Saturday 23 January 2016

dont rely on an X-ray with Hip Pain

Hi!  nothing for months and then wow!  2 in a week.

here we are again. Must be doing more reading these days.

What we have always known and is not often highlighted is that:

 if you have hip pain doesn't mean you'll see anything on X-Ray and if you have hip changes on X-ray  doesn't mean that you'll have any pain.

 have a read of this: http://wb.md/1WF5CvL.

 it shows that just because you have Xray changes doesn't mean you'll have pain from it... and just because you have pain from it doesn't mean you'll have Xray changes.  And this applies to all your joints. If changes in your joints happen over a long period your body/brain does not see this as a problem that needs to highlighted to you then it doesn't do anything about it. You feel nothing; just maybe some stiffness.  It is normal.

It is when changes occur quickly in the body that the warning system kicks in and the brain tells you that you need to do something about it. Move!, change what you are doing; its a protection mechanism that comes from when we were hunter-gatherers. What you are doing is harming me; change what you are doing and that will help. Stop stressing that knee...

Long term pain is another matter... we will discuss




Friday 22 January 2016

Most low back MRI referrals show abnormalities

Hi again

well its been awhile but never too late...

Just read today this interesting article on imaging using MRI scanners and looking at those who are referred for them when suffering with low back pain.

Nearly ALL patients who have low back pain and are referred by their GP for an MRI are shown to have prolapsed discs. The referring criteria was suspicion of serious pathology or patients who have severe sciatica for who surgery is indicated because they are failing to respond to conservative treatment over 6 to 8 weeks.

This study was done in the Netherlands and it shows that if it comes to it and you are referred then the likely findings (72%) will be herniated disc often with nerve root compression.  Spondilolithesis is  18%, 13% is spinal stenosis, 37 is fracture and 0.3% is discitis.

This  considers the biomedical model where a diagnosis is made using these type of techniques. As MSK experts we would take the biomedical model in to consideration but we would also consider many other factors. The biomedical model does not indicate treatment

Is you want to read more then go to: http://wb.md/1nDxqoi