Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC Questions The Curiosity of MRIs
MRI. What does it mean for La Grande back pain and related leg pain? That is a curious question. Diagnosing La Grande lumbar spinal stenosis doesn’t always need an MRI for a definitive diagnosis. MRI images can be informative…and demanding of clinical tests to determine what those images really signify. An MRI is a well-known procedure to a lot of La Grande chiropractic patients seeking La Grande back pain relief, but the MRI’s timing and outcomes need careful thought as to when they’re taken and what they really imply for the chiropractic care of spinal stenosis at Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC.
HOW TO DIAGNOSE La Grande STENOSIS
Spinal stenosis is a normal condition and the most usual sign for spinal back surgery in the over-65 age group. With the growth of this group, by 2025 59% of them are predicted to acquire spinal stenosis. (1) Many times your La Grande chiropractor can identify spinal stenosis with only a few questions and physical examination findings with no an MRI. Your La Grande chiropractor may use the MRI as a confirming exam of the La Grande chiropractic clinical examination diagnosis already determined just by seeing you.
WHAT THE La Grande MRI SHOWS
In the case of a disc extrusion triggering spinal stenosis where the La Grande herniated disc escapes its outer bands and oozes into the spinal canal physically constricting and chemically irritating the spinal nerve, an MRI revealing this many times bodes well for the MRI’s owner. At one year later, whether treated surgically or non-surgically, the back-related leg pain patient had less leg pain. In this case an MRI doesn’t help much in determining which patient would do better with early surgery or long conservative care. (2) And the healing of these La Grande spinal stenosis related extrusions takes time and good, guided care like that from Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC.
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, areas with more MRIs have more spine surgeries (and spinal stenosis surgery exactly). (3) Know too that what a surgeon makes out 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 reached agreement more with each other’s understandings of MRI images than less experienced surgeons. (1) Experienced chiropractors like yours at Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC also are more adept at picking up on La Grande spinal stenosis as the diagnosis.
WHAT TO DO FOR La Grande STENOSIS AND SCIATICA
Treat it actively. Do not depend on passive care like bed rest. That’s old school care. Give it time. Participate in the active, conservative care your La Grande 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) Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC utilizes the Cox Technic System of Spine Pain Management for La Grande 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 done) or surgical or other care consultation becomes necessary.
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Schedule a La Grande chiropractic appointment to see your La Grande chiropractic back pain specialist about your La Grande back pain and sciatica to take the curiosity out of the question about MRI’s role in your La Grande back pain treatment plan.
