McHenry Back Pain from Spinal Stenosis: MRI and Exercise
Beyond the Image: Understanding Your Spine Through Clinical Care
You are in pain and searching for relief—we're here to help.|You're hurting, and you want answers—we get it. Nothing feels more reassuring than seeing an actual image of your spine and indicating what might be triggering your pain.|Getting to see an image of your spine and identifying the source of your pain can provide real reassurance. But here's something that might surprise you: what you see on your MRI or X-ray often doesn't match what you're really feeling. A novel 2025 study reported that people with severe spinal stenosis seen on imaging sometimes have no pain, while others with "perfect-looking" spines are in agony. (1) Wild, right? Another recent study described what many patients feel: "it's hard to trust an individual, it's easier to trust an image." (2) We fully understand that. But here's the truth—your chiropractor's hands-on exam, blended with carefully interpreting your imaging, tells your real story. We're not disregarding your scans—we're looking at the complete picture of what's happening in your body to find the best path to relief. Let’s talk about both your imaging findings and clinical assessment exam findings to develop a thorough treatment plan tailored just to you delivered by your chiropractor at OrthoIllinois Chiropractic.
McHenry CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: Try Exercise to Help Decrease Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Pain
Exercise provides substantial benefits for lumbar spinal stenosis patients, effectively decreasing pain and improving function through flexibility, strengthening, and aerobic components. Importantly, stenosis severity does not influence treatment responsiveness, meaning that even patients with advanced stenosis can achieve meaningful improvements. This evidence promotes exercise as a primary conservative treatment, proposing a non-invasive approach to contain symptoms and enhance mobility before considering surgical options. (3,4) Let’s chat at your next chiropractic appointment about the best exercise for you.
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