As advanced imaging is getting more affordable and available, it is important to point out a few things about your most recent MRI. In the last several years, more doctors have utilized both X-rays and MRI’s to better help explain away why a patient is having specific symptoms; both in the neck and lower back. Studies have shown, however, that a certain degree of degeneration is normal. When using this technology on an asymptomatic subject, or someone who has no complaints of neck or lower back pain, images show that even 30% patients in their 20’s will show at least 1 disc bulge. When we get past the age of 50, we see a rise in this number to at least 60% and the degree of degeneration starts to rise. Finally, 77% of patients over the age of 70 will show at least 1 disc bulge and signs of degeneration in people with no symptoms what-so-ever.
Continue reading “Teach Me Tuesdays – Bulges and Degeneration”
