MRI. What does it do for Vancouver back
pain and related leg pain? That’s a intriguing
question. Diagnosing Vancouver lumbar spinal stenosis does not
always need an MRI for a clear diagnosis. MRI
images can be informative…and demanding
of clinical tests to ascertain what those
images really mean. An MRI is a recognized
procedure to many Vancouver chiropractic
patients wanting Vancouver back pain relief, but the
MRI’s arranging and outcomes need cautious
thought as to when they’re ordered
and what they really imply for the chiropractic care of
spinal stenosis at Vancouver Disc Centers.
HOW TO DIAGNOSE Vancouver STENOSIS
Spinal stenosis is a normal condition and the
most common indicator for spinal back surgery in the
over-65 age set of people. With the expansion of this
group, by 2025 59% of them are predicted to have
spinal stenosis. (1) Many times
your Vancouver chiropractor can identify spinal
stenosis with just a few questions and physical examination answers
without an MRI. Your Vancouver chiropractor may order
an MRI as a confirming test of the
Vancouver chiropractic clinical examination diagnosis previously
determined just by seeing you.
WHAT THE Vancouver MRI SHOWS
In the case of a disc extrusion causing
spinal stenosis where the Vancouver herniated disc leaks out of
its outer bands and oozes into the spinal canal physically constricting
and chemically inflaming the spinal nerve, an MRI showing
this often bodes well for the MRI’s patient. At
one year later, whether treated with surgery or without, the back-related sciatica patient had
less leg pain. In this case an MRI doesn’t help much in influencing
which patient would do better with early surgery or prolonged
conservative care. (2) And the healing of these Vancouver spinal
stenosis related extrusions takes time and good, guided care like that from Vancouver Disc Centers.
HOW THE Vancouver MRI INFLUENCES CARE
Understand that as rates for spinal surgery increase
– ten times across the US – so too do the rates of advanced spinal imaging. In a
study, areas with more MRIs have more spine surgeries
(and spinal stenosis surgery specifically). (3) Understand
too that what a surgeon makes out on MRI affects
how he or she handles the spinal back surgery for
stenosis. He/She considers the extent and location
of nerve compression as well as degenerative changes at adjacent
levels. Experienced surgeons reached agreement more with each
other’s interpretations of MRI images than less
experienced surgeons. (1) Experienced chiropractors like yours at Vancouver Disc Centers
also are more adept at recognizing
Vancouver spinal stenosis as the diagnosis.
WHAT TO DO FOR Vancouver STENOSIS AND SCIATICA
Treat it actively. Do not depend on
passive care like bed rest. That’s old school care. Give it time.
Take part in the active, conservative care your
Vancouver chiropractor shares with you for at least 6-8 weeks to see
some change because there is no sure difference
between surgical (though quicker relief may come) and non-surgical
care after a year or two. (4) Vancouver Disc Centers utilizes the Cox
Technic System of Spine Pain Management for Vancouver spinal stenosis and back pain relief care. The 50% Rule
guides treatment frequency and treatment progress and
decision-making as to when/if an MRI is required (if you
have not had one done) or surgical or other care
consultation turns out to be necessary.
CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers
Schedule a Vancouver
chiropractic appointment to visit your Vancouver
chiropractic back pain specialist about your Vancouver back pain and
sciatica to take the curiosity out of the question about MRI’s role in your
Vancouver back pain treatment plan.