Daily Maestroism

DM #55

Sunday, July 17th, 2016

DM #55: Oh so the MRI of your low back showed some degeneration and some mild disc bulges? So would everyone else's. ?

Whenever my patients ask about getting an MRI immediately, my response is always the same, “Get one if you're hellbent on getting surgery. Otherwise, let's give it some time.” As PTs we're trained to know when to refer out for imaging or when something could possibly require surgical intervention. For everything else, schooling and experience has taught us that treatment would remain the same irrespective of what the imaging showed.
Studies have shown that imaging leads to higher perceived pain and levels of disability, despite the fact that not a single thing physically changed from the time before the MRI to the time the patient got their results.
There is absolutely a time and a place for imaging, but as Gray Cook said, that time is once a diagnosis is suspected, not at the onset of treatment. Patients seem to think that MRIs are these magical creations that show exactly what is going on, what needs to be done, and how long it will take to get better ? That's just not the case. Tissue damage and pain are not synonymous, and the reality is that if you're active and over the age of 18, you're MRI is gonna show SOMETHING. You're alive. Get over it.
As practitioners and providers it's our job to educate our patients about the reality of imaging. Save your money, trust your PT, and give the healing process some time.
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