La Grande Back Pain, Spine Issues, and Hip Pain: Simple Tests & 3D Imaging

Back pain and hip pain and spine issues all come together at once for many chiropractic patients, bringing them into Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC. We’re prepared to help! Getting older presents some unique challenges for those who experience back, hip and spine pain but also some unique benefits today due to new approaches to maintaining stability and dealing with and reducing pain. Your La Grande chiropractor keeps on top of these new approaches and is prepared to help you!

SIMPLE TESTS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR SPINES

Older folks know that with age comes ‘wisdom’…and its own set of unique peculiarities. Different aches and pains arise one morning or mid-afternoon or evening, requiring attention. For those La Grande back pain sufferers who are a little older, hip range of motion and strength may predict how 12 months down the road a chronic low back pain patient may be functioning. Researchers put this to the test! Decreased hip strength and range of motion forecast a deterioration in function a year later. Hip osteoarthritis did not affect these outcomes. (1) Your chiropractor will perform a thorough examination and knows some easy-to-do tests of hip strength and range of motion – gait speed, 6-minute walk test, subjective questionnaires, even imaging as necessary - to rule out osteoarthritis.

3D IMAGING BENEFITS

Imaging has come far! Today, MRI images of the spine in 3D are now clinically possible. Their benefit is higher spatial resolution, reformation in any plane so the MRI process is faster, and interpretation is more accurate. Pretty cool! Another benefit, especially for back pain sufferers who have had prior back surgery with metal implants, etc., and now have pain again is that 3D imaging makes available viewing around the metal. (2) Such views can help doctors see issues at adjacent spine levels.

A SPECIFIC SPINE ISSUE: PISA SYNDROME

Pain issues in one area of the spine can surely impact other areas and even prompt more pain. A postural disorder some older back pain sufferers may have is called Pisa Syndrome which is caused by lateral flexion of the spine greater than 10 degrees which sets them up to falls, a lower quality of life, and greater risk of mortality in neurological diseases. Postural stability exercises are essential for such patients, important enough that they should do these forever to reduce fall risk. (3) Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC is all about stability!

CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Gary Stefanick on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes his use of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction to ease back pain after back surgery. Back pain specialists like your La Grande chiropractor are able to examine, diagnose, and treat post-surgical continued pain.

Make your La Grande chiropractic appointment now. La Grande chiropractic patients find camaraderie with each other when back pain, hip pain, and spine stability are involved as well as relief from their chiropractic care. We look forward to seeing you soon!