to keep people away from surgery. But when it’s necessary, it’s necessary. So the time came for me to have my surgery, I consulted with four different surgeons. Dr. McCord was by far the most competent and confident of those surgeons. His prognosis for me was so much better than what those other surgeons had for me. The confidence he had in his work put me at ease because I was extremely nervous. I was told I may never go back to work, but not by Dr. McCord. He actually told me he’d have me back to work in three weeks, but I was back to work in two in and a half weeks!

Other doctors told me I may never go back to work, but Dr. McCord said he’d have me back to work in three weeks. I was back to work in two in and a half weeks!

In addition to that, I’ve referred to him numerous patients who have seen me for back pain, whose problems were beyond the scope of chiropractic and required surgery. Each of them have had wonderful outcomes, he’s our guy when it comes to back pain.

As a doctor of chiropractic, our history has always X-rayed our patients in a standing, weight bearing position. It makes sense, because patients often hurt more when they’re standing. You get a better visual look at the posture of that patient as well. So when Dr. McCord purchased the upright MRI and explained that technology to me, it only made sense. If we’re taking X-rays while the patient is standing, why wouldn’t we not also do that with an MRI? That’s the key to getting the accuracy of the diagnosis for the patient.