Low back pain (LBP) affects up to 80%–85% of the population during their lifetime, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently ordered in LBP.
Unfortunately, inappropriate use of MRI leads to increasing interventions and surgeries for low back pain. According to studies, the incidence of spine surgery has paralleled the increasing use of MRI.
Imaging findings, such as disk degeneration and disk herniations, have been attributed as causative factors for LBP; however, these structural abnormalities are present in many asymptomatic individuals, and the incidence of these findings increases with age.
A herniated disc, bulging disc, degenerative disc… these all sound very scary. However, based on medical literature, these findings in your MRI may just be considered as “wrinkles on the inside.”
In a recent study, researchers studied 3,369 patients over 6 years. They discovered that common MRI findings such as herniated discs or stenosis had little to no association with low back pain at any point.
This study is important since many patients live with life-long stress and anxiety after learning about spine degeneration on their MRI. Doctors can now reassure patients that MRI findings that were once thought of as problematic don’t necessarily predict future pain.
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