Spinal imaging reveals much about a
Vancouver back pain and leg pain sufferers’ condition. Imaging must be
carefully considered, of course, for what it reveals in addition to how various imaging methods contrast
with others. Vancouver Disc Centers appreciates all the
input from you, the Vancouver back pain
patient, as well as your imaging and exam findings to individualize
your Vancouver chiropractic treatment plan for pain relief.
DISC HERNIATION AND Vancouver BACK PAIN
Disc herniation and leg and/or back pain tend to
come together, too, but so much more may be involved:
disc degeneration, annulus
fibrosus rupture, irritation and compression of
nerve roots and cauda equina from the herniation itself. A newer
study tracked 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 Vancouver Disc Centers associates
with your symptoms!
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 demonstrate? A study analyzed
images of symptomatic patients to asymptomatic persons. MR
imaging of those with back pain showed that various
measurements differed: anteroposterior diameter dimensions
of the vertebral canal varied, transverse diameter was smaller,
and thecal sac area was smaller. (2) Caution is necessary to
compare neuroforaminal measurements from CT scans
and plain film as a study found that in patients without
back pain plain film measurements were larger compared to those on
CT. (3) Another imaging finding your Vancouver chiropractor is very
aware of is called Modic change. It’s another imaging finding that
is quite revealing in that Modic change (mainly type II) is linked
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 check the MRI images for that though it’s hard to miss! Another good reason to start
a good spinal exercise program!
EXERCISE & SPINE PAIN RELIEF
Exercise may be quite effective in dealing
with the lumbar disc herniation which is why Vancouver Disc Centers incorporates
some simple lumbar spine exercises to begin on day one. We inspire
our back pain patients to continue performing these simple
exercises and are happy to support anyone who wants to do more...after we talk!
CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers
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 Vancouver chiropractic
appointment soon to visit us! Whether you have spinal
imaging already or need it, your Vancouver chiropractor
can assist in making sense of its relevance in
your path to back pain relief.