High Cancer Risk from CT Scans

29,000 future deaths due to radiation exposure from CT scans performed in 2009! This study was published 5 years ago and the CT rates have continued to rise substantially in the following years. CT's scans give a massive dose of radiation and are many times overused or used when an MRI ( which does not produce any radiation) could be just as appropriate or more appropriate. 
I always order MRI before CT scan if possible as I believe in doing the least amount of harm as possible to patients.
Why do you think CT's scans are so commonly ordered?

High Cancer Risk from CT Scans

People with leg pain related to back problems had more short-term relief if they received chiropractic care along with exercise and advice, rather than exercise and advice alone, a new study from the Annals of Internal Medicine has found.
A researcher was quoted as saying “This of course, must be considered in light of alternatives for this condition, such as epidural steroid injections or surgery, which are not only much more costly but also associated with important (and serious) adverse events,”.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/15/us-sciatica-backache-chiropractors-idUSKBN0HA27Z20140915

With Elbows, Cortisone Shots May Hurt More Than Help

This study from JAMA is the most recent in a long list of studies showing that cortisone injection for elbow tendon problems such as tennis elbow do more harm than good in the long run. Although cortisone can be beneficial for acute new injuries it is not very effective for the more common chronic injuries like tendinitis ( now commonly called tendinosis or tendonopathy). We are getting away from the term tendonitis because research studies have shown these are not inflammatory conditions, but rather are degenerative conditions. Cortisone weakens tendons so it is probably not a good idea to inject it into a degenerated weakened tendon unless a person is severely disabled.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/02/05/171169477/with-elbows-cortisone-shots-may-hurt-more-than-help

A Better Way to Approach Pain, and America's Pain-Pill Epidemic

As a nation we constitute only about 5% of the world's population, but we consume some 80% of the prescription drugs called opioids (another name for narcotics), the strongest and most addictive pain pills, that go by names like Vicodin, OxyContin, Dilaudid, codeine, and Percocet. We consume 99% of the global supply of a particular opioid called hydrocodone. Today opioids kill one American every 30 minutes. Those are quite some stats!
Here is a great article co-authored by Dr. Deepak Chopra that discusses some of the non-physical mechanisms involved with pain and suggesting that in many cases painkillers should come after a patient has explored the power of the mind-body connection.
Any comments on this information?
http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/chopra/article/A-Better-Way-to-Approach-Pain-and-America-s-5709973.php#page-1