Back Pain Imaging and Exercise
Spinal imaging shows us much about a West Des Moines back pain and leg pain sufferers’ condition. Imaging must be reviewed carefully, of course, for what it reveals in addition to how various imaging methods contrast with others. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa welcomes all the input you can bring with you, the West Des Moines back pain patient, as well as your imaging and exam findings to individualize your West Des Moines chiropractic treatment plan for pain relief.
DISC HERNIATION AND West Des Moines BACK PAIN
Disc herniation and leg and/or back pain seem to go together, too, but so much more may be incorporated: degenerative disc disease, 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 nice pictures of the disc herniation…that Executive Chiropractic of Iowa correlates with your symptomatology!
BACK PAIN AND IMAGING
Back pain and imaging tend to go together. When someone experiences back pain, xrays, CTs, and MRIs come to mind. Just what do these show? A study compared images of back pain patients to asymptomatic persons. MR imaging of those with back pain revealed 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 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 larger compared to those on CT. (3) Another imaging finding your West Des Moines chiropractor is quite aware of is termed Modic change. It’s another imaging finding that is quite revealing in that Modic change (mainly type II) is related with abdominal aortic calcification by way of a lower blood supply or even poorer systemic vascularization owing to atherosclerotic disease. (4) It’s another insight we can utilize to determine what is going on in your spine. Finally, a spinal imaging finding that is quite usual 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 valuable in dealing with the lumbar disc herniation which is why Executive Chiropractic of Iowa incorporates some simple lumbar spine exercises to start on day one. We inspire our back pain patients to keep doing these easy exercises and are happy to back anyone who wants to do more...after we talk!
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Lee Hazen on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates a case of degenerative spondylolisthesis that reacted well to treatment with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment today to visit us! Whether you have spinal imaging currently or need it, your West Des Moines chiropractor can help make sense of its significance in your journey to back pain relief.
