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Figuring Out Your True Back Pain Diagnosis

The best back pain treatments in the world won’t do much good if the diagnosis is not correct. In fact, the number one reason for a failed back surgery is because of a wrong diagnosis. Take charge of your back pain by making sure you have the correct diagnosis before you go forward with treatment.

MRI results are not necessarily the diagnosis Always remember, your MRI findings are not necessarily the cause of your back pain or neck pain. Many people over the age of 30 have a spine that is showing some wear and tear, but this does not mean that they are in any pain. Studies have shown that many people with no pain or other symptoms often have some sort of disc problem show up on an MRI scan. In fact, the surgeon will usually know what he or she is looking for (based on your physical exam and medical history) prior to even ordering an MRI scan. The purpose of the MRI scan is mainly to help confirm the diagnosis and to help the surgeon plan the surgery.

Don’t worry too much about terminology Many health practitioners use different diagnostic terms to mean the same thing (such as a slipped disc or herniated disc), or use the same term to mean different things (such as bulging disc, which can refer to degenerative disc disease or a herniated disc). There is little agreement in the medical field as to the precise definition of any of these terms. If you hear your diagnosis referred to in different terms by different practitioners, you may question what the real diagnosis is. Rather than focusing on the terminology that refers to anatomy, we recommend focusing on the clinical diagnosis – which is the cause of your pain. Causes and treatments for back pain involve a surprisingly complex set of factors, and unfortunately the experts don’t agree on many aspects of back pain. That’s why it’s important that you continue to educate yourself on your own condition and treatment program – as no one is more motivated to manage your condition than you. Finding the exact cause of your pain and the correct way to treat it is the best way to rehabilitate your back.

MRI results are not necessarily the diagnosis Always remember, your MRI findings are not necessarily the cause of your back pain or neck pain. Many people over the age of 30 have a spine that is showing some wear and tear, but this does not mean that they are in any pain. Studies have shown that many people with no pain or other symptoms often have some sort of disc problem show up on an MRI scan. In fact, the surgeon will usually know what he or she is looking for (based on your physical exam and medical history) prior to even ordering an MRI scan. The purpose of the MRI scan is mainly to help confirm the diagnosis and to help the surgeon plan the surgery.

Don’t worry too much about terminology Many health practitioners use different diagnostic terms to mean the same thing (such as a slipped disc or herniated disc), or use the same term to mean different things (such as bulging disc, which can refer to degenerative disc disease or a herniated disc). There is little agreement in the medical field as to the precise definition of any of these terms. If you hear your diagnosis referred to in different terms by different practitioners, you may question what the real diagnosis is. Rather than focusing on the terminology that refers to anatomy, we recommend focusing on the clinical diagnosis – which is the cause of your pain. Causes and treatments for back pain involve a surprisingly complex set of factors, and unfortunately the experts don’t agree on many aspects of back pain. That’s why it’s important that you continue to educate yourself on your own condition and treatment program – as no one is more motivated to manage your condition than you. Finding the exact cause of your pain and the correct way to treat it is the best way to rehabilitate your back.