Understanding your medical scan results can be confusing, and sometimes even a little scary. It’s easy to get caught up in the technical terms and worry about what they mean for your health. But here’s an important perspective to keep in mind: your scan is just a snapshot, not the whole story.
What Your Scan Really Shows
Think of an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan like a highly detailed photograph. It captures a specific moment in time, showing the structures inside your body. It’s incredibly useful for your healthcare professional to see what’s going on, but it doesn’t tell the entire story of who you are or how you feel.
Imagine taking a picture of your home. It might show a small crack in the wall, a loose door handle, or some peeling paint. Does that mean your house is about to fall apart? Probably not. It just means those things are there. Your house is still standing and still serving its purpose. Your body works much the same way.
Natural Changes Over Time
Just like everything else, our bodies experience natural changes as we live our lives. Similar to how your favorite pair of shoes gets a few scuffs, our joints, discs, and tissues transform over the years. These changes are often completely normal and don’t necessarily cause pain or problems.
For instance, a scan might mention “disc degeneration.” This sounds terrifying, like your discs are disintegrating. But for many people, this simply refers to the natural drying out and flattening of the discs that happens as we get older. It’s like finding a few wrinkles on your face, it’s a sign of living, not a sign of impending doom. Lots of people walk around with these kinds of findings on their scans and feel absolutely no pain. They’re still active, enjoying life, and often don’t even know these changes are there until a scan is done for another reason.
Pain Is Complex
Here’s another crucial point: what shows up on a scan doesn’t always match how much pain you feel. You might have a scan that looks like a medical textbook of “issues,” yet you feel pretty good. On the flip side, someone with seemingly “pristine” scans might be experiencing significant pain.
Why is this? Because pain is much more complex than what a picture can show. It’s influenced by your stress levels, your sleep, your mood, your past experiences with pain, and even your beliefs about your body. If you believe your back is “damaged” because of what your scan says, your brain might interpret that as a threat, which can intensify your pain.
Don’t Let Your Scan Frighten You
The next time you get a scan report, take a deep breath. Yes, your health professional will review it and use it to help guide your treatment. But remember that it’s just one piece of the puzzle.
Focus on how you feel, what you can do, and what truly matters to you. Don’t let a few technical terms on a piece of paper define your health or limit your life. Your body is incredibly resilient and capable. You are more than just bones, muscles, and organs, you are a whole person, and you are definitely not your scan!
Dr. Daniel Raab
Osteopath
E: daniel.raab@staytuned.com.au
