Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers Questions The Curiosity of MRIs
MRI. What does it do for Baton Rouge back pain and related leg pain? That is a curious question. Diagnosing Baton Rouge lumbar spinal stenosis does not always require an MRI for a clear diagnosis. MRI images can be enlightening…and calling for clinical tests to determine what those images really signify. An MRI is a familiar test to many Baton Rouge chiropractic patients wanting Baton Rouge back pain relief, but the MRI’s timing and results require careful consideration as to when they’re taken and what they really imply for the chiropractic care of spinal stenosis at Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers.
HOW TO DIAGNOSE Baton Rouge STENOSIS
Spinal stenosis is a normal 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 predicted to have spinal stenosis. (1) Often your Baton Rouge chiropractor can identify spinal stenosis with just a few questions and physical examination results without an MRI. Your Baton Rouge chiropractor may order an MRI as a verifying exam of the Baton Rouge chiropractic clinical examination diagnosis already determined just by examining you.
WHAT THE Baton Rouge MRI SHOWS
In the event of a disc extrusion triggering spinal stenosis where the Baton Rouge herniated disc leaks out of its outer bands and oozes into the spinal canal physically compressing and chemically irritating the spinal nerve, an MRI showing this often bodes well for the MRI’s patient. At one year later, whether managed surgically or non-surgically, the back-related leg pain patient had less leg pain. In this case an MRI does not help much in determining which patient would do better with quicker surgery or lengthy conservative care. (2) And the healing of these Baton Rouge spinal stenosis related extrusions takes time and good, guided care like that from Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers.
Understand that as rates for spinal surgery rise – ten times across the US – so too do the rates of advanced spinal imaging. In one study, areas with more MRIs have more spine surgeries (and spinal stenosis surgery specifically). (3) Understand too that what a surgeon spots 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 agreed more with each other’s interpretations of MRI images than less experienced surgeons. (1) Experienced chiropractors like yours at Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers also are more skilled at recognizing Baton Rouge spinal stenosis as the diagnosis.
WHAT TO DO FOR Baton Rouge STENOSIS AND SCIATICA
Treat it actively. Do not rely on passive care like bed rest. That is old school care. Give it time. Take part in the active, conservative care your Baton Rouge chiropractor shares with you for at least 6-8 weeks to witness 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) Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers utilizes the Cox Technic System of Spine Pain Management for Baton Rouge 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’ve not had one done) or surgical or other care consultation turns out to be necessary.
CONTACT Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers
Schedule a Baton Rouge chiropractic appointment to see your Baton Rouge chiropractic back pain specialist about your Baton Rouge back pain and sciatica to take the curiosity out of the question about MRI’s role in your Baton Rouge back pain treatment plan.
