Chronic low back pain (cLBP) typically presents as pain radiating from the back into the dermatome of the affected nerve root. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred diagnostic tool for evaluating the spine in patients with cLBP. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between pain, disability, and disc herniation, focusing on patients with severe disc prolapse (grade 3). The research included 70 participants, with pain intensity measured for both back and leg discomfort using the visual analog scale (VAS). The Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ-Arabic version) was used to assess the degree of disability. After clinical examination, each patient underwent MRI imaging of the spine and lower extremities. The severity of disc displacement and nerve root compression were classified using the Michigan State University (MSU) disc herniation classification. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0, with Pearson’s correlation coefficients computed to explore relationships between variables. Descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviations were determined for each factor. The results showed no significant correlation between a low-grade disc herniation and a VAS score of 3. The Pearson correlation values for grade 3 disc herniation (r = -0.212) and disability (r = 0.17) were both weak. In addition, the relationship between pain intensity and functional disability was weak (r = 0.159). The findings suggest that clinical symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging findings should be used together to decide on therapeutic intervention, as there was only a weak link between pain intensity, disability, and the grade of disc herniation.
