Magnetic resonance imaging for back pain is regularly prescribed at the first signs of back pain or sciatica (pain radiating down the leg), often in the absence of physical and medical treatment to alleviate the pain.
If no serious neurological or systemic symptoms are present, the lumbosacral MRI should not be routinely recommended for cases of acute or chronic low back pain and sciatica. Instead, it should only be considered when symptoms persist after at least 6 weeks of physical and medical therapy.

Advice from Altroconsumo

- Stay active and engage in daily physical activity. Go bike-riding, walk, work in the garden or carry out domestic chores. Speak to your doctor to find the most appropriate sport for you (swimming, gymnastics, yoga, pilates, running…).
- If necessary, discuss with your doctor the possibility of taking a pain reliever to ease the pain, even though this on its own will not resolve the problem.
- If the pain is not excessive, try to exercise to keep the body in motion. Absolute immobility, even during an episode, is highly inadvisable.
- Pay attention to weight and possible extra kilos. Increased weight on the back worsens the situation.
- Quit smoking.
- Don’t lift objects that are too heavy and learn to bend down in an appropriate way, bending at the knees and not placing too much stress on the back.
- Choose the most helpful approach for your needs, combining physical exercise and cognitive programs. A holistic approach to the body needs to be taken in order to tackle back pain.

In collaboration with

SIRM - Società Italiana di Radiologia Medica
SIMG - Società Italiana di Medicina Generale