Why scans and X-rays can mislead back pain diagnosis

If you’re experiencing back pain, it’s natural to seek clear answers.

Modern medical imaging, including X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, often appears to offer definitive explanations for your symptoms. Seeing an image of your spine can feel reassuring, providing what seems to be tangible evidence of the cause of your discomfort.

However, research increasingly demonstrates that imaging findings do not always correlate with pain.