What Your MRI Results Didn’t Tell You About Your Pain

AJ Kirkpatrick, PT, DPT
21 hours ago
4 min read

If you’ve ever had pain, whether it is back pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, or anything in between, you may have been told to get an MRI. And while imaging can be helpful in specific situations, there’s something most people don’t realize:

MRIs rarely explain why you’re in pain.

In fact, research consistently shows that MRIs often reveal findings that don’t match symptoms, don’t predict pain, and don’t determine recovery outcomes. Many age-related “abnormalities” are completely normal, even in people with zero pain.

At Kinetik Performance and Rehab, we regularly see patients who were told their MRI shows something “wrong,” yet their pain resolves with the right manual therapy, movement correction, and strengthening—not surgery, injections, or long-term rest.

Let’s break down why MRI findings can be misleading and what really matters when it comes to diagnosing and treating your pain.

Normal MRI Findings That Sound Scary — But Aren’t

MRIs are extremely sensitive. They pick up every wrinkle, every change, every imperfection, even those that are harmless and normal for your age.

Common “concerning” findings that are very common and are often not related to your pain:

Herniated or bulging discs
Degenerative disc disease
Arthritis or joint space narrowing
Meniscus tears (especially in adults over 40)
Rotator cuff fraying
Labral changes
Tendon thickening
Mild stenosis

These are present in a huge percentage of people without pain.

MRI reports often describe these findings using medical language that sounds alarming, but in most cases these are normal age-related changes, just like wrinkles on the skin.

Pain Is About Function, Not Images

Pain almost always depends on:

How a joint moves
How muscles are activating
How forces travel through your body
How you compensate during daily tasks
How your tissues respond to load
Stress, sleep, recovery, and inflammation

An MRI can’t tell you any of these things.

That’s why two people with the same MRI might have completely different levels of pain—or no pain at all.

At our clinic, we emphasize movement assessment, hands-on treatment, and strength restoration because these reflect the true drivers of pain and healing.

Why MRI Findings Often Don’t Match Your Symptoms

1. The location of the finding isn’t the location of the pain

Someone may show a disc bulge on the right side, but have pain running down the left leg. Or the MRI might show arthritis, yet the joint itself isn’t the real source of pain.

2. The finding may be old

Many MRI “pathologies” occur slowly over time. Your pain may be caused by a recent movement pattern change—not the 10-year-old disc bulge.

3. MRIs don’t measure inflammation, mechanics, or compensation

You may have:

A tight hip causing knee overload
A stiff ankle causing foot pain
Weak glutes causing low back pain
Poor scapular control causing shoulder pain

None of this shows up on an MRI.

4. MRIs can create fear that actually increases pain

Studies show that scary-sounding reports may increase sensitivity and reduce confidence in movement, making symptoms worse—even when nothing dangerous is happening.

When MRI Is Helpful

There are situations where imaging is important:

Traumatic injuries with suspected fracture
Unexplained severe weakness
Loss of bowel/bladder control
Progressive neurological deficits
Suspicion of infection or tumor

If you fall into any of these categories, imaging may be appropriate. But for the vast majority of orthopedic pain, a skilled physical therapist can diagnose and treat you more effectively than an MRI can.

What Actually Helps You Get Better

1. Hands-on manual therapy

At Kinetik Performance and Rehab, every session includes manual treatment to improve:

Joint mobility
Soft tissue quality
Nerve mobility
Muscle activation
Movement symmetry

This sets the foundation for meaningful change.

2. Movement pattern correction

We look at how you move—not just where it hurts—to identify the root cause.

3. Progressive strengthening

The most effective long-term solution for nearly every orthopedic condition is strength. Tendons, discs, ligaments, and cartilage respond positively to load.

4. Treating the root cause—not the MRI result

Your pain may come from a movement dysfunction, not a structural issue.That’s why personalized assessment is crucial.

Why Patients Come to Us After Their MRI Didn’t Help

Many patients come to Kinetik Performance and Rehab after they were told:

“Your MRI looks normal.”
“Your MRI shows a problem, but surgery isn’t recommended.”
“Just rest for a few weeks.”
“Try these exercises at home.”

And still, they continue hurting.

Once we address the actual driver—mobility, motor control, strength deficits, tissue irritation, or compensations—they improve quickly.

Often the MRI findings become irrelevant.

The Bottom Line: Your MRI Doesn’t Define You

An MRI is a snapshot, not a diagnosis. Your pain is not a picture—it’s a movement problem, a tissue irritability issue, or a load-management challenge.

And that’s exactly what high-quality physical therapy solves.