Talking to Patients About Imaging Findings

Patients with chronic primary pain often have CT or MRI findings such as small disc bulges and herniation. Our job as physicians is to interpret findings for our patients, and to let them know that these findings are common and generally not the driver of chronic pain. Explaining scans to patients, and making sure they understand what constitutes normal findings for their age, is very important and sets the stage for a positive recovery experience.