Are MRI Scans Always Helpful in the Diagnosis of Low Back Pain? | Expert Physio Reviews the Evidence

In this tutorial, we weigh up the evidence for the use of MRI scans in the assessment and diagnosis of uncomplicated lower back pain.

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[idaornstein]

Well explained. Thank you! I’m due to have an MRI on my lower back as I suffer from sciatica pain and now begin to wonder as my orthopedist insists I get one. Despite your emphasis that your video is only for educational purposes, it also conveyed fair warning in a most logical way. I am very grateful.

[AG-wtxk]

This video gave me some hope, absolutely fantastic work. Would love to participate in some research on lower back pain if ever needed.

[rasikarane]

Gold Standard information as usual.. thank you Khalid x

[rajatchawla]

I have lower back pain but my neck also pains and left hand also pains so the reason is back pain ? Please reply

[godx]

I have back pain my doctor recommend to consume shelcal Xt (calcium tablets)
How much time it will take to cure my back pain and my xray report of back is all good what to do pls reply

[MrBmxer]

What can a Mri see that a CT and Bone scan can't see. Also is it responsible to diagnose someone especially a male with fibromyalgia if they haven't got an Mri and haven't ruled everything out?

[chrissytutor]

I'm curious if the reason the mri lead to worse outcomes could instead be due to a different reason. What if the reason the patients who get the MRI have worse results is more due to the process and feeling defeated or discouraged?

For example, my doctor told me they almost always can't get insurance to cover lumbar MRIs without very specific symptoms. Most of the time patients have to either fight or pay out of pocket to get the scan done. Then if they are assigned physical therapy they might go a few times, pay the copay, and afterward their back is even more sore than it was before. So now they are in pain, and have paid for it. Without the MRI the patient would not know for sure what was going on and would be more likely to go to physio therapy and pay a copay. With all the personalised attention they get it has a natural depression relieving effect much the way clinical studies show better outcomes vs observations of anecdotal or statisticaly created data.

[rouisaek]

I have a lower back-pain for 7 years now in constant pain!!! The cause is muscle strain in the lombaire muscle due to a wrong move while working out.

[cassie]

my doctor told me i didnt need to do an mri and i just needed to workout but my spine hurts so much and exercise doesnt help at all, i feel like its making it worse. if i sit for 5 minutes it hurts, if i stand up for 5 minutes it hurts, if i run it hurts, if i walk for 5 minutes it hurts, whatever i do it hurts and just because im young i dont want others to ignore my back problems in case theres sth serious but they dont believe me, my lower back is literally not functional

[bzboi]

SO I HAD A MRI and shows my back is fine but i fell on m, y back after and they are still telling me nothing seems wrong

[littlefishiesinthese]

My physio and doctor didn’t advise me to get an MRI on my lower back until I was well into treatment for lower back / sciatica pain but not making a lot of progress. Turns out a bone spur was to blame! My physio saw the scan and simply said “oh good, so it wasn’t because I was doing a bad job with your treatment or anything” lol

[jameelkhan]

I am having numbness and tingling on the lateral side of my thigh left is greater than right. It does not pass my knees only outer thigh. My chiropractor told me is coming from my L5S1. This numbness is annoying. When I stand for a while or even walk in short distance the lateral thigh gets numb. Please advise.

[rosamackenzie]

Amazing video !!
Could I please request a video on myotomes, dermatomes, reflexes and straight leg raise (key things you do on a lower back assessment) - sometimes it can get confusing trying to fit all the findings to one clinical picture !?

[kansiimebeata]

Am in pain yet the mir scan shows negative results. Yet the x-ray shows a discompating lumbar.

[Mishirahim]

Sir today I did my MRI as I'm suffering from low back pain and also hip joint pain .I'm suffering from IBS D for last 7 months but dr . Didn't ask me about my tummy (intestine).How diarrhoea can effect lower back pain or how it cause hip joint pain ????is there any treatment without medicine????

[gotyou]

I tried decompression stretching etc and nothing has helped at all. Went for mri last week so just waiting for results.

[unknowncolored]

Been dealing with left leg pain for months and MRI came negative lost rn

[nedbressler]

I agree, mri seems ok, but pain for years that came out of blue with injury, got leg stuff too and say not the back, it’s a snapshot

[grantwilding]

Positive mental attitude is coming up more and more as a valuable resource when it comes to 'fixing people'. Thank you Khalid, great video as per usual. Will try to make some of the events on Saturday but not looking likely 😫

[SloopyDog]

MRI reports are only as good as the Specialists who read the scan.