24/08/2026
MRI SHOWS A DISC BULGE — BUT IS IT REALLY THE CAUSE OF YOUR BACK PAIN?
If you’ve ever been told after an MRI that you have a bulging disc, disc protrusion or disc degeneration, it’s understandable to feel concerned.
But an interesting thing about MRI scans is that disc changes can also be found in people who have no back pain at all.
So does that mean your MRI isn’t important?
Absolutely not.
An MRI gives us valuable information about the structures in your spine. But the scan needs to be considered alongside what you’re actually experiencing.
For example:
• Where exactly is your pain?
• Does it travel into your buttock or leg?
• Do you have numbness or tingling?
• Have you noticed any weakness?
• Is a nerve being affected?
• Does the location of the MRI finding match your symptoms?
The size of a disc bulge isn’t necessarily the most important factor either.
A smaller disc problem can sometimes cause significant symptoms if it affects a nerve, while a larger disc bulge may cause very little trouble if it isn’t affecting surrounding structures.
The important question isn’t simply “Do I have a disc bulge?”
It’s:
“Does what we see on the MRI actually explain what I’m experiencing?”
Our latest blog takes a closer look at MRI findings, disc bulges, disc degeneration and back pain, and explains why an MRI should be considered as part of the bigger picture.
👉 Read the full article on our website.
[https://myolabbychad.com/chads-blog/f/mri-shows-a-disc-bulge-does-it-really-explain-your-back-pain]
📍 MYO LAB BY CHAD
Myotherapy & Remedial Massage
Mornington Peninsula
This post is for general educational purposes and does not replace individual medical advice.
Having a disc bulge or disc protrusion on an MRI does not necessarily mean that it is the cause of your pain.