Do Not Fear MRI Results

A bad diagnoses from an MRI can feel like the kiss of death. You mean I have bulging discs between three vertebrae? Wow, of course I’m in pain! There’s no way I can fix that! Terms like bulging disc, slipped disc, annular tear or seeing these injuries on your MRI can feel overwhelming and scary. It’s easy to conclude the worst: that you’ll never heal or you’re permanently damaged.

However, this is simply not the case. MRI results do not predestine you for terrible pain. Recent research has shown that a large percentage of adults have “bulging” discs but do not feel any pain. In fact, some people can have large disc ruptures with little or no pain while some people have very small tears with a lot of pain. How is that possible? Pain is produced in the nervous system, not the actually structures of our body like vertebrae or discs. Just because a disc is pressing against a nerve does not guarantee that the nervous system will produce pain.

There are so many other factors that affect someone’s pain including lifestyle, nutrition, stress, mood, body mechanics and sleep quality. If you have bulging discs or something similar on your MRI do not despair! You still have a lot of control over your life. You can control how you live, eat, move and build relationships with others. Oftentimes, spending too much mental energy worrying about your MRI can cause more stress which can lead to pain!

Instead, focus your time and energy into making your body the most functional and fit it can be. Discs can heal over time if you take care of your body in a holistic way. Your MRI does not define who you are or what your future will be. And remember, MRI’s do not always show where the pain is coming from!