How bad the MRI looks DOES NOT predict the level of pain! This has been proven with HUGE studies.
So why do doctors rely so heavily on MRI results?
Well, in order to get paid by your insurance company there has to be a diagnosis that can be justified. What’s better than a picture where you can simply point to a structure and say this is the problem.
The problem with connecting pain to MRI findings
If you took an MRI of 100 with absolutely NO back pain, 60 would have abnormalities on the MRI findings. So it would show they had herniations, disc bulges, arthritis, stenosis but they would have NO pain.
If you took an MRI of 100 people WITH back pain, a large majority would show they had NO abnormalities, even though they had pain.
So this means that we CANNOT directly correlate pain to structural changes on an MRI.
The problem is pain is COMPLEX!
Over 10+ factors can contribute to and cause pain. But in the end all pain is mediated and funneled through your nervous system.
If there is a dysfunction at any level then it will be difficult to produce pain free movement, even if the structure of the body are in working order. You experience painful movement with chronic injuries because your nervous system isn’t in working order, not necessarily because of physical Dana he to muscles, joints, tendons, etc (although they CAN contribute).
The good news
One of the best and most researched ways to restore connection in your nervous system and treat chronic pain is electro-acupuncture. This is very different than what your normal acupuncturist down the road does because it requires a DEEP understanding of anatomy and neurology.
This style of treatment has been used in the world of professional sports (I’ve worked with the MLB, NFL and MLS) for years with AMAZING results and YOU have access to it here in Tampa, FL.
So don’t settle for sub par bandaid care with just pills or surgery. Let’s work on getting your body to function as best as it can! At my Acupuncture Clinic in Tampa, FL I regularly treat ALL kinds of back pain (herniations, disc bulges, arthritis, stenosis and more).
