Posts Tagged ‘Disc injury’

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 –

Lower back pain

Most lower back pain is caused by a combination of irritated joints, tight or weak muscles and poor movement habits—not serious damage.
The key is identifying which tissues are overloaded, why it started and what’s keeping it stuck.
What is actually causing my lower back pain?

Lower back pain rarely comes from one single cause.
It’s usually a mix of mechanical stress, tissue irritation and reduced movement quality.

The most common drivers I see in clinic include:

Muscle overload or spasm
Joint stiffness or irritation
Disc-related irritation
Nerve pressure
Poor load and posture management
Accumulated wear and tear

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