Call Us at 225-924-3989

Or
Contact Us

Back Pain Imaging and Exercise

February 15, 2024

Spinal imaging reveals much about a Baton Rouge back pain and leg pain sufferers’ condition. Imaging must be reviewed carefully, of course, for what it shows in addition to the way various imaging methods contrast with others. Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers appreciates all the input you can bring with you, the Baton Rouge back pain patient, as well as your imaging and exam findings to personalize your Baton Rouge chiropractic treatment plan for pain relief.

DISC HERNIATION AND Baton Rouge BACK PAIN

Disc herniation and leg and/or back pain seem to go together, too, but so much more may be involved: disc degeneration, ruptured annulus fibrosus, irritated and compressed nerve roots and cauda equina from the herniation itself. A recent study traced the effects of exercise on a disc herniation’s neuromechanical compression, its inflammatory chemical stimulation, and its autoimmune response. (1) Imaging shows pretty pictures of the disc herniation…that Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers correlates with your symptomatology!

BACK PAIN AND IMAGING

Back pain and imaging tend to go together. When someone has back pain, xrays, CTs, and MRIs come to mind. Just what do these display? A study analyzed images of symptomatic patients to asymptomatic persons. MR imaging of those with back pain showed that various measurements were different: anteroposterior diameter dimensions of the vertebral canal varied, transverse diameter was smaller, and thecal sac area was less. (2) Caution is necessary to compare neuroforaminal measurements from CT scans and plain film as a study found that in patients who didn’t have back pain plain film measurements were larger compared to those on CT. (3) Another imaging finding your Baton Rouge chiropractor is very aware of is called Modic change. It’s another imaging finding that is very revealing in that Modic change (mainly type II) is associated with abdominal aortic calcification by way of a lower blood supply or even poorer systemic vascularization due to atherosclerotic disease. (4) It’s another insight we can utilize to determine what’s going on in your spine. Finally, a spinal imaging finding that is quite common in back pain patients is fatty infiltration of the paraspinal muscles, more so in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. (5) We look for that on MRI images though it’s hard to miss! Another good reason to start a good spinal exercise program!

EXERCISE & SPINE PAIN RELIEF

Exercise may be quite valuable in managing the lumbar disc herniation which is why Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers incorporates some simple lumbar spine exercises to start on day one. We encourage our back pain patients to keep doing these simple exercises and are happy to support anyone who wants to do more...after we talk!

CONTACT Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Lee Hazen  on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates a case of degenerative spondylolisthesis that reacted well to treatment with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

Make your Baton Rouge chiropractic appointment soon to see us! Whether you have spinal imaging currently or need it, your Baton Rouge chiropractor can assist in making sense of its significance in your path to back pain relief.

Baton Rouge back pain imaging and exercise