If you have ever received an MRI that showed herniation, degeneration, bone spurs, calcification, or a host of other concerning terms let me assure you that you are NOT broken. While the MRI is a phenomenal invention and can provide life-saving information, it can also cause unnecessary harm and waste billions of healthcare dollars. “Poor” MRI findings cause people to seek unnecessary surgery, take unnecessary medications, and avoid activities they love. Paradoxically, it is the activities they are told not to do (e.g. run, hike, lift weights, play sports) that will reduce pain, improve strength and body resilience, and oftentimes reverse the concerning findings on an MRI.
Our bodies are remarkably adaptive and resilient. They are not broken and in need of “fixing” through surgery and medicine. They often simply need movement.
“Abnormal” Finding Are Normal and Not a Problem
If you receive an MRI on your low back tomorrow, there is a decent chance it will show multiple levels of disc bulges (called herniation), arthritis, decreased space (stenosis), and bone spurs (osteophytes). These “abnormal” findings on an MRI are quite normal. Our bodies degenerate over time; it is a part of life. Most patients with symptoms have normal MRI reports while a significant portion of patients without symptoms (asymptomatic) have “ abnormal reports.” This is not exclusive to the low back. Imaging studies on the neck, shoulder, hip, ankle, knee and show similar findings. MRIs routinely show degeneration of cartilage in the knee, hips, and ankles or runners, yet they are pain-free.
Psychosocial factors, including anxiety, depression, attitudes and beliefs, social context, or work status may all play an important role in the pain experience. We don’t simply have ‘pain fibers’ that are turned on and off. While we do have nociceptors, which have often been misclassified as ‘pain fibers’, they are influenced by many psychosocial influences and are not the only source of a pain stimulus. Degeneration occurs with aging and often the findings on an MRI do not need to be addressed with external means (medication, injections, surgery). Instead, allow your body to improve through exercise. The hyperfocus on the findings is often what worsens the pain.
What about the inherent strength of our body? Even if we don’t have pain, does arthritis and degeneration mean we are vulnerable and should avoid exercise? No.
Studies are clear that exercise and activity are the best medicine for bones, joints, and cartilage health. Regardless of your age, moderate and high-intensity exercise are both appropriate and recommended. Weight-bearing activity won’t make your knees or your back worse. Over time, your body will adapt to the stresses it is put through. Yes, there will be occasional cases of severe cases following traumatic events when imaging and subsequent surgery may be warranted, such as ACL tears or spinal fracture. Imaging may also be useful in cases of serious medical pathology, such as finding a tumor. But for the majority of people, imaging is not needed or helpful.
MRI’s may be harmful to care
Receiving an MRI is oftentimes more harmful than beneficial. Receiving an MRI as a first-line assessment can lead to poorer outcomes for patients with low back pain. The MRI causes fear-avoidance behaviors as patients are scared to move, fearing movement will cause further “damage”. In reality, lack of movement often intensifies symptoms and delays recovery. Advanced imaging adds anywhere from roughly $2,500 to $4,800 in additional costs to the total bill for treating back or neck pain. These costs come through unnecessary additional tests, medication prescription, injections, delayed physical therapy, lost time at work, and surgery. If instead, the first-line approach was to encourage movement, unnecessary treatments (medication and surgery) could be avoided.
I do not want you to think tissue damage is irrelevant. If you cut your finger or tear a muscle, you will more than likely feel pain and the injury will take time to recover. That recovery however will occur naturally with gradual increase in inactivity. Furthermore, the damage is only a small piece of the pain puzzle.
If MRI’s Don’t Explain Pain, What Does?
Our emotional status and history of pain can significantly impact our pain experiences as well. This is a primary reason why chronic pain is so prevalent and difficult to treat. When we experience pain for a prolonged period — that is, beyond the duration of normal healing — our nervous system is hypersensitive. Other stressors such as poor or insufficient sleep, poor dietary habits, inactivity, other medical conditions, and…well, stress (for example, racking up six-figures of debt for school, living with kids who think sleep is optional, being a Miami Dolphins fan, and other completely random things I know nothing about), can lead to a heightened pain response. This causes traditional treatment approaches — such as surgery and medication — to be ineffective as they fail to treat the nervous system and the multiple factors contributing to the pain.
What does this mean for you? The next time your doctor prescribes an MRI, ask why you need it. If there are no signs of serious pathologies, such as cancer or infection, then an MRI is not needed. Most acute pain resolves on its own within a couple of weeks and is the result of overstressing the body. Some rest (not bed rest) and a gradual increase in activity will result in a full recovery. If you are worried about causing injury or returning to activity too quickly, consult with a local physical therapist to develop a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan.
MRIs can be scary. Tears and degeneration give the message that we are broken. Even if we don’t have pain we fear that we will never be as active as prior to the “damage.” The research simply doesn't support that idea. When we worry about our bodies being broken, we stop being active, which will lead to detrimental effects.
One of the best things you can do for your body is to be active. Don’t let an image of your bones and joints tell you otherwise. Pain is far more complex than changes on a scan. Being active will not create more damage to our spines; it will help us. Exercise and activity make us stronger and more resilient. In the end, focus on your activity level, diet, sleep, and mental health. In most cases, you can skip the MRI.
コメント