Patients that enter a medical clinic complaining of back pain sometimes end up getting numerous types of scans done on them. The doctor may order an MRI scan, x-ray scan, or any other type of scanning technology on the person's back in order to determine what the problem is.
Are Back Scans Harmful?
Back scans can actually produce more harm than benefit in certain cases. Scientists working at Oregon Health and Science University observed that a patient pool of nearly 2000 people that complained of lower back pain underwent scans, did not show to have a lesser occurrence of depression, anxiety, or even lesser amounts of pain.
The New York Times reported this on February 6, 2009. In fact, people that receive medical scans pertaining to their back may end up more uncomfortable and experiencing more pain than prior to receiving medical scans.
According to the journal Lancet, patients that receive specific back pain scans can sometimes experience symptoms that they never experienced before. The study has demonstrated that about half of the patients who see a doctor due to excessive back pain receive some form of medical imaging and scanning for their backs.
Approximately 30% of all adults experience back pain at some point in their lives, and back pain accounts for the second most common complaint of people who visit their medical doctor.
What do Back Scans Show?
Some scientists believe that back scans portray problems in a person’s back that don’t even exist. This may come as startling news to many who have been relying on imaging and scanning technology to figure out what is causing their back pains. In addition, these problems really don't cause any long-term abnormalities of the back to begin with.
The New England Journal of Medicine tested 98 people who have no history of back pain and put them though MRI scans. These folks returned from the testing with reports that demonstrated serious anatomical back abnormalities.
Even though degenerative discs and arthritis are very common in society today, Dr. Roger Chou of Oregon Health and Science University stated that these issues are rarely related to lower back pain.
In February 2008, The Journal of the American Medical Association reported consumers in the United States that are spending loads of money on spinal treatments are increasing in number. However, in recent years, a number of back-related problems that these people are complaining about have also been increasing. Spending in the United States for back imaging neared $85 billion in 2005, a significant rise from 1997.
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