TDouglas,

Since you've said this doctor has been good in the past, I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and go back to talk to him. Emphasize the fact that you are having pain and that it has been worsening over the course of a year. You can say you were looking over your last exam and ask questions about the multilevel facet osteoarthritis. Depending what he says, you can ask directly if it couldn't be related to your symptoms or whether it might have gotten worse since that exam.

If you aren't satisfied, definitely see another doctor. Since you are having symptoms, someone needs to be working with you to address them. If this exam does not explain the symptoms, fine, but in that case, the doctor should try to find what the cause of your symptoms is, and not stop at stating what it isn't.

-----------------------------

Your report basically indicates that you have osteoarthritis. It is mild. The "multilevel facet" part is referring to the type of joint and the fact that multiple levels affected. This page talks about osteoarthritis in facet joints, and the implications of multilevel involvement:

http://www.spine-health.com/conditio...osteoarthritis

Here is the Wikipedia page on osteoarthritis:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteoarthritis

Even young people can have osteoarthritis. It is thought to have a genetic component, and other statistical risk factors have also been identified, but no exact cause has been determined.

Mild osteoarthritis might not be expected to give symptoms. Symptoms show up gradually as cartilage continues to degenerate. The rate of degeneration can vary immensely from one person to another. Also, some may experience symptoms early, while others may have few or no symptoms until quite late. Symptoms can also come and go ... there tend to be "flare-ups".

waves