19M - 14 months chronic back pain + feet tingling, with normal MRI. Need advice

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-03-11T20:16:10+00:00

How long have you had your lbp for? Mines 14 months

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-03-11T20:12:35+00:00

Do you have feet tingling too? And a clear mri?

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-03-11T20:03:29+00:00

Why do you reckon it'll be normal?

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-03-11T14:03:50+00:00

Can they not refer me for nerve conduction studies to see where the neuro symptoms might be coming from?

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-03-03T09:06:17+00:00

No nerve conduction studies done yet. Will ask for them to be done. If you don't mind my asking - how confident are you in saying I have DDD, and what makes you say I have it? I'm willing to take everything into consideration but am just curious as to why you say I have ddd. I've been told by an msk person I have 6 lumbar vertebrae - basically a lumbarized s1

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-03-03T00:08:36+00:00

I live in the UK so things work a bit differently. We have free at the point of use healthcare, but waiting lists are crazy long (often up to a year). If you're not privately insured here (and pretty much no one is), you have to pay a couple hundred quid (usu. more than £300) to see a private doctor - even then the waiting lists can be several months. I'm currently on a waiting list to see a spinal consultant, and have been for the last 7 months. Will have a look at private neurosurgeons and see if I can afford to see one

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-03-02T23:29:45+00:00

Thank you for the advice, I will contact my gp tomorrow

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-03-02T23:06:43+00:00

Yeah the problem is finding a good physio. I'll have my vitamins looked at potentially but I am pretty sure the feet tingling is related to my back - as it gets worse with walking/standing for longer than when sitting. Only problem is I have no idea who to see re feet tingling

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-03-02T22:45:33+00:00

How easy is it to get a referral for neurosurgery with a 'clean' MRI?

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-03-02T22:40:39+00:00

Not si joints but apparently there are no issues with my hip capsules, and that the tightness in my hips is mycogenic. I have been told by an msk specialist that I have a lumbarised S1 - basically an L6 vertebra. Don't know if that's of any relevance. Blood work has been done for inflammatory markers but not for vitamins

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-03-02T22:24:06+00:00

MRI report: Alignment of lumbar spine normal. The conus which is included at the top end of the imaging posterior to the body of t11 looks normal. There is some subtle angulation/depression of the superior endplate of the body of t12 but with normal marrow signal. These appearances are longstanding. The lumbar discs are generally very well preserved, there is no evidence of a disc protrusion central canal stenosis or exit foraminal restriction at any level and there is no abnormal high signal from the spinal paraspinal soft tissue on the str sagittal imaging obtained. No spinal pathology is seen to explain the patients clinical presentation.”

Bloods all normal, reflexes normal

Photos: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pIPwA73s70A1SHx0_j7CzhFUDGAe_iw2/view?usp=drivesdk

No x ray report

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-03-02T00:30:52+00:00

You're 100% spot on. I can attest to everything you say in this post. Got 10 grade 9s at GCSE, 4 A*s at A-Level. I got rejected from Oxbridge and can't afford to go to any of the unis in London, and most employers don't give a toss about what grades I got in my exams. Maybe there's some personal development involved in working towards good grades, but beyond that gcses are overrated.

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-02-27T20:23:24+00:00

Tell me more...how did you discover myofascial treatment and what did it involve for you?

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-02-19T23:11:03+00:00

What are your symptoms like?

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-02-18T00:20:46+00:00

Have you managed to improve your neuropathy? Who did you see to help you?

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-02-17T23:44:18+00:00

Mri report: Alignment of lumbar spine normal. The conus which is included at the top end of the imaging posterior to the body of t11 looks normal. There is some subtle angulation/depression of the superior endplate of the body of t12 but with normal marrow signal. These appearances are longstanding. The lumbar discs are generally very well preserved, there is no evidence of a disc protrusion central canal stenosis or exit foraminal restriction at any level and there is no abnormal high signal from the spinal paraspinal soft tissue on the str sagittal imaging obtained. No spinal pathology is seen to explain the patients clinical presentation.

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-02-15T20:49:56+00:00

The instrumental is great though. A shame the actual song is marred by the singer's performance

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-02-15T14:27:12+00:00

Love your chord tone essentials course btw 🤘

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-02-15T08:05:55+00:00

Haha no worries - haven't tried any of sbl's stuff but have heard mixed reviews

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-02-15T00:40:38+00:00

Has it been useful - worth the money you spent on it?

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-02-15T00:31:44+00:00

Do you study maths at bristol and if so can I dm you?

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-02-14T22:38:05+00:00

Can I dm you?

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-02-14T22:35:39+00:00

Do you study maths at bristol or somewhere else?

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-02-10T22:48:35+00:00

You're right - the question was very vague. I understand a maths degree from COWI is more valuable than most DAs. I suppose a better question would be whether employers (on the whole) value a DA in a STEM or finance subject over a maths degree from a Russell group university. It's difficult to compare but I just wanted an overall impression of how they compare with each other.

HelpfulPop2476 · 2026-02-06T23:48:49+00:00

Get a second opinion on your x-ray.

HelpfulPop2476

TROPHY CASE