We combine hands-on treatment, expert rehabilitation, and a personalised, patient-first approach. Join us at Motion to start your road to recovery today.
When your back is painful, particularly if it’s been bothering you for a while, it’s understandable to want answers.
You might be wondering whether you’ve slipped a disc, damaged something in your spine or developed a problem that won’t improve without treatment.
And naturally, one question often comes up:
“Wouldn’t it be better to just get an MRI and see what’s going on?”
It’s a reasonable question.
But the reality is that an MRI isn’t always necessary, and having one doesn’t automatically mean you’ll get a clearer answer about your pain.
What does an MRI actually show?
An MRI scan produces detailed images of structures within your body, including the discs, nerves, bones and other tissues around your spine.
It can be extremely useful when there’s a specific clinical reason to investigate further.
For example, it may help identify nerve compression, certain injuries or other conditions that require medical attention.
But there’s an important distinction between finding something on a scan and finding what’s actually causing your symptoms.
Your MRI might show changes that aren’t causing pain.
This is something we regularly discuss with patients.
Research has shown that spinal changes such as disc degeneration, disc bulges and other age-related findings are common in people who don’t experience back pain at all.
In other words, someone can have an MRI showing several changes in their spine and feel absolutely fine.
That doesn’t mean MRI findings are irrelevant. Some findings are important, particularly when they match someone’s symptoms and clinical examination.
But a scan needs to be interpreted alongside the person, not in isolation.
Your MRI tells us what your spine looks like. It doesn’t always tell us why you’re hurting.
So why wouldn’t everyone with back pain get a scan?
For most people experiencing uncomplicated lower back pain, routine imaging isn’t recommended.
That’s because an MRI often doesn’t change how the problem should initially be managed.
Clinical guidelines, including those from NICE, recommend against routinely offering spinal imaging in non-specialist settings for lower back pain unless there’s a reason to suspect a more serious condition or the results are likely to change management in an appropriate specialist setting.
Unnecessary scans can also create worry.
Imagine being told you have a “degenerative disc” or “disc bulge” without understanding how common those findings are.
It’s easy to assume your back is damaged or fragile, even when that isn’t necessarily the case.
That fear can sometimes become another barrier to getting back to normal movement and activity.
When might an MRI be useful?
There are situations where imaging is appropriate.
These may include:
Symptoms suggesting a serious underlying spinal condition.
Significant or progressive neurological problems.
Persistent nerve-related symptoms where specialist treatment is being considered.
Suspected fractures, infection or other conditions requiring further investigation.
Situations where a specialist believes imaging will help guide the next stage of care.
The decision should be based on your symptoms, medical history and examination findings rather than simply how long your back has been painful.
Some symptoms, including new bladder or bowel dysfunction, saddle numbness or severe progressive neurological changes, require emergency assessment rather than waiting for a routine MRI referral.
What if I’ve already had an MRI showing a disc bulge?
First, don’t panic.
A disc bulge doesn’t automatically mean you need surgery, and it doesn’t mean you should stop exercising or avoid using your back.
Many people with disc-related symptoms improve with appropriate conservative management.
What’s important is understanding whether the scan findings relate to your symptoms and what they mean for your individual situation.
We’ll consider your scan report alongside your history and physical assessment, rather than allowing one line on a report to define your recovery.
What can Physiotherapy do without a scan?
Quite a lot.
A thorough clinical assessment can help identify patterns in your symptoms, assess movement and neurological function, and determine whether your presentation is appropriate for rehabilitation or needs further investigation.
From there, we can help you work towards the things your back pain has been stopping you from doing.
That might include:
Finding ways to manage painful movements.
Gradually restoring mobility and strength.
Building tolerance for sitting, standing or lifting.
Returning to the gym, running or sport.
Understanding flare-ups and how to manage them.
The most useful starting point is often not a picture of your spine, but a conversation about your symptoms and what you want to get back to.
Getting answers without unnecessary worry
If you’ve been struggling with back pain, you deserve to understand what’s happening.
Sometimes an MRI is an important part of that process. Other times, a good clinical assessment and a clear rehabilitation plan are a more useful first step.
At Motion, we’ll always be honest about what we think is happening, what we can help with and when further medical investigation may be appropriate.
Not sure what to do about your back pain?
Book an Initial Assessment at Motion Injury Clinic in Blackpool. We’ll listen, assess your symptoms and help you understand your options.
Once your symptoms are settling, rehabilitation can progress towards the specific demands of the activity you’re returning to.
That might involve strength, running, jumping, landing, lifting, changing direction or other movements relevant to your goal.
Feeling better is an important first step.
We want to help you get back to actually doing the thing you’ve been missing.
Not necessarily.
Depending on the problem, completely stopping everything may not be required.
We can help you understand what you can continue doing, what may need temporarily adapting and how to gradually build back towards your normal activity.
Wear something comfortable that allows us to appropriately assess the area that’s bothering you.
For example, shorts can be useful when assessing the hip, knee, ankle or lower leg, while a vest or suitable top may make assessing the shoulder easier.
Don’t worry if you’re coming straight from work or don’t have anything specific. We’ll work around you as much as possible.
Yes, where we think it may be useful.
Hands-on treatment can form part of your plan, particularly when we’re trying to help settle symptoms or get you moving more comfortably.
But it won’t automatically be the answer to every problem.
We want everything we do to have a purpose and, where appropriate, use that improvement as a starting point for getting you moving and building back up.
An Initial Assessment lasts approximately 45 minutes, giving us time to understand your symptoms, carry out an appropriate assessment, explain our findings and discuss what happens next.
