La Grande Back Pain from Spinal Stenosis: MRI and Exercise

Beyond the Image: Understanding Your Spine Through Clinical Care

You are in pain and searching for relief—we're here to help.|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 causing your pain.|Seeing 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 really feeling. A groundbreaking 2025 study found that people with severe spinal stenosis seen on scans 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 get that completely. But here’s the thing—your chiropractor's hands-on exam, mixed with thoughtfully interpreting 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 discuss both your imaging findings and clinical assessment exam findings to create a comprehensive treatment plan custom-made just to you delivered by your chiropractor at Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC.

La Grande CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: Try Exercise to Help Decrease 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 affect treatment responsiveness, meaning that even patients with advanced stenosis can achieve meaningful improvements. This evidence supports exercise as a primary conservative treatment, proposing a non-invasive approach to manage symptoms and enhance mobility before considering surgical options. (3,4) Let’s chat at your next chiropractic appointment about the optimal exercise for you.

CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC

We kook forward to seeing you at your next La Grande chiropractic visit!