For primary care physicians

Where to send your back & neck pain patients

For the ones who need additional service, Dr. Ed Johnnie, Primary Spine Practitioner, offers an evidence-based, diagnosis-first path: find the source of the pain, treat it conservatively in as few visits as possible, and keep you informed every step of the way.

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The reception and waiting area at O’Fallon Back Pain Relief

Your challenge

Today's options — and where each falls short

Many of your patients with back or neck pain do well with your care. For the rest, the conventional referral pathways have well-known trade-offs.

Each option has its place. The key is “Who and When” — seeing the right type of professional at the right time. The typical non-surgical patient who simply needs a clear diagnosis and targeted, time-efficient care is best off seeing a Primary Spine Practitioner.

A patient suffering from back pain
01.

Physical Therapy

2–3 visits per week, 30–60 minutes each, often for 6 weeks or more.

  • Often helpful, but not everyone needs that much of a time commitment up front.
  • Better to start with a Primary Spine Practitioner (PSP) who can coordinate PT if needed.
  • Dr. Johnnie starts with a focused spine evaluation and coordinates PT when it is appropriate.
02.

Physical Medicine (Physiatry)

  • Great with complex cases, which are important but uncommon.
  • Injections useful in isolated, uncommon circumstances.
  • Can refer to PT, but you could have done that yourself.
  • Better to start with a PSP who has widely applicable, minimally invasive skills and can coordinate physical medicine referral when needed.
03.

Orthopedist / Neurosurgeon

Skill set is surgery, not non-surgical treatments.

  • Surgery only applies to <10% of patients.
  • Not interested in non-surgical patients.
  • Better to start with a PSP who has widely applicable, minimally invasive skills and can coordinate surgical referral when needed.

Any other options?

Yes.

The solution

Dr. Ed Johnnie — Primary Spine Practitioner

Dr. Johnnie provides a diagnosis-first, conservative path for neck and back pain, coordinating imaging, physical therapy, or specialist care when it is needed.

Differential diagnosis first

The “3 Questions of Diagnosis”

The evaluation starts by answering these questions before any treatment decision is made.

1Triage

Are there “red flags”?

2Source

Where is the pain coming from?

3Perpetuators

What factors are causing it to persist?

Dr. Ed Johnnie

A practical referral path

Diagnosis first, conservative care

Treatment approach

A conservative, diagnosis-first plan

01.

Comprehensive evaluation first

Dr. Johnnie begins with a thorough evaluation to identify the likely pain source and the factors affecting recovery.

02.

Gentle, low-force treatment first

Treatment is matched to the diagnosis and the individual patient — mainly slow, low-force spinal manipulation and manual therapy, with HVLA when appropriate. Dr. Johnnie is full-spine certified in Cox® Flexion-Distraction.

03.

The fewest visits possible

Patients receive clear explanations and simple self-care tools, and care proceeds one visit at a time — no long-term care plans, no packages of visits.

04.

Coordinated specialist care when needed

When a patient needs more than conservative care, Dr. Johnnie coordinates the next step and sends a clear report back to the referring physician.

When more is needed

For the few who need it — rare, but important:

  • Determine if imaging is needed (very uncommon)
  • Coordinate injections (very uncommon)
  • Coordinate surgical consult (very uncommon)
  • Keep you informed every step of the way
A treatment room at O’Fallon Back Pain Relief with a Cox Flexion-Distraction table

Have a patient in mind?

Send a referral straight to Dr. Johnnie.

The result

A good outcome — for everyone involved

For the patient

Your patient is happy with the good result.

Clear answers, fewer in-office visits, and the self-care tools to stay well.

For your practice

Appreciative to you for the great referral.

The patient comes back to your practice happy with the path you chose for them.

“I have trusted Dr. Johnnie over the years with my family and my patients. He is knowledgeable, compassionate, and very thorough. I would highly recommend his care.”

Phillip Reichert, M.D.

Washington University Physicians. O’Fallon, MO

Refer a patient

Send your next back or neck pain patient.

Referral is easy: contact the office to help your patient begin with a focused spine evaluation. You get a clear report back.

Conservative care, clear communication, and the appropriate next step.

Refer or contact
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