This is the deal. In a workman's com case the only meaningful evidence is the complaint of the patient. The "workman's comp" doctors hired by the insurance companies lie. This often puts a workman in a difficult position. He may not always be in pain, but he has to say this. That being said, go to the website of Dr. Jerome Groopman and read his essays on spinal pain.
Pain has nothing whatsoever to do with an MRI report. In the case of sciatic some people have severe damage and experience no pain whereas some people have barely perceptible damage and are in agony. Thus there is no correlation between the two.
If your MRI showed something that may cause pain, there will either be a diagnosis or diagnosis code somewhere early in the report. If no diagnosis was given, get a copy of the scan disc and think about a second opinion
Pain is not the same for all, ok, that's obvious right.. lol.
I've had so much pain all my life.. Crohn s disease, Arthritis all over my body, low back issues so painful I couldn't work anymore.. I had surgery to fix my back, it's better(think God), but I'll never function well enough to be normal..(as normal as I was before my back got so bad anyway). One time when I was at ANOTHER doctor appointment and I was feeling like a wimp whining about pain. My doc told me I wasn't a wimp, if some people's nerves are located closer to a painful area, it is more painful, the closer the nerve is to the affected area the more pain you are on. Also, he told me some feel no pain and can have a very serious problem that they have no idea of till sometimes it can be too late. Hope that makes sense to you, it sounded logical to me.so now I do not feel like a wimp. Don't be so hard on yourself, don't let anyone make you feel less.. because they do not understand. Don't be bitter towards anyone. Prey that anyone who thinks less of you never suffered like you do. You will be the blessed for it.