A chartered physiotherapist’s perspective
By Paul Bolger. Nano Physiotherapy
MRI scans have been a remarkable addition to modern medicine. They can save lives. Where surgeons previously cut a patient open to examine them, scans can now reveal what lies within.
But scans can be harmful. It’s not because they blast our body with harmful beams (although excessive x-rays are best avoided for this reason). It is because what scans reveal can blast our minds and our thoughts with new concerns, causing us to change the way we see ourselves and affecting our relationship with our body.
MRI scans increase risk of disability
Yes, you read that right – MRI scans are linked to increased disability. Research shows us that having an MRI scan for a bout of back pain has been shown to result in x2-3 greater time off work! This is true regardless of the severity of the injury.
Research tells us that the key driver of this disability is related to a change of beliefs that can arise after having a scan.
Scans reveal lots of seemingly scary results – “degeneration”, “arthritis”, “disc bulges/ herniations”. When some people hear their scan results, they can become fearful. They might restrict their activity levels and become avoidant of certain movements. They believe that every ache, pain, click or crack might mean they are causing more damage. This, however, is not the case.
‘Wrinkles on the inside’
Did you know that, by the age of just 30, 50% of people with NO PAIN have visible ‘disc degeneration’ on an MRI scan. And that by the age of 50, 2 in every 3 people with NO PAIN have a visible disc bulge. It is more normal to have ‘abnormalities’ than to have a ‘normal’ scan.
The people in the above study did not suffer from pain in their back. These so-called abnormalities, while occasionally contributing to pain or discomfort, are positively normal, natural changes that occur as we go through life. An antique dealer might call them ‘kisses of time’. Some leading back pain experts call these findings ‘wrinkles on the inside’.
These ‘abnormalities’ do not correlate well with pain (i.e. having more ‘abnormalities’ does not necessarily mean you will have more pain, and vice versa).
Scans can still be extremely useful – we just need to interpret the findings with more understanding and clarity – a well-informed healthcare practitioner can help.
What can we do about this?
Knowledge is power – we are all different, nobody has a ‘perfect’ body. Change is natural through life. Developing a greater appreciation for this is part of the solution.
Challenge negative beliefs – Pain does not equal damage. Are your scan findings holding you back from the things that you would like to do? Working with an empowering registered physiotherapist can help.
Take control – Keep active, look after your health, spot and challenge negative beliefs. These are all things that we have control over. These are things that we know reduce the risk of disability. These are things we know improve outcomes for those who suffer from pain.
