Apple Country Chiropractic Questions The Curiosity of MRIs

November 06, 2018

MRI. What does it do for Williamson back pain and related leg pain? That’s a intriguing question. Diagnosing Williamson lumbar spinal stenosis doesn’t always need an MRI for a clear diagnosis. MRI images can be revealing…and calling for clinical tests to ascertain what those images really mean. An MRI is a recognized procedure to many Williamson chiropractic patients wanting Williamson back pain relief, but the MRI’s timing and outcomes need careful thought as to when they are taken and what they really mean for the chiropractic care of spinal stenosis at Apple Country Chiropractic.

HOW TO DIAGNOSE Williamson STENOSIS

Spinal stenosis is a common condition and the most usual 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 Williamson chiropractor can identify spinal stenosis with just a few questions and physical examination findings without an MRI. Your Williamson chiropractor may order an MRI as a verifying trial of the Williamson chiropractic clinical examination diagnosis previously determined just by seeing you.

WHAT THE Williamson MRI SHOWS

In the event of a disc extrusion triggering spinal stenosis where the Williamson herniated disc leaks out of its outer bands and oozes into the spinal canal physically constricting and chemically irritating the spinal nerve, an MRI showing this many times bodes well for the MRI’s patient. At one year later, whether managed with surgery or without, 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 early surgery or long conservative care. (2) And the healing of these Williamson spinal stenosis related extrusions takes time and good, guided care like that from Apple Country Chiropractic.

HOW THE Williamson MRI INFLUENCES CARE

Understand that as rates for spinal surgery increase – ten times across the US – so too do the rates of advanced spinal imaging. In a study, cities with more MRIs saw more spine surgeries (and spinal stenosis surgery specifically). (3) Know too that what a surgeon notices on MRI influences how he or she approaches the spinal back surgery for stenosis. He/She studies the degree and location of nerve compression as well as degenerative changes at adjacent levels. Experienced surgeons reached agreement more with each other’s understandings of MRI images than less experienced surgeons. (1) Experienced chiropractors like yours at Apple Country Chiropractic also are more adept at picking up on Williamson spinal stenosis as the diagnosis.

WHAT TO DO FOR Williamson 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 Williamson chiropractor shares with you for at least 6-8 weeks to witness some change because there’s no clear difference between surgical (though faster relief may come) and non-surgical care after a year or two. (4) Apple Country Chiropractic utilizes the a href="/chiropractic-topics/spinal-stenosis-relief-with-chiropractic-cox-technic" target="_self" style="cursor: pointer;" >Cox Technic System of Spine Pain Management for Williamson 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 taken) or surgical or other care consultation turns out to be necessary.

CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic

Schedule a Williamson chiropractic appointment to see your Williamson chiropractic back pain specialist about your Williamson back pain and sciatica to take the curiosity out of the question about MRI’s role in your Williamson back pain treatment plan. 

 
Williamson MRIs for spinal stenosis may be revealing…or confusing.