29/08/2026
Your scan is normal. So why are you still in pain?
“Doctor, my MRI is normal… but I’m still hurting.”
If you’ve ever heard this, you’re not alone.
One of the biggest misconceptions about pain is that every source of pain must be visible on a scan.
But pain is much more complex than a picture.
It can involve the nerves, muscles, joints, or the way the nervous system processes pain. Sometimes, two people can have similar findings on an MRI and experience completely different levels of pain.
That’s why a consultation for persistent pain should look beyond the report.
Your symptoms.
Your history.
Your examination.
Your investigations.
And most importantly—your experience of pain.
A “normal” scan should never be used to tell someone that their pain isn’t real.
If you have been living with persistent pain despite “normal” reports, perhaps the question isn’t:
“Why can’t they find anything on my scan?”
It may be:
“What is causing my pain—and how can we treat it?”
💬 Have you ever been told, “Everything is normal,” while you were still in pain?
Tell me your experience below.
Dr. Manaswwita Biswas Agrawaal
Pain Medicine | Palliative Care | Rehabilitation Medicine | Preventive Medicine
PainAwareness HealthEducation DoctorExplains ChronicPainAwareness PainSpecialist
