Back Pain Treatment: Is My Problem Related to a Herniated Disc?

Answer… In most cases, probably not.

It’s sad, but true. Many doctors, physical therapists, and chiropractors base their back pain treatment choices solely on the findings of x-ray or MRI studies. However, not counting fractures or tumors as a source of low back pain, the diagnostic evidence to conclusively tell whether or not the vertebral disc is the source of a patient’s problem is very weak.

Imaging studies on “normal” (no back pain symptoms) populations suggests that as high as 85% of people have some diagnostic evidence of a herniated or bulging disc. This one fact alone causes me to “push back from the table” when considering the disc as the source of my patients’ low back pain.

What i look for are correlations.

MRI evidence of a herniated disc and reported symptoms of leg pain mean little to me.

But… MRI evidence of disc herniation, diminished reflexes, decreased strength, and leg pain - now that gets my attention.

Bottom line; in the absence of specific corroborating clinical signs, the chances of your problem being related solely to the disc is quite small. Fact is that even if your low back pain was related to a herniated disc, there’s a 90% chance you won’t ever need surgery.

If, that is, you treat the underlying cause of the problem.

The Erase Your Back Pain program uncovers most causes of low back pain and, more importantly, a way to treat it - FAST!

How fast? Find out here ==> No More Back Pain!

Dedicated to Erasing Your Back Pain,