Maybe a standing MRI? That may show if standing & gravity is a factor..
Bulging disks alone may or may not cause pain..it all depends on the details..
Sometimes MRI reports might say mild , moderate, severe, and if something is impinging on a nerve or the spinal cord..

We do have a Spinal forum where more information on spine care can be found.
http://www.neurotalk.org/forum22/


Have you had any phys therapy?
Perhaps low level laser, IF stim or acupuncture might be helpful.

Hmm, could have sworn I answered this but it hasn't shown up in a long time...

I have done standing MRI and it showed more bulging in my lower back.

Again, as you said bulging may or may not be causing my pain. But I certainly don't know what is. MRIs just don't show everything and there has to be more ways to diagnose the issues. I have done an evoked potential but it was only slightly off. My EMG seemed OK. But what on earth is causing this continuous pain? And what can Drs do to determine what is other than calling it a mental disorder?

I can't imagine that in the 3 minutes between my car accident and the starting of the pain that I suddenly developed two mental disorders. I also have read and re-read and studied the disorders and I do not fit ANY of the criteria for either of them. I am so baffled.

I have done chiropractor, physical therapy and I do continue to do it at home so I don't feel that I am that weak, I am just in excruciating pain!

I wish I knew if there were other tests that could be done. Like nerve blocks or anything else????

Went to the spinal section and no one has replied to me at all. Sad. Maybe I really am a lost cause and just have mental disorders? Everyone seems convinced but me...

Anyone else have any suggestions or thoughts. Kinda desperate here... Thanks

has any neurologist ruled out a: greater occipital nerve (c2) injury? depending on neck thrashing, it can: get lodged over a neck ligament, build up nerve scar tissue, be aggrivated by even vibration impacts from even each footstep on the ground, be aggrivated by anything that requires neck muscle use...even just keeping it upright...etc. anything that works your traps, etc.

do you have peripheral pain in the upper rear left of your head...sensitive to touch? even laying your area of your head on a pillow is painful? when your pain levels are high, does your left eye feel strained or want to blink and close?

if so...seek a neurologist that deals with occipital nerve injuries. the test to prove it out literally takes under 30 seconds of hands on single finger point pressure tests on your back of your neck. I was diagnose with somataform until 21 months after car accident....third neurologist actually used the F bomb to rip apart two previous neurologists...who suggested I see a pscych doctor.

this occipital nerve can respond positively to icing back of neck (5 oz rubbing alcohol to 3 oz of water in three ziplocked bags, freeze, place in hankerchief and wrap around your neck for twenty minutes, repeat with fresh ones until just below frostbite...lol..if it numb to touch...too much...just a could burn. this cold will deaden that nerve and may bring some relief. nerve blocks from a neurologist also work on some and let a doc know if you a possible candidate for nerve decompression surgery...or something. this nerve also causes issues with your optic nerve, light sensitivity, etc. hope this helps.