Does Your Lumbar MRI or X-ray Really Matter?

When Sandra first came into our office, she was terrified.

Her doctor had ordered an MRI after a few weeks of nagging back pain. The report came back with all the “scary” words: disc herniation, degenerative changes, arthritis.

She told me, “It feels like my back is falling apart. I don’t even want to play with my kids anymore because I’m scared I’ll make it worse.”

Here’s the thing: Sandra’s story isn’t rare.

Why “Scary” MRI Results Don’t Always Mean Much

Imaging often shows things that sound alarming, but don’t actually explain your pain. In fact, studies show:

• By age 20, about 1 in 3 people already have disc bulges on MRI.

• By age 50, it’s more than half.

• By age 80, almost everyone has “degeneration.”

And guess what? Most of those people feel totally fine.

So when Sandra’s MRI showed changes, it didn’t mean her back was broken. It meant she was a normal human being, just like the rest of us.

How Imaging Can Make Back Pain Worse

The problem is what happens after you see those words on paper.

Sandra started avoiding movement. She stopped picking up her kids. She worried every time she bent forward. And with every step of fear, her pain got worse.

That’s not because her spine was “damaged.” It’s because her brain and body were caught in a loop of fear and tension.

This is what we see all the time: imaging can accidentally fuel back pain instead of solve it.

When Imaging Actually Helps

Now don’t get me wrong—MRIs and X-rays have their place.

They’re useful when there are red flags: sudden weakness, loss of bowel/bladder control, history of cancer, or unexplained weight loss. They’re also helpful when surgery is on the table or when conservative care hasn’t helped.

But for everyday low back pain? Movement, reassurance, and a plan you can trust almost always do more than a scan.

The Takeaway

Sandra didn’t need surgery. She didn’t need injections. What she needed was education, guided movement, and a reminder that her back was strong and resilient.

Within weeks, she was back on the floor playing with her kids—something she thought was gone forever.

And that’s the point: your MRI or X-ray is just one piece of the puzzle. It doesn’t tell your whole story.

At Momentum Spine and Sport, we help people like Sandra every day—people who are tired of feeling broken, scared, and limited by what a scan says.

If you’ve been told your back looks “degenerative,” or you feel stuck after an MRI, book a Free Discovery Session. Let’s cut through the fear and get you moving again.