MRI. What does it mean for McHenry back
pain and related leg pain? That’s a curious
question. Diagnosing McHenry lumbar spinal stenosis doesn’t
always need an MRI for a definitive diagnosis. MRI
images can be revealing…and demanding
of clinical tests to establish what those
images really suggest. An MRI is a well-known
procedure to many McHenry chiropractic
patients seeking McHenry back pain relief, but the
MRI’s timing and outcomes require careful
thought as to when they’re taken
and what they really imply for the chiropractic treatment of
spinal stenosis at OrthoIllinois Chiropractic.
HOW TO DIAGNOSE McHenry 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 acquire
spinal stenosis. (1) Many times
your McHenry chiropractor can identify spinal
stenosis with just a few questions and physical examination findings
without an MRI. Your McHenry chiropractor may order
an MRI as a verifying trial of the
McHenry chiropractic clinical examination diagnosis already
made just by examining you.
WHAT THE McHenry MRI SHOWS
In the event of a disc extrusion triggering
spinal stenosis where the McHenry herniated disc leaks out of
its outer bands and seeps out into the spinal canal physically constricting
and chemically irritating the spinal nerve, an MRI showing
this often bodes well for the MRI’s patient. A year later, whether treated with surgery or without, the back-related sciatica patient had
less leg pain. In this case an MRI does not help much in determining
which patient would do better with early surgery or lengthy
conservative care. (2) And the healing of these McHenry spinal
stenosis related extrusions takes time and good, guided care like that from OrthoIllinois Chiropractic.
HOW THE McHenry MRI INFLUENCES CARE
Understand that as rates for spinal surgery rise
– ten times across the US – so too do the rates of advanced spinal imaging. In a
study, areas with more MRIs saw more spine surgeries
(and spinal stenosis surgery exactly). (3) Know
too that what a surgeon sees on MRI influences
how he or she manages the spinal back surgery for
stenosis. He/She considers the degree and location
of nerve compression as well as degenerative changes at adjacent
levels. Experienced surgeons agreed more with each
other’s interpretations of MRI images than less
experienced surgeons. (1) Experienced chiropractors like yours at OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
also are more proficient at recognizing
McHenry spinal stenosis as the diagnosis.
WHAT TO DO FOR McHenry 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
McHenry chiropractor shares with you for at least 6-8 weeks to see
some change because there’s no sure difference
between surgical (though faster relief may come) and non-surgical
care after a year or two. (4) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic utilizes the Cox
Technic System of Spine Pain Management for McHenry spinal stenosis and back pain relief care. The 50% Rule
guides treatment frequency and treatment progress as well as
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 OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
Schedule a McHenry
chiropractic appointment to see your McHenry
chiropractic back pain specialist about your McHenry back pain and
sciatica to take the curiosity out of the question about MRI’s role in your
McHenry back pain treatment plan.