Introduction
Every week, I get texts like this:
“Hey, my MRI says I have a disc bulge. What does that mean?”
My first question:
“Does your back hurt?”
If the answer is no — my response is usually:
“Then who cares?”
That might sound harsh, but it’s not dismissive. It’s science.
The Study Everyone Should Know About
In 2015, Brinjikji et al. published a systematic literature review in the American Journal of Neuroradiology that looked at imaging findings in people who had no history of back pain.
They pulled data from 33 studies and over 3,000 individuals, all completely pain-free. Using MRI and CT scans, they tracked the presence of so-called “degenerative” spine findings:
- Disc degeneration
- Disc height loss
- Disc bulge and protrusion
- Annular fissure
- Facet joint degeneration
- Spondylolisthesis
What They Found
Even in people with zero back pain, these findings were incredibly common, and increased with age.
| Finding | 20 y/o | 30 y/o | 40 y/o | 50 y/o |
| Disc degeneration | 37% | 68% | 88% | 96% |
| Disc bulge | 30% | 50% | 69% | 84% |
| Facet degeneration | 4% | 18% | 50% | 83% |
Key takeaway:
Half of pain-free 40-year-olds had a disc bulge on MRI.
Half. No pain. Living their lives, moving normally, training, working. All with the same imaging “abnormalities” that often scare people into inactivity.
Why This Matters
When imaging shows “degenerative” changes, it doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong or that you need to stop moving.
Many of these changes are simply normal signs of aging, like wrinkles or gray hair.
The authors summed it up perfectly:
“When degenerative spine findings are incidentally seen, these findings should be considered as normal age-related changes rather than pathologic processes.”
So...What Now?
If your MRI from five years ago showed a disc issue, and you’re not in pain. Why give that scan so much power?
You’re not broken.
You’re not fragile.
And you don’t need to live cautiously because of what an image once showed.
You Are Not Your MRI
This study isn’t meant to downplay pain — it’s meant to empower you.
Your MRI doesn’t define your strength, your potential, or your movement.
It’s just one piece of data in time.
Stop letting an old scan dictate your confidence.
Start moving again. Safely, intentionally, and with guidance.
Ready to move with confidence again?
If you’ve been holding yourself back because of an old MRI or back injury, I can help you rebuild trust in your movement.
Source: Brinjikji W, Luetmer PH, Comstock B, et al. Systematic Literature Review of Imaging Features of Spinal Degeneration in Asymptomatic Populations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015; 36(4):811–816.