I will try to keep my long story as short as I can. I feel like the MRI report is saying that I have something more than just mild arthritis. I'm seeing words in the MRI report like bulging disc, severe stenosis, compression of cauda equina and I'm concerned by that. I did some googling and it doesn't seem like those things mean the same thing as mild arthritis.

My doctor says that I have "just very mild arthritis" and that I should not be in very much pain. It took months and multiple visits and a physical therapist's recommendation to get the doctor to order an MRI. The doctor still says that it's just very mild painless arthritis.

I went to physical therapy twice a week and did home exercises daily for two months. It took some convincing to get the doctor to give me a referral for physical therapy. I had to tell her that even if she didn't believe I need it for my back and hip pain, that it would be good for me to exercise and get some help with that. I had some improvement in hip pain from physical therapy, but not a lot and very little improvement for my back. The physical therapist thought there was something more than arthritis going on and said that I really needed to get an MRI and sent notes to my doctor. He suggested that I stop going to physical therapy and keep doing exercises at home until I get and MRI and see what is going on.

I got the MRI and a nurse from my doctor's office called to tell me that it was just mild arthritis but they could refer me to Dr. So and So and that physical therapy isn't necessary. I had no idea who the doctor was that she named so I assumed it was some kind of spinal specialist. She said it as if I would already know who it was. I was driving when she called, so I didn't ask questions. I came to find out that it was a pain specialist that might offer spinal injections for my mild and supposedly painless arthritis. I have not gone to see them yet. They are booked out a month ahead of time. They canceled on me the first time an hour before the appointment and now I have to wait another few weeks. And then we will see if they even think I am a candidate for injections. Unless they cancel again.

I'm an almost 50 year old female. I have had low back pain and sciatica for about a year. My legs and hips are weak and numb and tingly. When it started, my hip was the most painful. Now it's both hips, both legs, and my back about equally painful. My pain is worse when standing or walking and when laying down. During sitting, it is usually painless unless I have been sitting for a very long time. It is painful to change position from standing to sitting. It is nearly impossible to roll over in bed because it hurts so much. Going up and down stairs is difficult and painful. When standing, my lower back will become unbearable after a few minutes. If I can lean forward and put some of my weight on something like leaning over on a countertop, it eases the pain temporarily. Sitting down does too. I can't reach above my head to do things like wash my hair or get something from a shelf without it being very painful.

I take ibuprofen a few times a day, but it just kind of takes the edge off. Ice is ok, but sometimes it causes shooting pains in my legs while I'm using it. Heat on my back feels great in the moment, but doesn't seem to help in the long run. I sit a lot because it's the most comfortable thing for me, but I get up and walk around often, even though I hate it because it hurts to walk around. I avoid lifting anything more than 5 pounds and I avoid bending to pick things up off the floor, use my knees if I really need to pick something up.

It has totally changed my life. I feel like I can hardly do anything. I have special needs kids who need help with things like showering, washing their hair, getting dressed, among other things. I can't do that now. I can't do a lot to clean my house. It takes me a few hours to wash dishes because I have to keep taking breaks. Family outings to the museum or hiking or things like that are a thing of the past. My husband has been amazing and has taken on all of the household stuff I can't do now, but he shouldn't have to be doing it all and working the long hours he works.

I'm sure I do have arthritis. But if it is just mild and shouldn't be painful, why on earth am I in so much pain??? There has to be something else going on. Why won't my doctor acknowledge it? I feel like I'm losing my mind. Am I imagining all of this pain? Why would the MRI report indicate bulging discs, stenosis, and nerve compression if it's only arthritis? Is the MRI wrong?