Georgetown Back Pain, Spine Issues, and Hip Pain: Simple Tests & 3D Imaging
Back pain and hip pain and spine issues merge for many chiropractic patients, bringing them into Dr. Butwell. We are ready to help! Getting older presents some unique challenges for back, hip, and spine pain sufferers but also some unique benefits today due to novel approaches to keeping stability and dealing with and reducing pain. Your Georgetown chiropractor keeps on top of these novel approaches and is ready to help you!
SIMPLE TESTS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR SPINES
Older folks know that with age comes ‘wisdom’…and its own set of distinctive peculiarities. Different aches and pains rear their heads one morning or mid-afternoon or evening, demanding attention. For those Georgetown 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 tested this out! Reduced 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 exclude as a diagnosis osteoarthritis.
3D IMAGING BENEFITS
Imaging has come a long way! Today, MRI images of the spine in 3D are now clinically possible. Their advantage is higher spatial resolution, reformation in any plane so the MRI process is faster, and interpretation is more precise. Pretty cool! Another benefit, especially for back pain sufferers who have undergone back surgery already 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 certainly affect 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 decrease fall risk. (3) Dr. Butwell is all about stability!
CONTACT Dr. Butwell
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Gary Stefanick on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses his use of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction to ease back pain after back surgery. Back pain specialists like your Georgetown chiropractor are equipped to examine, diagnose, and treat post-surgical continued pain.
Make your Georgetown chiropractic appointment today. Georgetown chiropractic patients find kinship 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!
