It is common for most doctors to advise imaging tests like MRI or X-ray to determine the cause of back pain. These are useful if your problem is due to a structural issue in the spine. But, most back pain cases are mechanical in nature. In such cases, imaging tests like MRI & X-rays fail to show you the complete picture.

MRI & X-ray images cannot distinguish between subtypes of back pain and chronic issues. MRI findings do not match with the intensity of pain and disability in case of discogenic back pain. Interpretive errors by radiologists make these reports extremely subjective which, can directly impact the diagnosis, treatment and clinical outcomes. These are only a few of the many shortcomings of referring to imaging tests as the primary mode of diagnosis.