One of the most common things I hear from patients is:

“My MRI showed degenerative disc disease and arthritis, so I guess there is nothing I can do about it.”

While those findings are extremely common, they don’t always mean what people think they mean.

A recent patient success story is a great example.

This patient came in with significant low back pain that had been limiting daily activities for several months. They had to take days of work, found it difficult to pick their grandson off the floor, and were frankly miserable in their body. They had previously undergone imaging that showed degenerative disc disease and arthritis in the lumbar spine.

Like many people, they assumed those findings were the reason they were hurting.

The problem is that imaging findings and symptoms don’t always tell the same story.

In fact, many people have degenerative disc disease, arthritis, disc bulges, and other age-related changes on imaging without experiencing any pain at all.

I’ve seen patients in their 30s with significant degenerative changes who feel great.

I’ve also seen patients in their 70s with similar findings who remain active, walk daily, play golf, travel, and live without back pain.

The presence of degeneration on an MRI does not automatically mean you are destined for pain.

During this patient’s evaluation, we found several issues that were much more relevant than what was written on the imaging report.

There were significant mobility restrictions, weakness throughout the hips and core, reduced tolerance to everyday movements, and a general fear of movement that had developed after being told their back was “degenerating.”

Rather than focusing on the MRI, treatment focused on the person standing in front of us.

We worked on improving mobility, restoring strength, increasing confidence with movement, and gradually building the body’s capacity to tolerate everyday activities again.

Over time, the patient’s pain improved, movement became easier, and activities that previously seemed impossible became manageable again.

Did the arthritis disappear?

No.

Did the degenerative disc disease magically reverse?

No.

But the patient got better anyway.

That’s an important lesson.

The goal is not always to change what an MRI looks like.

The goal is to improve how you feel, how you move, and what you’re able to do.

Too often, people are told that degeneration means they should expect worsening pain, injections, or surgery.

While those interventions may be appropriate in some situations, they are far from the only options.

For many people, the answer is improving mobility, building strength, increasing activity tolerance, and addressing the factors that are actually contributing to their symptoms.

If you’ve been told you have degenerative disc disease or arthritis in your spine, don’t panic.

Those findings are incredibly common.

More importantly, they do not automatically determine your future.

Your MRI is part of the story.

It is not the entire story.

See how we can help change your story - book an appointment through our online scheduler linked here.