Mri Changed In Three Years

[huskerfanfl]

Three years ago, shortly before retiring, an MRI was don on my back. The MRI showed that I had three bad disks (1 herniated, 1 degenerative, 1 bulging). I have been having increased back pain for the last three months. I was sent to physical therapy and that made the condition worse. Pain is now going down my legs. I had an MRI done last Thursday (same place that did the first one, civilian) and just got off the phone with my doctor's office. I was informed that the MRI does not show any problems. I guess a miracle occured and my back ailment was cured. Unfortunately, the pain was left behind. Anybody have any ideas?

[sixthscents]

MRI's are often open to interpretation. You will see one person with a perfectly normal MRI in great pain with severe Neurological symptoms. Opposite of that you can see people with horrid MRI's that have no problem whatsoever.

A myleogram is much more telling but is very intrusive. (meaning they stick a needle into the spineal chord area, pull out some fluid, and stick some dye in... it hurts like a sum-bit*h)..

An EMG or nerve velocity study is not nearly as painful, and can show things very well. (and doesnt hurt nearly as bad)

The VA LIKES EMGs... they're cheap - relatively - and provide objective results. A myleogram is the same, its objective but much more intrusive.

Personally I'd get the EMG done. The VA doesn't normally balk at this, since they are not too expensive.

[JohnM]

I would like to explain to you about John:

He suffered with back problems since he came home from the service in 1972: He did not say anything to his Doctors or Work for fear of Losing his Job:

About 5 years ago he said something to the Doctor, the Doctor said it was arthritis and to put cold and hot packs on 4 years later John could not get out of bed he was in so much pain, finally I got him out took him to the ER and the Doctor there just took are money and said it was siatic he never took an exray, I said No this is his hip he disagreed I said at least give him something for pain, he did not, we left there and by that time our clinic was open, they got him in to see are doctor, our doctor agreed with me took an exray, and said yes this is his hip gave him something for pain, after that I got hip in to see a specialist, he said he has two degenerative hip problems but this is his back and I don't work on backs so he gave him something for pain, set the appointment for the spine doctor that took two months they sent him to a pain clinic burned his nerves, nothing worked finally they took an MRI, it showed several disc problems the pain clinic doctor said that this has been a problem for years. It took six months before he had surgery. And next month on the 14th it will be on year since surgery, surgery has not helped and they can not do anything else at this time.

The reason I told you this is Not all Doctors know what they are saying, Not all doctors care or have the time to work with you, if it wasn't for the pain doctor they might not have done anything. I suggest that you get a GOOD Pain Doctor, A GOOD SPIN SPECIALIST and work from there. OH, John's Spine Doctor is the only good one we have in Madison, WI. and I was told he even goes to ILLinois, They said people come for hundreds of miles to see him, that is why it took so long for him to get an appointment. And the Pain Doctor Is also the head Doctor at the University, Matter of fact he was the one that helped John get Social Security.

I wish you all the Luck, Pain is hell, John and I live with it everyday!