Don't let that MRI scare you... We are way more than what our imaging report says

As a physically active human,

you probably understand the importance of maintaining health and fitness throughout your life. Whether you enjoy running, weightlifting, or playing kickball with your kids, you likely know that injuries can occur and proper treatment is essential for a full recovery.

One of the most common areas of pain we treat here at Natural Wellness is the low back. Multiple studies have shown that 80 percent of adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. That’s a huge number of folks.

So, hypothetically speaking, let’s say you have low back pain. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new injury or chronic pain you’ve been struggling with for years. You just got an MRI on the advice of your family physician. It shows a mild disc herniation in your low back. FINALLY. Your back pain is solved. Right? Well, not quite.

The truth is a large portion of the population is walking around with a disc herniation right now AND they have NO pain.

So, what does this mean? Well, while imaging (MRI, x-rays, etc.) can be a great tool to rule out some big scary stuff, oftentimes the pain you are experiencing has nothing to do with what might show up on your images. Imaging is not always necessary and can sometimes lead us down a long frustrating treatment path full of injections and unnecessary surgeries.

Here’s why:

We are way more than what our imaging report says.

That MRI is not able to show us all the muscle weaknesses, inflammation, and mobility deficits that are actually causing your pain.

It’s also important to note that pain is multifactorial. Increased pain does not equal tissue damage. Things like poor nutrition, lack of sleep, emotional stress, etc. all impact our body’s perception of pain.

So, before you go get a series of injections or that potentially unnecessary surgery to solve a “problem” that’s not actually causing your pain… give us a call or text! (316-290-9158)

We even offer free 20-minute discovery sessions. We care about your goals and want to get you back to doing the activities you love, pain-free.

Tags:

mindset, wellness, preventative care, mobility, Dr. Allison, strength training, pain relief, back pain, injury

Post by Dr. Allison Bullinger, PT, DPT
Apr 11, 2023 4:00:00 PM

Allison received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Wichita State University (2022) after completing her undergrad in Kinesiology at Kansas State University. Working as a CNA throughout her undergrad program, she saw first hand the life-long struggles that people faced with their health and wellness. "I was motivated to get people healthy and stay that way throughout their lives. It pains me to see people struggle and feel like they're just extending their life. I want to help people improve their quality of life and thrive." Allison takes a nuanced approach to client care and focuses on the mental as much as the physical. "I have the chance to help clients feel stronger and more confident in their body; Help them understand how resilient and capable they really are!" Allison is AAMT Dry Needling Certified and has a diverse range of manual therapy training in her tool kit. Outside of seeing clients, Allison spends her time doing water sports, running and spending every opportunity outside. She tries to stay involved in the community and support local small businesses.