MRIs are fascinating.
They display
some amazing images of the body. Chiropractors like
looking at spinal MRI images. Why? The spine is your
Buffalo, NY chiropractor’s realm! Disc Centers Of America appreciates
the MRI image study for what it is: a tool.
But MRIs are not always clinically necessary. Can MRI help determine whether to use non-surgical care or
surgical care for back pain relief? Read on for the most recent
findings.
The Usefulness
of MRI
When a
Buffalo, NY patient’s back pain, neck pain, arm pain or leg pain
symptoms signal the need for an MRI,
Disc Centers Of America requests one for such a Buffalo, NY
back pain patient. MRI may supplement your
Buffalo, NY chiropractor’s clinical knowledge
of the condition oftentimes (but not always!). Pre-treatment and post-MRI images
are intriguing. Did the disc herniation reduce
now that the pain disappeared? Buffalo, NY
chiropractic patients will often ask that of Disc Centers Of America. And researchers
will consider MRIs for their research studies on just such
a question.
The Curiosity
of MRI
Researchers aren’t the only ones who curiously examine
MRI images of low back pain sufferers to check if there is any correlation
between pain and no pain and the MRI at the beginning
and end of treatment for back pain. Patients wonder, too. Disc Centers Of America is
well aware that our Buffalo, NY back pain patients wonder!
Knowing
that doctors and patients dealing with back pain like MRIs, a group of
researchers planned to determine the value of MRI in predicting treatment
outcomes in patients who had a herniated lumbar disc with sciatica. They questioned
if MRI could help decide whether to do back surgery now or
stay the course with conservative care. Disc Centers Of America and the
Buffalo, NY chiropractic low back pain patients we care for would
love such a simple indicator! Study participants were randomly
sent to surgical care or a course of prolonged conservative care. Two findings – a disc
extrusion and nerve root compression on MRI in patients with less severe leg
pain – indicated a satisfactory outcome with either type
of care. Another interesting finding: the size of the disc herniation at the
beginning of caredid not affect the outcome. The two groups revealed significant difference in outcomes between the two groups
– surgical and conservative. (1) Disc Centers Of America sees similar
reports more and more in the back pain research. Recall the Atlas studies of
surgical and non-surgical interventions for back pain and sciatica? There wasn’t much difference in those classic
studies either: 50% versus 53% non-surgical versus surgical for
back pain due to spinal stenosis (2) and 69% versus 61% surgical vs. non-surgical for
sciatica (3).
Disc Centers Of America
Offers Chiropractic Non-Surgical Care of Disc Herniation
Disc Centers Of America
invites you to make a Buffalo, NY chiropractic
appointment today. Trust Disc Centers Of America to provide evidence-based chiropractic
care that relieves your spine pain many times without an MRI. Together,
we can set a non-surgical (and even potentially non-MRI!)
treatment plan to alleviate your back pain.
Schedule your
Buffalo, NY chiropractic appointment now.
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."