This is part 2 in a 4 part series regarding myths and truths about low back pain. You may feel some challenges or biases come up if you haven’t heard these statements before. It is ok to challenge your mindset and look at various perspectives.
Myth #2: My MRI from 3 years ago said I have a bulging disc and that is why I have pain.
Things to ponder:
- You may have had the bulging disc for years prior to the MRI and it may not be the actual cause of the pain.
- Acute injuries heal in 6-8 weeks (unless there is a complication) so there are other reasons why you may have pain 3 years later such as muscle imbalances, stress, hormonal changes, lack of sleep, change in diet, trauma, etc.
- MRI evidence of a bulging disc does not reliabily predict low back pain in the future or correlate with symptoms: 19-27% of people without low back pain symptoms have a bulging disc on imaging.