Adam C. Young, MD
Alan C. League, MD
Albert Knuth, MD
Alejandra Rodriguez-Paez, MD
Alexander E. Michalow, MD
Alexander Gordon, MD
Alfonso Bello, MD
Ami Kothari, MD
Amy Jo Ptaszek, MD
Anand Vora, MD
Andrea S. Kramer, MD
Andrew J. Riff, MD
Angela R. Crowley, MD
Angelo Savino, MD
Anthony Savino, MD
Anuj S. Puppala, MD
Ari Kaz, MD
Ashraf H. Darwish, MD
Ashraf Hasan, MD
Bernard J. Feldman, MD
Bradley Dworsky, MD
Brian Clay, MD
Brian J. Burgess, DPM
Brian R. McCall, MD
Brian Schwartz, MD
Brian Weatherford, MD
Brooke Vanderby, MD
Bruce E. Noxon, DPM, FACFAS, FAPWCA
Bruce Summerville, MD
Bryan Waxman, MD
Bryant S. Ho, MD
Carey E. Ellis, MD
Carla Gamez, DPM
Cary R. Templin, MD
Charles L. Lettvin, MD
Charles M. Lieder, DO
Chinyoung Park, MD
Christ Pavlatos, MD
Christian Skjong, MD
Christopher C. Mahr, MD
Craig Cummins, MD
Craig Phillips, MD
Craig S. Williams, MD
Craig Westin, MD
David Beigler, MD
David Guelich, MD
David H. Garelick, MD
David Hamming, MD
David Hoffman, MD
David M. Anderson, MD
David Norbeck, MD
David Raab, MD
David Schneider, DO
Djuro Petkovic, MD
Douglas Diekevers, DPM
Douglas Solway, DPM
E. Quinn Regan, MD
Eddie Jones Jr., MD
Edward J. Logue, MD
Elliot A. Nacke, MD
Ellis K. Nam, MD
Eric Chehab, MD
Eric L. Lee, MD
Evan A. Dougherty, MD
Garo Emerzian, DPM
Gary Shapiro, MD
Giridhar Burra, MD
Gregory Brebach, MD
Gregory J. Fahrenbach, MD
Gregory Portland, MD
Harpreet S. Basran, MD
Inbar Kirson, MD, FACOG, Diplomate ABOM
Jalaal Shah, DO
James M. Hill, MD
James R. Bresch, MD
Jason G. Hurbanek, MD
Jason Ghodasra, MD
Jason J. Shrouder-Henry, MD
Jeffrey Ackerman, MD
Jeffrey Goldstein, MD
Jeffrey Staron, MD
Jeffrey Visotsky, MD
Jeremy Oryhon, MD
John H. Lyon, MD
Jonathan Erulkar, MD
Jordan L. Goldstein, MD
Josephine H. Mo, MD
Juan Santiago-Palma, MD
Justin Gent, MD
Justin M. LaReau, MD
Kellie Gates, MD
Kermit Muhammad, MD
Kevin Chen, MD
Kris Alden MD, PhD
Leah R. Urbanosky, MD
Leigh-Anne Tu, MD
Leon Benson, MD
Lori Siegel, MD
Lynn Gettleman Chehab, MD, MPH, Diplomate ABOM
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Marc Breslow, MD
Marc R. Fajardo, MD
Marie Kirincic, MD
Mark A. Lorenz, MD
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Nathan G. Wetters, MD
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Rajeev D. Puri, MD
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Scott Jacobsen, DPM
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Todd Simmons, MD
Tom Antkowiak, MD, MS
Tomas Nemickas, MD
Van Stamos, MD
Wayne M. Goldstein, MD
Wesley E. Choy, MD
William Robb, MD
William Vitello, MD

MRI Misconceptions For Back Pain

Kelsey Koziel

December 21, 2020  |  Blog

Many patients who have neck or low back pain believe that getting an MRI (CT scan) will pinpoint exactly where the pain is coming from. This, unfortunately, is a common misconception. IBJI’s Dr. Mehul Garala, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician with Fellowship Training in Spine and Sports Medicine, explains MRI misconceptions when it comes to back pain. (Read Low Back Pain in the Setting of COVID-19)

MRIs are anatomical studies, not pain studies. They evaluate the structures of the spine by producing a series of pictures. However, these structures (such as a disc or a spinal joint) do not stay the same shape and size throughout our lives. They undergo adaptive, age-related changes and MRIs reflect that.

Such a change that can occur is a bulging disc, which has now been proven from multiple studies to be a typical age related finding. The more we age, the more common these findings. They are typical, can be asymptomatic, and do not necessitate treatment. Think of them similarly as if you were to get a gray hair or a wrinkle in your skin. That is why MRI terms such as, “bulging disks, disc desiccation, spondylotic changes, facet arthrosis, endplate spurring, foraminal/lateral recess/central canal narrowing or stenosis” need to be interpreted with caution, because they are common findings as reflected in the table below.

Degenerative Spine Imaging Findings Chart

It is important to understand that MRIs need to be clinically interpreted in the context of the patient’s history and physical exam. The history and physical exam can help the doctor assess if a particular MRI finding can be contributing to the patient’s pain and needs to be addressed, or if it is a typical age-related or incidental finding. This is similar to a mechanic who inspects your car and finds subtle changes to the engine, fluids, brakes, etc. Certain changes, such as minor wear to the brakes might not warrant any intervention such as getting them replaced. The mechanic might think that is an expected finding given the age of the car and it isn’t really impacting the function or its safety. The doctor needs to take a similar approach and determine if a particular MRI finding warrants treatment.

Sources:

Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. Brinjikji, et al. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015. April.

*The blog is for general information and educational purposes only regarding musculoskeletal conditions. The information provided does not constitute the practice of medicine or other healthcare professional services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor-patient relationship is formed. Readers with musculoskeletal conditions should seek the advice of their healthcare professionals without delay for any condition they have. The use of the information is at the reader’s own risk. The content is not intended to replace diagnosis, treatment or medical advice from your treating healthcare professional.

Mehul Garala, MD

Mehul Garala, MD, is a double board-certified, fellowship-trained physician specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Sports Medicine, with special interest in non-operative spine management. He performs musculoskeletal and spine evaluations, fracture management, and administers peripheral joint as well as interventional spinal injections.

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    Kelsey Koziel

    Kelsey Koziel is the Marketing Communications & Public Relations Specialist at Illinois Bone & Joint Institute. If you would like to contact her with a story, please visit our Media Contact page

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