Do I Need an X-Ray or MRI for Lower Back Pain? A Chiropractor’s Honest Answer

Do I Need an X-Ray or MRI for Lower Back Pain? A Chiropractor’s Honest Answer

Most people with lower back pain do not need an X-ray or MRI.
Scans are only helpful when specific red flags are present or when symptoms don’t improve with appropriate care.
Do I need an X-ray or MRI for my lower back pain?

In most cases, no.
Scans rarely change the treatment plan for everyday lower back pain.

This surprises most people.
But decades of research show imaging is often unnecessary for common back pain.

Why?

Because most back pain is:

Mechanical –