It was a shock to me when I first learned the full story…
It was a shock to me when I first learned the full story.
Did you know that MRI scans have been the gold-standard
for imaging since the 80s?
Especially for imaging soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, organs and the brain.
MRI scans are still ideal for many severe pathologies,
such as a full-blown herniated disc in the low back
and the MRI scan is often a helpful indicator of when surgery is needed.
But when it comes to everyday injuries and aches and pains that stop us from living a full life
it's not quite the full story.
It's this story that opened my eyes.
Since MRIs were first available and someone had severe back pain
they would get a scan and often see a disc bulge.
The doctor would then explain that this bulge is the reason for the pain.
Sounds logical, right??
It took about 10 years until a bright researcher named Jensen*
thought to MRI scan people who have had no back pain.
The surprise came when they saw people who had no pain with disc bulges,
nearly as many people as those who have disc bulges and back pain!
"...the discovery by MRI of bulges or protrusions in people with low back pain may frequently be coincidental." –Jensen*
What a shock.
What to make of these 'pain-causing problems' in people with no pain?!
It made me think,
does it make sense to rely on the image of the disc bulge as a reason for the pain, stiffness, weakness etc.?
More recently, researchers have shown similar results for hip, knee, and shoulder scans.
In fact, one study showed in people who have had no shoulder pain, 96% of MRI scans showed some problems to report.
So, when can we rely on MRI results showing us the problem and when are they showing us something 'normal'?
I never got a satisfying answer from my physiotherapy training and the medical world to this dilemma.
Thankfully, I got the answers I need in neuroscience!
It's the nervous system that can tell us where the Main Problem is located in our bodies.
Sometimes our nervous system confirms the problem shown on the MRI is the Main Problem causing the pain
and sometimes our nervous system confirms the Main Problem is located somewhere else in the body.
So, what's neuroscience all about?
Sensitised nerve endings and problematic muscle firing
are a result of the nervous system reacting to problems in our bodies.
The way this reaction happens is the neuroscience–the software.
At Youngify we test the nervous system's reactions to movement in our bodies,
these reactions tell us where the Main Problem is.
We have problems in our bodies that develop when we have unhelpful posture or movement habits or poor recovery from old injuries.
The nervous system protects the worst of this–the Main Problem.
No scan like MRI, X-Ray, Ultrasound etc. can see the nervous system protecting.
And, when treatment relieves the Main Problem the nervous system creates full movement and no pain.
This happens even when the MRI still shows a disc bulge, muscle tear or ligament tear.
And when we aren't making rapid progress at Youngify we refer for MRI scans in case they are able to reveal the Main Problem.
If you, or someone you know, has a scan they would like to understand better,
or are wondering if they should get a scan for their physical problem
I offer a free call to discuss details and explain options.
Click on this link to book a free call: https://www.youngify.com.au/book-a-free-call
You are welcome to read more information about neuroscience with pain and injury at this page: https://www.youngify.com.au/neuroscience
Don't hesitate to ask us any questions about MRI scans, pathology, or causes of pain.
*https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8208267/