St Peters Back Pain from Spinal Stenosis: MRI and Exercise

Beyond the Image: Understanding Your Spine Through Clinical Care

You are in pain and looking for relief—we're here to help. Getting to see an image of your spine and being able to identify the source of your pain can provide real reassurance. But here's something that might surprise you: what shows up on your MRI or X-ray often does not match what you're actually feeling. A groundbreaking 2025 study found that people with severe spinal stenosis seen on imaging sometimes have zero pain, while others with "perfect-looking" spines are in agony. (1) Crazy, right? Another new study captured what many patients feel: "it's hard to trust an individual, it's easier to trust an image." (2) We understand that completely. But the reality for many—your chiropractor's hands-on exam, mixed with carefully clarifying your imaging, tells your real story. We're not discounting 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 talk about both your imaging findings and clinical assessment exam findings to develop a thorough treatment plan tailored specifically to you delivered by your chiropractor at Old Mill Chiropractic.

St Peters CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: Try Exercise to Help Reduce Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Pain

Exercise provides substantial benefits for lumbar spinal stenosis patients, effectively reducing pain and improving function through flexibility, strengthening, and aerobic components. Importantly, stenosis severity does not influence treatment responsiveness, meaning that even patients with advanced stenosis can achieve meaningful improvements. This evidence supports exercise as a primary conservative treatment, offering a non-invasive approach to contain symptoms and improve mobility before considering surgical options. (3,4) Let’s chat at your next chiropractic appointment about the best exercise for you.

CONTACT Old Mill Chiropractic

We kook forward to seeing you at your next St Peters chiropractic visit!