What Is The Truth
MRI + Spine
Just because an MRI shows disc degeneration doesn't mean it is causing pain. And when there is back pain and an MRI shows disc deterioration doesn't mean the deterioration is the cause of the pain. Many healthy pain free individuals show disc degeneration when imaged. It is a normal part of the aging process and isn't always the cause of back pain.
What The Research Shows
If you were to round up 100 people with an average age of 45, with no history of back pain, and were to do MRI's of the lumbar spine on all of them, these are the results.
Disc Bulges
Disc Protusions
Disc Extrusions
A systematic review indicates that many imaging findings of degenerative spine disease have a high prevalence among asymptomatic individuals.