Is Your MRI Report Hiding Something? Find Out What It Says!

Spinal stenosis narrows the spinal canal, putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots - and most people only find out when they receive a confusing MRI report full of terms they have never seen before. Understanding what your MRI actually shows is the first step toward taking meaningful action. Many people with spinal stenosis findings on their MRI - including disc bulges, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, and facet arthropathy - have no symptoms at all, while others with similar findings experience significant pain. That disconnect is because an MRI captures structure, not how your spine is functioning or how your nervous system is performing. Spinal stenosis comes in two main forms: central stenosis, which narrows the main canal and tends to produce symptoms on both sides of the body, and foraminal stenosis, which narrows the openings where nerve roots exit and typically affects one side. Chiropractic care addresses both by restoring joint alignment and reducing nerve compression throughout the whole spine - not just where the pain is located. In this video, you will learn: - What common MRI terms like disc bulge, disc protrusion, degenerative changes, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, and arthropathy actually mean in plain language. - The difference between central spinal stenosis and foraminal stenosis, including how their symptoms differ and why that distinction matters for your care. - Two targeted stretches - the single leg knee-to-chest and the cat-cow - that help open the spinal canal, reduce nerve pressure, and can be started at home today. Dr. Alykhan Shariff is a chiropractor in Oshawa, Ontario, specializing in spinal health, spinal stenosis, and chronic back and neck pain. Infinite Healing ChiropracticInfinite Healing Chiropractic & Wellness Centre 245 King Street West Oshawa, Ontario L1J2J7 905 433 9520 [email protected] https://www.infinitehealingclinic.com 0:00 Introduction 1:05 What your MRI report actually shows - and doesn't show 2:20 Degenerative changes explained 3:00 Disc bulges and disc protrusions 4:10 Arthropathy and facet joint degeneration 4:45 Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy 5:20 What spinal stenosis actually is 5:45 Central spinal stenosis 6:20 Foraminal stenosis 7:00 How chiropractic care fits in - whole spine approach 9:15 Why symptoms are only present 10% of the time 10:00 What a proper chiropractic assessment includes 11:00 Single leg knee-to-chest stretch - demonstration 12:30 Cross-body knee-to-chest variation 13:20 Cat-cow stretch - demonstration 14:45 Closing thoughts and next steps Series Links This video is part of our Spinal Stenosis Series. Watch the other videos here: ▶ What Is Spinal Stenosis?    • Do You Have Spinal Stenosis? Here's What's...   ▶ Degenerative Disc Disease vs. Spinal Stenosis    • The Spinal Stenosis Problem Most Patients ...   ▶ Top 5 Cervical Stretches for Spinal Stenosis    • Cervical Stenosis Causing Arm Pain? Try Th...   ▶ Top 5 Lumbar Stretches for Spinal Stenosis    • Top 5 Stretches for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis...   ▶ Why Am I Stiff in the Morning?    • STIFF WITH STENOSIS? WATCH THIS!   ▶ Drop Piece Adjustment & Spinal Stenosis    • WATCH THE CHIROPRACTIC DROP TABLE ADJUSTME...   ▶ Spinal Stenosis & Posture: The REAL Reason Your Back Worsens    • Spinal Stenosis & Posture: The REAL Reason...   ▶ Is Spinal Stenosis Causing Your Leg Pain? Find Out Here    • Leg Pain, Numbness, Weakness? Your Spine M...   ▶ Inactivity Is Destroying Your Spine — Here's What to Do Instead    • #1 Mistake Spinal Stenosis Patients Make!   ▶ Spinal Stenosis Red Flags vs Normal Symptoms | When to Seek Urgent Care    • Spinal Stenosis Red Flags vs Normal Sympto...   ▶Are Chiropractic Adjustments safe for Stenosis? :    • Chiropractic for Spinal Stenosis: Why Most...   ▶Spinal Stenosis Symptoms Getting Worse? Stop These 6 Mistakes:    • 6 Common Mistakes Making Your Spinal Steno...   Q: What does spinal stenosis mean on an MRI? A: It means one or more spaces in the spine - either the central canal or the foraminal openings - have narrowed, potentially putting pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. Q: Can you have spinal stenosis and feel no pain? A: Yes. Many people have significant stenosis findings on imaging with no noticeable symptoms, especially in early stages. Q: What is ligamentum flavum hypertrophy? A: It means the ligament along the back wall of the spinal canal has thickened, reducing canal space and contributing to stenosis. Q: Is a disc bulge the same as a disc protrusion? A: No. A bulge is often a normal finding. A protrusion means the disc has pushed far enough to contact a nerve root or the spinal cord. Q: How does chiropractic help with spinal stenosis? A: Chiropractic restores joint alignment and motion, reducing nerve compression and improving nervous system function throughout the whole spine - not just the symptomatic area. #spinalstenosis #MRIReport #ChiropractorOshawa #BackPainRelief #SpinalHealth #OshawaChiropractor #DurhamRegionChiropractor