Does your back hurt and you think that a lumbar belt or an MRI will necessarily help? In the show “It goes a lot better”, on RTL, on September 11, 2026, Dr Jimmy Mohamed, doctor and presenter of It goes a lot better on RTL, recalls a simple answer: neither the lumbar belt nor the MRI are automatic solutions.
The lumbar belt can help occasionally, but it is not a miracle reflex
Dr. Jimmy Mohamed describes a very common request in consultation: patients want to wear a lumbar belt because they hope it will “solve” their back problem. His point is not to prohibit it, but to put this reflex back in its rightful place.
In the column, he reports data in patients suffering from chronic and disabling lower back pain. The fact-check leads us to specify that it is mainly a Cochrane review published in 2026, bringing together 8 randomized trials and 501 adults: used alone, the lumbar belt seems to have a
no or low profit on pain and disability. Combined with medications, a small effect on pain is possible, but data remains limited.
This does not mean that it is “useless” for everyone. Dr Jimmy Mohamed himself qualifies: if a person feels relieved, “why not”. The High Authority for Health also indicates that a belt or corset can be considered for a short period of time to facilitate the resumption of activities. But individual relief remains possible without systematic treatmentnor a guarantee of faster development.
Radio, scanner, MRI: they are only useful if they change the management
Second common reflex: quickly ask for an X-ray, a CT scan or an MRI. Here again, Dr. Jimmy Mohamed’s message is concrete:
imagery does not relieve pain. He takes the example of sciatica: discovering a hernia, osteoarthritis or an abnormality not responsible for the pain can sometimes increase worry, without immediately changing the treatment.
This point is in line with the recommendations of the High Authority for Health: in the absence of a warning sign, imaging is generally not immediately indicated during an acute attack of low back pain, with or without pain extending down the leg. This is also why an MRI is not always necessary for back pain.
However, exams become relevant in certain specific situations:
- Spot warning signs: fever, significant trauma, motor deficit in one leg, urinary or anal problems, progressive nocturnal pain, unexplained weight loss, history of cancer.
- Explore pain that persists or becomes chronicespecially beyond several months.
- Prepare a therapeutic decision when the result may modify the support.
- Discuss an action as an infiltrationfor example in cases of sciatica that is not relieved after a few weeks of treatment.
The presence of an isolated symptom alone does not allow us to conclude that there is a serious cause, but these situations warrant rapid medical advice. To better identify them without panicking, True Medical also details the warning signs that should be consulted quickly.
When the pain subsides, progressive movement becomes central
Dr Jimmy Mohamed finally insists on an often disappointed expectation: there is no magic medicine. He gives the example of pain rated 7 out of 10 which could decrease without disappearing completely. This image should not be understood as a universal measure of effectiveness, but as a way of explaining that a treatment can help without necessarily reducing pain to zero.
Anti-inflammatories, when considered, are not trivial self-medication advice: they must take into account the profile, history and current treatments. The role of the doctor remains to choose what is appropriate, for the necessary duration.
As soon as the situation allows it, the heart of the care is rather the progressive movement. The High Authority for Health considers physical exercise as the main treatment for common low back pain, with an adapted, split and acceptable recovery for the person. It is therefore not a question of “forcing”, nor of denying the pain, but of resuming what is possible, step by step. On this point, movement remains the best reflex against back pain, when it is adapted to the evolution of the symptoms.
If the pain lasts, recurs, limits activities or makes recovery difficult, Dr Jimmy Mohamed cites the physiotherapist as a key player. The useful nuance: it is particularly valuable for implementing suitable active exercises, especially in cases of chronic pain, risk of chronicity or difficulty regaining confidence in movements.