Thanks again to the previous posters for your expertise. Here is an update after seeing the MSK doctor:
He thought my pain level is far beyond what imaging shows. He could tell from how I moved/breathed that it was excruciating. Previously, as a D1 runner, I raced and trained through broken bones, etc and also gave birth without any pain relief, so it doesn’t make sense that I’m this debilitated.
A thorough physical evaluation was impossible because I was in so much pain. It was hard for him to distinguish true biomechanical issues from muscle spasm/guarding from pain. For what it’s worth, the pinpoint pain I have is higher than the SI joints and pretty focused at the upper sacrum/right side of L5.
He’s still not sure what the source is but gave me an epidural at the L5 disc level to hopefully calm things down. In two weeks he’ll determine if another injection or meds are warranted. I don’t get in to see the physio/biomechanical expert until 5 weeks out since he was booked. If the pain subsides, he can do a more thorough evaluation then.
So, still frustrated that there’s not a definitive answer, but at least they’re trying things and focusing on pain control now. Where I am, this is the best I can do. I’ve thought about sending images to specialists in the US but everyone seems to agree the MRI doesn’t indicate anything operative and that it’s more of a pain management/physio issue.
He thought my pain level is far beyond what imaging shows. He could tell from how I moved/breathed that it was excruciating. Previously, as a D1 runner, I raced and trained through broken bones, etc and also gave birth without any pain relief, so it doesn’t make sense that I’m this debilitated.
A thorough physical evaluation was impossible because I was in so much pain. It was hard for him to distinguish true biomechanical issues from muscle spasm/guarding from pain. For what it’s worth, the pinpoint pain I have is higher than the SI joints and pretty focused at the upper sacrum/right side of L5.
He’s still not sure what the source is but gave me an epidural at the L5 disc level to hopefully calm things down. In two weeks he’ll determine if another injection or meds are warranted. I don’t get in to see the physio/biomechanical expert until 5 weeks out since he was booked. If the pain subsides, he can do a more thorough evaluation then.
So, still frustrated that there’s not a definitive answer, but at least they’re trying things and focusing on pain control now. Where I am, this is the best I can do. I’ve thought about sending images to specialists in the US but everyone seems to agree the MRI doesn’t indicate anything operative and that it’s more of a pain management/physio issue.
Last edited by:
Gazellerunner: Apr 5, 24 4:25