08/09/2026
Your MRI might not tell the whole story…
You can have disc bulges, degeneration, and arthritis on your scan and feel completely fine.
So what does that mean for back pain?
A large study looked at MRI results in pain-free people across all age groups and here’s what they found:
✅ Disc Degeneration
• 37% of 20-year-olds
• 80% of 50-year-olds
• 96% of 80-year-olds
✅ Disc Protrusion
• Found in over 30% of people aged 30–50
• Often present with no symptoms at all
✅ Facet Joint Osteoarthritis
• Common after age 40
• Seen in over 50% of pain-free adults over 60
Just because these things show up on a scan, doesn’t mean they’re the cause of your pain.
These are often normal, age-related changes, like wrinkles on the inside.
Pain doesn’t equal Damage
Pain is your brain’s response to many factors, including:
• Stress
• Sleep
• Movement habits
• Previous injuries
So what can we trust?
✔️ Movement & strength
✔️ Education about pain
✔️ Posture & load management
✔️ Support from your physio
A good assessment and the right rehab plan is far more valuable than relying on a scan alone.
📞 Book an appointment at The Physio Barn today if you need advice.
