Should we treat the image or should we treat the symptoms?

Have you been dealing with low back pain? Have you received a referral for an x-ray or MRI? Have you already had an x-ray or MRI? Is your back pain staying the same despite imagining? Let’s chat.

In 2015, a study was done on 1,211 volunteers that had NO back pain. There was approximately 100 volunteers in each decade from 20’s to 70’s.

What they found was that almost 90% of the 1,211 volunteers had a bulging disc. Even most individuals in their 20’s had bulging discs.

By definition, when something shows up in more than 50% of the population it is considered normal. Leading us to the question: why are we still so focused on an image that is more than likely to show a bulging disc vs tell us what your symptoms are?

Why do we assume the disc is what is causing the pain? Why can’t you to be like one of those asymptomatic volunteers walking around with a bulging disc but no pain?

An additional study was done looking at images of people aged 20-80 years old. Disc degeneration occurred in 37% of 20 year olds and slowly increased over the years to 96% of 80 year olds. Facet degeneration started at 3% in 20 year olds and increased to 83% of 80 year olds.

Instead of considering changes to the spine as a pain sentence, we need to start considering them to be normal age related changes similarly to gray hair and wrinkles.

We can change the narrative, let’s make a plan and start focusing on the health of the tissue instead of the shape of the tissue.

At Loon State Physical Therapy, we know that back pain is not something to write off. We want to help you create a plan to improve your pain and allow you to be one of the asymptomatic people walking around like those 1,211 volunteers, regardless of your image.

Schedule your free discovery call, or book your first visit at Lake Elmo, Linden Hills, Hopkins.

-Lexi Noel PT, DPT