Why Does Your Back Hurt?

Back pain rarely has a single cause. And the "abnormalities" on your MRI may not be the problem at all.

A note before you read: If you've been told your discs are "degenerating" or your spine looks "worn out," it's natural to feel worried. But after reading this page, you may see those findings very differently.

What You'll Learn

• Where back pain actually comes from (6 "pain generators")
• Why it's often impossible to pinpoint a single cause
• How to understand your MRI results in context
• What "central sensitization" means — and why it matters