People can have disk problems and still have a negative MRI. My MRI showed "only" a bulging disk, but I had another test called a discography, which then showed a very serious tear in my disk. I would say don't give up. Try to find a doctor who will really listen to you. A pain management doctor did my discogram, and then referred me back to the surgeon. I would recommend going to see a pain mgmt doctor. If you have pain, then no one should say "there's nothing wrong with you."
I haven't been back to the dr. but I know that is what she's going to say... She's going to say everything is normal...... What is a discography ? sounds painful.....
A discogram is where they insert e needle into the disc and first inject saline. If that causes you pain, then that is an indication that that particular disc might be causing your pain. Then, they inject a dye solution in. A normal disk will only accept a very small amount of dye. If your disk accepts a larger amount of dye, that is an indication that there is a tear in your disk. They take an x-ray, which shows the dye, and then they usually do a CT as well to get a more detailed picture of if and where the dye is leaking. I had it in my neck, and they went in through the front, which I will admit was a little unnerving at first. I have no idea how they would do a thoracic or lumbar discogram. I can't imagine they would go in through the front there. Maybe they kind of go in through the side. My doctor told me it was going to be very painful, but I did not think it was any more painful that the pain I was already in. Plus, they sedated me with fentanyl and versed, which made me totally calm throughout the whole thing. I needed the whole day off work. If people were scared about the pain or discomfort, I would tell them I would do it again in a heartbeat. Other's may have had different situations, though, so don't accept my work at the gold standard. Of course, it may not be indicated for your situation, but again, don't just accept that you are going to have to live with pain until you have checked out all of the bases. Doctors should work very hard with you to find the cause of your pain and treat it.
It sound's quite painfiul.. Not sure I would want to go through something like that...... And if I were going to have something like that done, I would make them knock me out.. I wouldn't want to be awake at all.....