MRI. What does it do for Brooks back
pain and related leg pain? That’s a curious
question. Diagnosing Brooks lumbar spinal stenosis doesn’t
always require an MRI for a clear diagnosis. MRI
images can be revealing…and calling for clinical tests to ascertain what those
images really suggest. An MRI is a well-known
test to a lot of Brooks chiropractic
patients seeking Brooks back pain relief, but the
MRI’s timing and results need cautious
consideration as to when they’re taken
and what they really imply for the chiropractic care of
spinal stenosis at Soft Health and Healing Clinic.
HOW TO DIAGNOSE Brooks STENOSIS
Spinal stenosis is a common condition and the
most common sign for spinal back surgery in the
over-65 age set of people. With the expansion of this
group, by 2025 59% of them are expected to have
spinal stenosis. (1) Many times
your Brooks chiropractor can identify spinal
stenosis with just a few questions and physical examination answers
without an MRI. Your Brooks chiropractor may use the MRI as a verifying test of the
Brooks chiropractic clinical examination diagnosis previously
made just by seeing you.
WHAT THE Brooks MRI SHOWS
In the case of a disc extrusion causing
spinal stenosis where the Brooks herniated disc leaks out of
its outer bands and oozes into the spinal canal physically constricting
and chemically inflaming the spinal nerve, an MRI revealing
this often bodes well for the MRI’s patient. At
one year later, whether managed surgically
or non-surgically, the back-related sciatica patient had
less leg pain. In this case an MRI does not help much in influencing
which patient would do better with early surgery or prolonged
conservative care. (2) And the healing of these Brooks spinal
stenosis related extrusions takes time and good, guided care like that from Soft Health and Healing Clinic.
HOW THE Brooks 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 one
study, cities with more MRIs have more spine surgeries
(and spinal stenosis surgery exactly). (3) Know
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 and 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 Soft Health and Healing Clinic
also are more adept at recognizing
Brooks spinal stenosis as the diagnosis.
WHAT TO DO FOR Brooks 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
Brooks chiropractor shares with you for at least 6-8 weeks to see
some change because there is no sure difference
between surgical (though faster relief may come) and non-surgical
care after a year or two. (4) Soft Health and Healing Clinic utilizes the Cox
Technic System of Spine Pain Management for Brooks 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 necessary (if you’ve not had one done) or surgical or other care
consultation becomes necessary.
CONTACT Soft Health and Healing Clinic
Schedule a Brooks
chiropractic appointment to see your Brooks
chiropractic back pain specialist about your Brooks back pain and
sciatica to take the curiosity out of the question about MRI’s role in your
Brooks back pain treatment plan.