Question
I fell at work almost 21/2 months ago. I felt like my spine was bruised and after a couple of days my back muscles started tightening up and would not relax at all. I was given an MRI and was told that I had a bulging L-5-S-1 with encroachment on my Neural Foramen. This info came from the Radiologist and my Primary Care Physician.  Now after being refered to an Ortho he says there is nothing wrong and the films were misread.  Is it common for Radiologist to misread films? He told me that I had just a lumbar and cervical bruise.  I am just now able to stand halfway normal. I still have horrible pains in my back that feel like nerves and muscles. I am a waitress age 33, I have 3 kids,andmarried for 10 years.  I have never had any problems before.  Can you give me any guidance with this matter?  I feel like they think that I am making this stuff up.  I was almost happy tho find out I had a bulging disk it at least explained my pain, now I am BACK to the beginning.  Any help with questions that I should ask or any other info would be appreciated.  One more question, Do I need to be cautious with this being a Workmans Comp case regarding the doctors?  It makes me nervous having to use there doctors and now all of the hoops I'm not sure who to trust.

Answer
This is the kind of question in which I must tread carefully---


When two doctors disagree, it is usually a good idea to get a third opinion from some other doctor with no interest for either party.  A physician's source of income may influence his decisions, just like anyone else in the world.  If you were told to do something by your boss "or else get fired" you may do it just to avoid problems.  Unfortunately, it seems like work comp is full of stories like this, justified or not.  I know several docs who do good work with work comp, but are often limited in their options.

My advice: get an independent radiologist to read the films AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE YOURS! not someone else's films.

Secondly, if you are still in pain, you also need another opinion.  Many types of pain exist besides those caused by a disc.  Just because you might not have a problem with a disc does not rule out other problems that can cause pain.

One more piece of advice:  you may need to speak to a lawyer.  Because you have already seen a work comp physician, your options may be limited, but his counsel may be useful anyway.

Good luck,

Dr. P