[Jim M2]

I just got a report from an organization called "Best Doctors." They collect all of your medical records and have a physician write a report and recommendations. They also name local surgeons who they say are best qualified to do the surgery.

In my case they did not recommend a surgeon because they did not recommend surgery. Here are some of their conclusions with my comments.

1. I am pain-focused
Guilty as charged. What I feel is beyond discomfort, it is pain to the tune of 6 to 8 and occasionally 9. It's alway screaming at me. If anyone knows how to ignore please advise.

2. There may not be one specific cause/diagnosis
Most of us here on the forum know this.

3. In many cases the specific cause for pain cannot be discovered
Most of us here on the forum know this.

4. A likely cause of pain is the soft tissue surrounding the lower back
Soft tissue? I wish they were more specific. It seems like some diagnostic would exist to test this.

5. There is no specific abnormal finding at L4-5 on the radiographs
The radiographs show dessication and broadening. In an MRI from 2003 L4-5 was bulged with a small herniation. It was positive during a discogram in 2003, although not highly positive. I have slight loss of strenth in my foot corresponding to L4-5.


Regarding item 4, please tell me if you know what they mean by soft tissue.