At Dorset Pain Clinic, imaging is not treated as a separate product. It is linked to the clinical question. Existing scans are reviewed first, and further imaging is considered only if it is likely to add useful information to the treatment plan.
Why more imaging is not always better, what an MRI can show, and when a scan genuinely helps guide treatment.
Consultant Radiologist and Interventional Pain Specialist • Updated 16 September 2026
An MRI can be extremely useful when it answers a specific clinical question, but it is not automatically needed for every episode of back pain. The best scan is the one that changes what your clinician does next.
Persistent pain creates uncertainty. A scan can feel like the obvious way to “find the cause”. But spinal MRI frequently shows age-related changes in people who may not have pain at all, so the report must be interpreted in context.
MRI can assess discs, nerves, the spinal canal, bone marrow and many soft-tissue structures. It can be particularly useful when nerve compression, serious underlying disease or a treatment decision needs clarification.
If the symptoms are straightforward and the result would not alter treatment, MRI can add labels without changing care. NICE advises against routine imaging in non-specialist settings and recommends specialist imaging only when the result is likely to change management.
At Dorset Pain Clinic, imaging is not treated as a separate product. It is linked to the clinical question. Existing scans are reviewed first, and further imaging is considered only if it is likely to add useful information to the treatment plan.
Our model combines senior clinical assessment, specialist imaging, pain medicine, targeted intervention and rehabilitation. The aim is to reduce fragmentation, avoid unnecessary duplicated steps and give you a clearer plan.
Combines diagnostic imaging expertise with image-guided musculoskeletal and spinal intervention, linking symptoms, examination and imaging before deciding whether a procedure is appropriate.
Provides senior specialist assessment of persistent and complex pain, medication review and personalised treatment planning, with extensive experience in interventional pain medicine.
Sometimes, but not always. Imaging findings need to match the symptoms and examination.
Not necessarily. Many findings are common with age and may not be causing symptoms.
A normal or near-normal scan does not mean the pain is unreal. Clinical assessment and rehabilitation can still be useful.
This article is general information and does not replace an individual medical assessment.
If pain is affecting your sleep, work, mobility or confidence, a specialist assessment can help clarify what is happening and what the sensible next step should be.
