Why is my MRI negative ?

Posted By Matthew Estevez on February 26, 1999 at 12:33:29:







I am a twenty six yo male who injured lower back three months ago after vioolently bending and twisting.  After 8 weeks of rest at home, minimal activity and Mckenzie exersize back and leg pain diminished. At that point I still had symptoms therefore choose to undergo an MRI. AT the time of MRI leg numbness and tingling was absent.  The results were negative for herniated discs in back.  My current physical therapist believes it is a nerve root lesion.  I disagree because my symptoms seem to increase in certain positions especially sitting. I know this increases intradiscal pressure that may cause a healing herniation to be aggravated. My gut believes its a herniation, I want to believe the therapist because that seems more hopeful.  I am sick of not knowing what this is .  Should I be objective and trust the MRI read as a 100% reliable.  Why do symptoms continue after so long?  A nerve lesion could not be that troublesome.  Books say a disc can be though. Should I get an MRI when I am in pain and Symptomatic or is that a waste of time.  I am seeing a neurologist on monday March 1 what should I tell him?  To order another MRI or is there another more effective diagnostic test?  Desperately seeking feedback I've lost work, social life and this is effecting my emotional well being now.  P.S I just grad from P.T. school so you don't need to use laymens terms
email ***@****
Thanks
Matt