“Should I Get an X-Ray or MRI?”
Sometimes, when we have a pain in a muscle or a joint, the immediate reaction tends to be “get an x-ray or an MRI to see what’s going on in there.” But is that really necessary, or even the best way to go? Especially, when dealing with some kind of chronic or persistent pain, imaging or scans have unintended consequences. Sometimes, those scans and tests may increase anxiety or stress about the pain. So when answering the question should I get an x-ray or MRI for pain?, the answer is: “It depends.”
Here’s a video of an interview I did a couple years ago with Bronnie Thompson, OT, PhD about taking a Biopsychosocial Approach to pain and pain management.
MRIs & X-rays Don’t Always Reveal “The Problem”
What happens if the scan comes back negative?
What if it doesn’t show a fracture, bone injury, or soft tissue injury?
Well, research shows that, if the scan comes back “normal”, most people begin to think, “they must have missed something!” A negative scan doesn’t change the person’s fundamental belief that something is wrong in their body. What we also know from the research, when someone has a scan, the potential is that we find something. I mean, if you’re over the age of 30, odds are that you’ve at least got some arthritis in a joint or two. But, what often happens is that, people who get those MRIs or X-rays are more likely to have surgical or invasive procedures.
So why do so many people get MRIs and X-rays even though that might not be the best thing for them? Well, often times it results from doctors and medical professionals feeling pressure. Pressure to “not miss something” or to provide treatment or help a patient leads many clinicians to recommend imaging. We need to understand that there is no “pain” scan.
No scan Shows Pain
They show structural, or anatomical, issues that may cause pain; but they may also not cause any pain. The problem is that these scans may show something that can be treated, injected, or surgically repaired; but those scans don’t show the pain experience and what it’s having on you. It’s a conversation that gets overlooked in healthcare. The question we should ask is: “Will the findings from this scan change what we do next?” If the answer is, “yes”, then we should get that scan done. If the answer is “no”, then having that scan will only increase the cost of care, delay the time of treatment, and may even have negative affects like increasing the likelihood of invasive procedures.
Summary
Sometimes, it’s better to have a conversation with your clinician about whether an MRI or X-ray will change the course of treatment. Not only do scans like MRIs and X-rays cost money, but sometimes, they fail to find “the reason” behind the pain you may be experiencing. That’s why it makes sense to have a conversation with your clinician and ask “will the results of this scan change the way we treat my pain?” If the answer is “yes”, then it may make sense to do the scan. if not, then it may be better to try less expensive approach to managing pain first.
And, if you are experiencing pain and want to try non-surgical treatment first, schedule an appointment online with us at ProActive.
