Your MRI Says One Thing — Your Body Says Another
Why Imaging Doesn’t Always Explain Your Pain
If you’ve ever had an MRI or X-ray and thought, “Well… that explains everything,” you’re not alone.
Imaging can be helpful—but it doesn’t always tell the full story. At Repsher Physical Therapy, we regularly see patients whose scans look alarming, yet they move well and recover quickly. We also see the opposite: people in real pain with “normal” imaging.
So what gives?
What Imaging Is Good At (And What It Isn’t)
MRI and X-ray are excellent at showing structure:
Discs
Bones
Joints
Tendons
What they don’t measure well is:
Pain
Sensitivity
Movement quality
Load tolerance
Pain is an experience created by the nervous system, influenced by many factors—not just what a picture shows.
Common Findings That Sound Worse Than They Are
It’s very common for imaging reports to include terms like:
“Disc bulge”
“Degeneration”
“Arthritis”
“Tears”
Here’s the key point: many of these findings are present in people with no pain at all.
As we age and stay active, changes show up on imaging the same way wrinkles show up on skin. They don’t automatically mean something is “broken” or needs to be fixed.
Why Imaging and Symptoms Don’t Always Match
1. Pain Is About Sensitivity, Not Just Damage
Tissues can be irritated or sensitive without being structurally injured. In these cases, calming the system and restoring movement often matters more than “fixing” anything.
2. The Body Is Strong and Adaptable
The human body is remarkably resilient. Many people function at a high level with findings on imaging that sound severe on paper.
3. Movement Changes Matter More Than Pictures
How you move, load, and recover often tells us more than an MRI ever could. Two people with identical scans can have completely different symptoms.
When Imaging Is Helpful
Imaging absolutely has a role when:
Symptoms are severe or worsening
There is progressive weakness or neurological change
Trauma or serious pathology is suspected
But imaging should support the clinical picture—not replace it.
What We Focus On Instead
At Repsher Physical Therapy, we prioritize:
How your symptoms behave with movement
What increases or decreases your pain
How your body responds to progressive loading
Restoring confidence in movement
This approach allows us to treat you, not just your MRI report.
The Takeaway
Imaging can provide useful information—but it does not define your recovery.
Your body’s response to movement, strength, and gradual challenge is often the most accurate indicator of progress. When treatment is based on function rather than fear, outcomes improve.
If you’ve been told “this is just how it’s going to be” based on a scan, that may not be the whole story.
