Do I need an mri for back pain?

Do I need an MRI for back pain?

Short answer?

Most people with back pain do not need an MRI.

What MRIs are good at

MRIs show structure:

• discs

• joints

• bones

• nerves

They are excellent when serious conditions are suspected.

What MRIs are not good at

MRIs do not:

• predict pain

• explain why pain persists

• determine who will recover

Many people with disc bulges have no pain.
Many people with pain have normal scans.

Why scans often confuse people

Scans commonly show:

• disc degeneration

• bulges

• arthritis

These changes are often normal with age, like wrinkles.

When people see them without context, fear increases…
and pain follows.

When an MRI may be helpful

An MRI may be needed if:

• red flags are present

• symptoms worsen despite care

• there is progressive weakness or neurological change

Outside of this, early scanning rarely improves outcomes.

Pain-to-Strength Framework

We focus on function, not fear.

Inside the Pain-to-Strength Framework, progress is measured by:

• movement quality

• strength

• confidence

• daily performance

Not scan findings.

This is how people move forward instead of getting stuck chasing images.