20/02/2024
A radiologist looking at 100 scans of lower backs will find it very difficult to pick who is in pain and who is pain free with any confidence at all.
That’s because we can see all sorts of things on scans in people with no back pain. Just because a spine might look degenerated, or a disc might look dehydrated or bulged, doesn’t mean a person will be experiencing pain or be limited AT ALL.
What is known about scans is that the earlier you get them the higher the chances are you’ll experience long term pain and your recovery will take longer! Why is that!? Well, it’s highly likely that you’ll find something on the scan, but it’s relevance will be questionable.
What does finding something on a scan do? Well;
1. when it’s irrelevant it can send you on a wild goose chase treating something that is having no impact on your pain.
2. When we see things on scans it’s easy (very easy) to think our spine is fragile and there is something we need to protect. We can get fixated on the “degeneration” or “disc bulge” when it is totally normal and means nothing. This naturally increases our fear and anxiety about our back which can stop us from moving or loading it, increasing our worrying about the pain (that likely is naturally healing perfectly) and slows down our recovery.
Your body is remarkable, and resilient. Particularly your spine. If a scan is not needed, don’t get one. It is very rare that they are needed, and your clinician will know when that is.
