Is your MRI Misleading?

  • “Herniated Disc”
  • “Slipped Disc”
  • “Bulging Disc”
  • “Spinal Stenosis”
  • “Degenerative Changes”
  • “Facet Syndrome”
  • “Sciatica”
  • “Degenerative Arthritis”

Do any of these terms sound familiar to you? Maybe you have suffered from back or neck pain for far too long and underwent MRI. And maybe one of these terms were mentioned on your MRI report. Or maybe you have suffered from back or neck pain for far too long but have been afraid of being assessed as you are afraid of what could be causing your pain?   Or, if you have been “diagnosed” with one of these diagnoses, you have assumed that there is absolutely nothing that can be done to relieve your pain and you have given up doing the activities that you love because you just hurt too much.

Low back pain affects nearly everyone in the United States at some time during their lifetime with most having their first episode of low back pain by their mid- thirties.  For most people suffering from neck or low back pain, the cause of their pain is unknown and often it starts without warning or obvious reason. These acute episodes of pain often become recurring episodes of pain that occur more frequently, are more severe, and often can become a chronic debilitating condition.   The pain begins to affect seemingly basic everyday activities such as sitting, walking and standing. Less simple activities such as participation in sports or exercise programs, participating in family events, driving a car or playing with your children become downright unbearable. As the condition progresses, people find they cannot get a good nights rest and without adequate rest, every aspect of their health and well-being is affected. Individuals suffering from this chronic pain focus their priorities on getting relief… and often in their pursuit of relief, they assume that there is nothing that can help them.

For some, the acute back pain episode subsided after a few days or weeks for no apparent reason.  As soon as they recover from the acute episode of pain, most forget they even had the pain until it recurs again. And often these recurrences become more and more frequent and severe, and people are left feeling hopeless as they don’t understand what CAUSED the pain in the first place and secondly they don’t know how to relieve or prevent it.

So it is only natural, when faced with this dilemma, that people opt to ask for a MRI because surely if the MRI tells them what is “wrong” surely there must then be a “fix” or a “cure” for their particular ailment.    Sadly, MRI results do not always lend answers to the true nature of the pain. Inexperienced clinicians treat the “MRI report” instead of performing a thorough evaluation of the patient and their symptoms.

Getting a MRI report before physical therapy treatment can cost $4793 more than getting Physical Therapy First.

That is why at Britt Zink Physical Therapy Services we are passionate about helping people get to the root of their pain and then PARTNER WITH the patient to relieve their pain and PREVENT recurrence in the future. At our clinic we use the McKenzie Method to assess and treat our patients to EMPOWER our patients to help themselves without pain medications, injections, surgery or expensive MRI studies.

What is the McKenzie Method ® of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy?®

The McKenzie Method® is an evidence-based method of active patient care and education for back, neck and extremity problems.
It works in three primary steps: assessment, treatment and prevention. The key distinction is its initial assessment component — a safe and reliable means to accurately reach a diagnosis and only then make the appropriate treatment plan. Treatment principles are guided by the effects of movement, usually a defined repeated movement that directly reduces or abolishes pain and restores function. Patients gain hands-on knowledge to learn how to self-treat, helping to minimize the risk of recurrence. Even patients who’ve suffered from chronic musculoskeletal pain for years can find success with an McKenzie assessment in as little as two to three visits.

What providers use the McKenzie Method of MDT?
The McKenzie Method relies heavily on a unique approach to ​
assessment followed by a focus on self-treatment principles. An MDT provider does not simply “fix” a patient. It is not a “one size fits all” solution. Each treatment plan is unique to that patient based on the individualized assessment (or evaluation). The goal of the McKenzie Method is patient independence once they have learned how to self-manage their problem.

ARE YOU READY TO FIND RELIEF FROM YOUR PAIN WITHOUT MEDICATIONS, INJECTIONS OR SURGERY?

ARE YOU READY TO WORK WITH A PHYSICAL THERAPIST WHO PROVIDES 1:1 DIRECT CARE TO THEIR PATIENT?

If you want to partner with a physical therapist to find relief for your pain, to be empowered to treat yourself and not be dependent upon someone else to make you feel better, than give Britt Zink Physical Therapy Services a call… we can help!