What is an MRI?

Hip pain can be brutal. I know because I’ve suffered from it. 

It can stop you in your tracks, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. So, it makes sense that we’d be tempted to turn the almighty MRI. But what is an MRI?

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It is a medical imaging technique used to visualize the internal structures of the body in detail. 

MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body's organs, tissues, and bones 

This makes it potentially valuable for diagnosing and monitoring a wide range of medical conditions, including neurological disorders, musculoskeletal injuries, and cardiovascular issues. 

Given the apparent sophistication of this modern medical marvel, it makes sense to use it, right?

In fact, I can picture Doctor “Steve” explaining it by reading children's stories...

“Hello, children! Today, we have the story of Harry, the Hurting Hip, and how he’s rescued by the almighty Donut of Truth and Surgeon Steve! (Kids say “Yayyyy!” off camera)

Here’s how it works, children...

• Harry the Hip started hurting
• The Donut of Truth looks at Harry with his magical Magnets and RadioWave Vision
• The Donut discovers all the bad, evil, nasty tears and bad bone shapes 
• Once these bad guys have been identified, Superhero Surgeon Steve comes in to save the day!
• So, little Billy, that’s why we need to get you on the operating table ASAP! So I can cut you open and saw your bones down. Ready?
• Billy (off-screen)...Umm…..

OK, so, what do scientific studies show about MRIs for hip pain?

The TRUTH about Xrays and MRI’s for Hip Pain

The TRUTH is going to blow your acetabulum straight out of the socket (not literally…don’t panic.)

Ready for the truth bomb? 

Science shows that X-rays and MRI scans don’t accurately predict hip pain.

Recent scientific studies show people WITH hip pain DIDN’T have bad scans, AND pain-FREE people SHOWED abnormal scans.

This BJM study from 2015 drops that hardcore realization right in front of us. 

Here’s a direct quote from the study: 

“Overall, most patients with frequent hip pain did not have radiographic hip osteoarthritis, and most patients with radiographic hip osteoarthritis did not have frequent hip pain.” 

In other words, it don’t tell us jack-diddly-squat!

Furthermore, these two studies (Hip pathology…, Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging), show that the accuracy of MRIs isn’t dependable. 

In these studies, individuals with hip pain came up empty on the MRI results. 

Hmm…not exactly the “Circles of Certainty” we originally thought they were…

I personally had X-rays and MRIs done on my hips, and the results were NOT good.

In fact, I remember the day the Doctor called me to give me the “bad news.”

It went something like this:

“Hi, Shane! Yes, it’s me, Dr. Strangelove. I’ve got some bad news. Are you sitting down?”

“Yeah, doc… what's up?”

“It turns out you’ve got bad bone shapes, jagged, nasty bone cysts, and a labral tear. I’ve set you up for immediate emergency surgery.”

“But doc….I feel fine”

“Nonsense. I consulted with the Donut of Truth, and the results are definitive.”

(Shane questions himself, “donut of truth…? Wtf…”

“So, shall I pen you in for a quick bone-shaving surgery?”

“Umm…I’m good, Doc. I’ll call you back if needed…”

“Alright. I’ll be here sleeping next to the Donut. Bye now”

The bottom line is this: MRIs are not crystal ball truth-tellers. 

If you put too much faith in the results of 1 MRI result, it’s bound to be misleading.  It’s like seeing a single puzzle piece and assuming you've solved the entire puzzle. 

It’s a BIT more complicated than that.

So, with all this underwhelming information about MRIs, are they actually good for anything?

Are MRIs any good? What are MRIs good for? 

Absolutely, yes.

Taking a quick detour, MRIs are a wonderful tool for many things: diagnosing serious medical issues like neurological disorders, cancer, infections, cardiovascular conditions, etc. Just not hip pain. 

My colleague recently had a health scare. An MRI was 100% necessary to scan his abdomen and pelvic area to ensure everything was OK. And, it turns out, everything was okay, and the MRI helped confirm that. So, they have their place in the overall diagnostic process.

So why do doctors use MRIs for hip pain?

Why Do Doctors Use MRIs For Hip Pain?

We’re not in all doctors’ heads. So can’t speak for them. But we can make an educated guess: 

• Throughout history, people have had pain
• Imaging was invented and gained popularity
• If it hurts, let's look at it and see what we find
• If we find something that’s abnormal (compared to the textbook), BINGO! There’s your root cause!

Unfortunately, science has shown that pain ain’t so simple. In fact, this recent study shows that pain is multifactorial. 

That’s why we need a diagnostic process that takes into account VARIOUS factors BEYOND just an MRI result. 

You might be asking yourself: if we can’t completely depend on MRIs and imaging to help fix our hip pain, what can we depend on?

What REALLY Helps Hip Pain?

Our trusty friends, diet, exercise, mobility, and lifestyle, of course! 

They are, and likely will always be, the best remedy for combatting most hip pain. Simply put, exercise, mobility, and healthy lifestyle changes help. 

Our bodies are made to move (mindfully). Mindful movement helps our bodies adapt to stresses and become more mobile and flexible. 

I know, I know. Easy to say but hard to do. Especially when the magic allure of the “quick fix” pill, surgery, injection, or other “easy path” treatment is incessantly marketed to us from all angles. 

Fortunately, people like you and me know better. We aren’t scared of a little thing called mindful movement. In fact, we kinda’ love it!

That’s why we’ve put together the world's most complete “do-it-yourself” at-home “hip help” program, The Hip Fix Program, as well as hundreds of free videos on this channel. 

We’ve lived through hip pain. We know it’s confusing. But that’s why we are here to help.

I was diagnosed with FAI and labral tears 14+ ago, and I’m better near age 40 than I was at age 26.

Of course, it might have been a different story if I hadn’t learned how to optimize exercise, diet, sleep, and stress and be consistent with all that. 

Truth be told, without that consistency, I might not have dug myself out of the debt of hip pain I’d gotten myself into in the first place. 

The exact methodology I followed is the TSR method: targeted tissue work, stretching, and re-education of the muscles. 

I have many videos detailing the ideas of all three of these (PNF Stretching for Hip Impingement, Which Massage Tool Should I Use, Deep Squat Technique). But there’s something on top of all this that I can’t stress enough. And that is…

The “Inner Game” of Hip Pain

Let’s be honest…pain is the worst. Especially constant, chronic hip and back pain. Without sounding too cliche, mindset matters…alot. 

To help heal your hips, it’s critical to:

• Relax
• Not catastrophize (exaggerate the severity of the situation in your brain)
• Understand that you are NOT your pain and NOT your MRI result
• And, with this relaxed, solution-focused mentality, take positive action

For me, when my hip pain was at its worst, I asked myself:

 “OK, Shane…this is what’s REAL, now what’s POSSIBLE.”

“How might this be the best thing that ever happened to me?”

Then, I simply “acted as if” it was true. Not because I thought it was ultimately true like there was some God above the clouds conspiring on my behalf, but simply because asking the question, “How might this be the best thing that ever happened to me?” is a question that evokes very different responses and actions.

After asking myself those questions, new doors started to open up.

I realized that learning how to fix this pain was going to help me develop one of THE rarest and most valuable life skills that I could develop - how to fix my own pain anytime it cropped up.

I know it’s easy to say, “Just relax and stay positive” but harder to do. But it can be done. 

I know what it’s like to be told I’m doomed from the “donuts of truth.” It feels debilitating at the moment to be told you have chronic abnormalities. 

But please, like I did, reshape your approach to pain and exercise before you reshape your bones.

The Final Chapter on MRIs for Hip Pain

The bottom line is this: MRIs are NOT “the all-seeing eye” that we all wished they were.

My inner child also wishes that this modern medical marvel could find the 1 true cause of my hip pain and eradicate it with one click of a button.

Unfortunately, in the adult world, childish fantasies have no place. As adults, we know from experience – almost nothing is black or white in this life. There are always multiple causes and therefore, we need multiple solutions to diagnose and heal our hip pain.

Those solutions are our lifelong friends, diet, exercise, mobility, and lifestyle. 

It’s time to take your hips into your own hands (not literally…who are you, Michael Flatley, lord of the dance?)

If you take the 1st step on this journey to become a “Master Mechanic” on your own body, it will be one of THE best decisions you’ve ever made.

You only get 1 body…it’s time you learned how to REALLY care for it.

If you need help getting started, check out our “DIY” programs like The Hip Fix, or if you’ve recently had a bad run-in with an MRI and you want more personalized, 1-on-1 coaching, you can apply for our VIP mentorship program for hip pain at gotrom.com/vip

I hope this video helped. Please like, comment, and share it with someone in hip pain.

And remember, you’re just 1 step away from building, or re-building, your perfect body.

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About The Author

Shane Dowd, CES, CMP, is the owner/founder of GotROM.com. He is also a sports performance & mobility coach specializing in injury prevention and flexibility for athletes.