Aaron Chiropractic Clinic Calmly Considers MRIs Modic Changes

“Your MRI shows some Modic changes.” Aaron Chiropractic Clinic says “Do not panic too much.” Our Fort Wayne back pain and neck pain patients have good company regarding MRI reports revealing Modic changes. The research is evolving about just what MRI-documented Modic changes mean for a patient..and what they do not. Aaron Chiropractic Clinic puts perspective around these usual MRI findings.

WHAT ARE MODIC CHANGES?

“Modic changes” is a term used to explain the degenerative changes to the vertebral endplates. Modic type I changes are essentially considered to be bone marrow edema and inflammation signifying acute degenerative changes.  Modic type II changes represent fatty degeneration of the bone marrow. Modic III changes are the replacement of bone with bony sclerosis with little bone marrow remaining. (1) Aaron Chiropractic Clinic likes the opportunity to treat a painful back earlier in this cascade of change whenever possible. Aaron Chiropractic Clinic treats disc degeneration and spinal degenerative changes.

WHAT MODIC CHANGES REVEAL ABOUT THE SPINE?

Modic changes are common findings on MRI. Modic changes on MRI are seen in spinal degenerative diseases and are greatly associated with low back pain. (1) They are age-related degenerative findings that come with disc degeneration. Greater Modic changes were tied 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 seemed to have minor effects, if any, on the development of Modic changes in the lumbar spine. (3) Clearly, Aaron Chiropractic Clinic urges proper lifestyle choices for optimal health!

WHAT MODIC CHANGES SUGGEST ABOUT RECOVERY?

What is unclear is the research about just what Modic changes suggest about back pain patients. New research demonstrated that Modic changes were not understood to be negatively associated with long-term pain, disability, or sick leave. The study stated that low back pain patients who had Modic changes had significantly less disability and sick-leave at long-term follow-up. (4) This is encouraging info to our Fort Wayne chiropractic back pain patients!

CONTACT Aaron Chiropractic Clinic

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Robert Rudy on The Back Doctors’ Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson who detailed his treatment plan with the Cox® Technic System for their back pain relief to his patients so they get it.

Schedule your Fort Wayne chiropractic appointment now. Bring your MRIs with you. Together, Aaron Chiropractic Clinic and you will look at them for information and develop a treatment plan for Fort Wayne back pain relief that will keep us both from panicking!