I had my first MRI to diagnose the problem with my low back. There were changes to suggest disc degeneration with a mild disc herniation. The radiologist's report says the changes seen on the MRI are stable. Is it possible for the spine to heal and go back to normal?

Information about spine healing is limited because it's too expensive to do before and after MRIs on every back patient. Doctors must rely on the studies they do have. They especially find it useful to compare the results over time for patients who do have more than one MRI taken.

Changes in signal intensity are used to gauge what's going on in the spine. For example, when bone marrow is replaced by fibrous tissue, the MRI shows decreased intensity of the signal. This is labeled as a Modic Type 1 (MT1) change and is considered unstable because changes are still occurring.

MT2 changes describe red bone marrow that has been completely replaced with fat (yellow marrow). There is a different (usually increased) MRI signal intensity with MT2 changes. MT2 changes are quiescent or quiet with no further changes expected.

Studies have documented changes in the spine based on serial MRI studies. MT1 (unstable, changing) can convert or transform to MT2 (stable, quiet, unchanging). This is the most likely change to occur. The situation doesn't get better but it doesn't get worse. The patient may not be aware of any changes going on as the painful symptoms remain the same.

Only a small number of cases have been documented of reverse transformation from an unstable to normal situation. Changes from stable to unstable are uncommon as well.