OrthoIllinois Chiropractic Calmly Considers MRIs Modic Changes
“There are some Modic changes on your MRI report.” OrthoIllinois Chiropractic says “Don’t fret too much.” Our McHenry back pain and neck pain patients have good company regarding MRI reports revealing Modic changes. The research is evolving about just what Modic changes on MRI mean for a patient..and what they don’t mean. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic puts perspective around these usual MRI findings.
WHAT ARE MODIC CHANGES?
“Modic changes” is a term used to explain the degenerative changes to the vertebral endplates. Modic type I changes are basically regarded as bone marrow edema and inflammation signifying acute degenerative changes. Modic type II changes represent fatty degeneration of the bone marrow. Modic III changes describe the replacement of bone with bony sclerosis with minimal bone marrow remaining. (1) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic appreciates the chance to treat a painful back earlier in this cascade of change whenever possible. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic treats disc degeneration and spinal degenerative changes.
WHAT MODIC CHANGES REVEAL ABOUT THE SPINE?
Modic changes are common findings on MRI. Modic changes on MRI appear in spinal degenerative diseases and are greatly associated with low back pain. (1) They are age-related degenerative findings that accompany disc degeneration. Greater Modic changes were tied to higher age, higher body mass index, and adjacent disc degeneration. (2) Lifestyle and occupational factors like cigarette smoking, regular exercise, and absence of daily vehicle vibration seemed to have minor effects, if any, on the development of Modic changes in the lumbar spine. (3) Clearly, OrthoIllinois Chiropractic urges proper lifestyle choices for overall good health!
WHAT MODIC CHANGES SUGGEST ABOUT RECOVERY?
What is unclear is the research about just what Modic changes imply for back pain patients. New research demonstrated that Modic changes were not found to be negatively affiliated with long-term pain, disability, or sick leave. The study stated that low back pain patients who had Modic changes had much less disability and sick-leave at long-term follow-up. (4) This is hopeful news to our McHenry chiropractic back pain patients!
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Robert Rudy on The Back Doctors’ Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson who described his Cox® Technic treatment plan for their back pain relief to his patients so they understand.
Schedule your McHenry chiropractic appointment now. Bring any MRIs with you. Together, OrthoIllinois Chiropractic and you will look at them for information and develop a treatment plan for McHenry back pain relief that will prevent us both from panicking!
