Hi, I have many mental illnesses. Always have. Started from childhood abuse and has gone all the way through to bipolar, OCD and more... Not really a problem. Medicated and dealing with it like I alway have.

So I was in a car accident two years ago. I had a head, neck and lower back injury that has left me in incredible pain. It started 3 minutes after the accident and has been exactly the same for the last two years. I am in a wheelchair most of the time because it is incredibly painful to walk. I don't have mental trauma related to the accident at all. It wasn't a big deal to me.

After $50,000 in medical 'attention' I have found that I have a bunch of bulging discs in my neck and lower back. Nothing else major has shown up. But honestly other than MRIs and an EMG I haven't really had any other tests done. All the Drs say is, 'nothing is wrong with you' and they walk out of the room.

I finally found a physiatrist who took an interest. He really stated that my spine is pretty messed up. He is the first on to admit it. He is trying to get me into a 3 week inpatient hospital physical rehab stay. To rehab my back I guess...

On his report he also said I have Conversion Disorder and Somatic Symptom Disorder.

Of course I researched these in depth and I do not fit ANY of the criteria AT ALL.

I have no neurological symptoms, no blindness, hearing, numbness, seizures, nothing that seems to be the key in these disorders. I have bulging discs in my back that cause me great pain upon standing and walking. Simple as that. Sit down and the pain goes away!

I think when the Dr found out I have mental illness that colored his view and I was labeled by him as a crazy person. That is how this misdiagnosis if the conversion and somatic disorders happened.

What can I do to convince the Dr that I do not have these disorders and there there is something physically wrong with my spine and my life would be better spent trying to determine exactly what is wrong rather than rehabbing a person with a 'mental disorder'. Might be better to do some testing on a person with a physical disorder?

Once this diagnosis is placed on me I feel like it will be with me forever negating the real problem which is very clearly physical...

I am afraid the 3 week rehab is going to be based on the assumption that I have conversion disorder and by the end of 3 weeks I am going to be in exactly the same amount of pain and will have spent more money than I have (on disability with horrible expensive insurance that doesn't cover anything)

Any ideas or advice?
Thanks,
Peregrine

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.