Montreal Back Pain from Spinal Stenosis: MRI and Exercise
Beyond the Image: Understanding Your Spine Through Clinical Care
You're hurting, and you want answers—we get it. Nothing feels more reassuring than seeing an actual image of your spine and pointing to what might be triggering your pain. But here's something that might surprise you: what shows up on your MRI or X-ray often does not match what you're really feeling. A interesting 2025 study reported that people with severe spinal stenosis visible on scans may have zero pain, while others with "perfect-looking" spines are in agony. (1) Weird, right? Another recent study captured what many patients feel: "it's hard to trust an individual, it's easier to trust an image." (2) We fully understand that. But here's the truth—your chiropractor's hands-on exam, blended with thoughtfully interpreting your imaging, tells your real story. We're not overlooking your scans—we're looking at the complete picture of what's happening in your body to find the best path to relief. Let’s discuss both your imaging findings and clinical assessment exam findings to develop a complete treatment plan tailored just to you delivered by your chiropractor at Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic.
Montreal CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: Try Exercise to Help Reduce Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Pain
Exercise offers proven relief for lumbar spinal stenosis, reducing pain and returning function through targeted flexibility, strengthening, and aerobic movements. Importantly, stenosis severity does not influence treatment responsiveness, meaning that even patients with advanced stenosis can achieve meaningful improvements. This evidence promotes exercise as a primary conservative treatment, offering a non-invasive approach to contain symptoms and enhance mobility before considering surgical options. (3,4) Let’s chat at your next chiropractic appointment about the optimal exercise for you.
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