--are generally quite conservative in attributin symptoms to spinal problems. In other words, unless there's a big honking abnormality, such as unequivocal spinal compression or osteophytic nerve root pressure, they're hesitant to attribute neural symptosm to something going on in the spine.

What also makes this difficult is that many people with big honking abnormalities may have minimal symptoms, and people without obvious abnormalities may have considerable symptoms.

And, radiologists are not all equal either--some are much better with CT's than MRI's, or with certian areas of the body compared to others. (It never hurts to get a second--or third--opinion of the films.)

There are now more powerful MRI machines than there were even in the recent past--higher magnetic Tesla ratings--as well as function MRI's; so getting a follow-up from previous results is essential.