Why X-Rays and MRIs Don’t Always Explain Pain

By Dr. Yaron Lohr,
Founder of Posture Perfect Wellness Center

Serving patients throughout Dallas and McKinney

One of the most frustrating things a patient can hear is this:

“Your X-ray looks fine.”
“Your MRI doesn’t show anything serious.”

Yet the pain is still very real.

At Posture Perfect Wellness Center, we regularly see patients from Dallas and McKinney who’ve had imaging done, been told nothing is wrong, and are left wondering:

“If nothing is wrong… why do I still hurt?”

The answer is simpler — and more hopeful — than you might think.

Imaging Shows Structure — Not Function

X-rays and MRIs are excellent tools.
They show bones, discs, joints, and tissues.

What they don’t show well is:

• How joints are moving

• How muscles are coordinating

• How force travels through the body

• How the nervous system is responding

• How compensation patterns develop

Pain is often a functional problem, not a structural one.

Why “Normal” Imaging Doesn’t Mean “No Problem”

Many people are surprised to learn that:

• Disc bulges are common in people without pain

• Arthritis can exist with minimal symptoms

• Degenerative changes don’t always correlate with discomfort

At the same time:

• People with clean imaging can be in significant pain

• Pain can move, fluctuate, or worsen without visible damage

That’s because pain isn’t just about what’s there —
it’s about how the body is using what’s there.

Common Pain Sources Imaging Often Misses

1. Joint Restrictions

A joint that doesn’t move properly can create pain — even if it looks “normal” on imaging.

Restricted motion leads to:

• Increased stress elsewhere

• Muscle guarding

• Nervous system irritation

2. Muscle Imbalance and Compensation

When certain muscles overwork and others underperform, pain develops.

MRIs don’t show:

• Poor muscle timing

• Endurance deficits

• Compensation patterns

But your body feels them every day.

3. Postural Stress

Long hours sitting, driving, or working at a desk slowly overload joints and muscles.

This stress builds gradually and often doesn’t show up on scans — until much later.

4. Nervous System Sensitization

Pain isn’t just a tissue issue — it’s a nervous system experience.

Chronic stress, poor sleep, and unresolved injuries can lower pain thresholds, making discomfort persist even without visible damage.

Why Patients Feel Dismissed After Imaging

When imaging doesn’t provide clear answers, patients are sometimes told:

• “It’s just wear and tear”

• “You’ll have to live with it”

• “There’s nothing we can do”

That can feel invalidating — and it shouldn’t.

Pain without a clear image finding doesn’t mean:

• You’re exaggerating

• It’s “in your head”

• Nothing can be done

It means the problem requires a different lens.

A More Complete Way to Understand Pain

At our Dallas and McKinney clinics, imaging is just one piece of the puzzle.

We focus on:

• How your body moves

• Where motion is restricted

• How joints load and unload

• Where compensation is occurring

• How posture and daily habits affect symptoms

When function improves, pain often follows — even when imaging never changes.

Why This Approach Leads to Better Results

Patients often tell us:

• “This is the first time someone explained my pain”

• “Now it actually makes sense”

• “I finally understand what’s going on”

That clarity allows for:

• Targeted care

• Smarter rehab

• Fewer setbacks

• More lasting improvement

When Imaging Is Important

To be clear — imaging absolutely has value.

X-rays and MRIs are critical when:

• Serious injury is suspected

• Neurological symptoms are progressing

• Trauma has occurred

• Surgery is being considered

But they should guide care — not replace evaluation.

Final Thought

Pain is real — even when imaging doesn’t give clear answers.

When you look beyond pictures and start evaluating how the body functions, solutions often become clearer and more achievable.

Still Hurting Despite “Normal” Imaging?

At Posture Perfect Wellness Center, we help patients throughout Dallas and McKinney, Texas make sense of pain that imaging alone couldn’t explain — and create a plan that actually works.