Back Pain Imaging and Exercise
Spinal imaging shows us much about a La Grande back pain and leg pain sufferers’ condition. Imaging must be reviewed carefully, of course, for what it shows as well as the way various imaging methods contrast with others. Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC welcomes all the input from you, the La Grande back pain patient, as well as your imaging and examination testing findings to individualize your La Grande chiropractic treatment plan for pain relief.
DISC HERNIATION AND La Grande BACK PAIN
Disc herniation and leg and/or back pain tend to come together, too, but so much more may be incorporated: degenerative disc disease, ruptured annulus fibrosus, irritation and compression of nerve roots and cauda equina from the herniation itself. A newer study traced the effects of exercise on a disc herniation’s neuromechanical compression, its inflammatory chemical stimulation, and its autoimmune response. (1) Imaging demonstrates pretty pictures of the disc herniation…that Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC links 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 show? A study compared images of symptomatic patients to asymptomatic persons. MR imaging of those with back pain showed that a variety of measurements differed: anteroposterior diameter dimensions of the vertebral canal varied, transverse diameter was lesser, and thecal sac area was less. (2) Caution is warranted in comparing neuroforaminal measurements from CT scans and plain film as a study found that in patients without back pain plain film measurements were bigger compared to those on CT. (3) Another imaging finding your La Grande chiropractor is quite aware of is called Modic change. It’s another imaging finding that is quite revealing in that Modic change (mainly type II) is associated with abdominal aortic calcification via a lower blood supply or even poorer systemic vascularization because of atherosclerotic disease. (4) It’s another insight we can use to determine what is 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 begin a good spinal exercise program!
EXERCISE & SPINE PAIN RELIEF
Exercise may be quite helpful in dealing with the lumbar disc herniation which is why Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Lee Hazen on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes a case of degenerative spondylolisthesis that responded well to treatment with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Schedule your La Grande chiropractic appointment today to visit us! Whether you have spinal imaging already or need it, your La Grande chiropractor can help make sense of its relevance to your path to back pain relief.
