After six months of constant back pain, I'm ready to call it quits. I had an MRI when this first all started. It looked like maybe I have a disc problem. I've had no change in my symptoms despite all kinds of treatment. Should I ask for another MRI to see what's going on?

MRIs are just a small part of the diagnostic process. They don't always correlate well with patient symptoms. Sometimes the MRI can show a large protruding disc and the patient feels just fine. In other cases, extreme pain may be present without any major changes seen on the MRI.

The decision to repeat the MRI should be made with your physician. He or she will use what was seen in the first MRI, along with your history, and a physical exam to advise you as to the next best step.

If you are a candidate for surgery, a repeat MRI may be helpful. New MR images can show changes that have occurred over the past six months. The type of changes and extent of these changes can help guide the doctor in determining the best treatment approach.