Do I Need An X-Ray?
If you’re dealing with pain, it’s natural to wonder:
“Should I get an x-ray or MRI to find out what’s going on?”
Imaging can be helpful but it’s not always necessary. In fact, most injuries don’t require a scan right away.
Here’s how we decide.
When Imaging Isn’t Needed
Most soft tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains, tendon pain, or back pain, can be diagnosed and treated without imaging.
Why?
Your story (how it happened),
A hands-on physical assessment,
How your body moves and responds to load
… often give us everything we need to make a confident diagnosis and start effective treatment.
In many cases, imaging doesn’t change the plan. It just adds cost and delay.
When It Might Be Helpful
We may refer you for imaging if:
Pain is severe and persistent despite rehab,
There’s suspicion of a fracture, tear, or major structural damage,
You’ve experienced trauma or a fall,
There are red flags like numbness, loss of strength or unexplained weight loss,
Surgery is being considered and imaging is needed to guide that process.
In these cases, we’ll point you in the right direction. Whether that’s your doctor, a specialist, or advanced imaging.
A Quick Note About MRIs
MRIs are powerful tools, but they often show normal age related changes (like disc bulges, degenerative changes in the spine, etc.) that may not be related to your pain.
Studies show many pain free people have “abnormal” findings. That’s why function and symptoms always matter more than the image alone.
Bottom Line:
You don’t need a scan to start healing. In most cases a thorough movement based assessment is more useful, and gets you on the road to recovery faster.
Not sure what your pain means? Book a free 10-minute phone consultation or an assessment and we’ll figure out a plan for you. No unnecessary tests.
