Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka Calmly Considers MRIs Modic Changes
“There are some Modic changes on your MRI report.” Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka says “Don’t fret too much.” Our Sitka back pain and neck pain patients have good company concerning MRI reports reporting Modic changes. The research is developing about just what MRI-documented Modic changes suggest for a patient..and what they don’t mean. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka creates some perspective about these common MRI findings.
WHAT ARE MODIC CHANGES?
“Modic changes” is a term used to describe the changes of the spine’s vertebral endplates which are connected to spinal degeneration. Modic type I changes are essentially considered to be bone marrow edema and inflammation signifying acute degenerative changes. Modic type II changes signify fatty degeneration of the bone marrow. Modic III changes describe the replacement of bone with bony sclerosis with little bone marrow remaining. (1) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka likes the opportunity to treat a painful back as early in this flow of change as possible. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka treats disc degeneration and spinal degenerative changes.
WHAT MODIC CHANGES TELL ABOUT THE SPINE?
Modic changes are common findings on MRI. Modic changes on MRI appear in spinal degenerative diseases and are greatly associated with low back pain. (1) They are age-related degenerative findings that accompany disc degeneration. Greater Modic changes were linked to higher age, higher body mass index, and adjacent disc degeneration. (2) Lifestyle and occupational factors like cigarette smoking, regular exercise, and absence of daily vehicle vibration appeared to have slight effects, if any, on the development of Modic changes in the lumbar spine. (3) Clearly, Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka urges proper lifestyle choices for optimal health!
WHAT MODIC CHANGES SUGGEST ABOUT RECOVERY?
What is unclear is the research regarding just what Modic changes suggest about back pain patients. Recent research showed that Modic changes were not found to be negatively associated with long-term pain, disability, or sick leave. The research reported that low back pain patients who had Modic changes had much less disability and sick-leave at long-term follow-up. (4) This is encouraging news to our Sitka chiropractic back pain patients!
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Robert Rudy on The Back Doctors’ Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson who described his treatment plan with the Cox® Technic System for their back pain relief to his patients so they get it.
Schedule your Sitka chiropractic appointment today. Bring any MRIs with you. Together, Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka and you will look at them for information and develop a treatment plan for Sitka back pain relief that will keep us both from panicking!
