Hi Borderline Angel,
When I had my first MRI, the doctor said that it was 'clear' and showed no impingement of the nerve. Fortunately, the neurologist that did the MRI finally sent me to a neurosurgeon. The NS immediately sent me for a "Thin Slice Fiesta MRI" (I have no idea what the Fiesta means, maybe it's an anagram for something). The thin slice part means that the MRI will take pictures that are much closer together, so, say a regular MRI will take 30 slices - a thin slice will take maybe twice as much. (I hope that I am making sense). So anyway, when they did the thin slice MRI, they found compressions and immediately scheduled me for an MVD. Apparently the compression was 'hiding between the slices' of the normal MRI.
So perhaps this is worth a try.
Best of luck on your journey, and i wish you many no pain days.
Lily