Lower back pain for 7 months after injury despite MRI showing nothing significant

Pain started 7 months before after an injury in the gym. I am 40 year old. Here’s my MRI results

L1-L2: Preserved disc height and hydration. No significant posterior disc disease or acquired canal stenosis. Normal facet joints. The neural foramina are widely patent.

L2-L3: Preserved disc height. No acquired canal stenosis. Mild left-sided foraminal disc bulging. Mild left and no significant right-sided neural foramina stenosis.

L3-L4: Trace retrolisthesis. Preserved disc height. No acquired canal stenosis. Foraminal disc bulging. Mild bilateral neural foramina stenosis, unchanged.

L4-L5: Mild disc desiccation. Retrolisthesis. Broad-based disc bulge. No acquired canal stenosis. Mild facet arthropathy. Foraminal disc bulging and facet arthropathy with mild bilateral neural foramina stenosis, unchanged.

L5-S1: Preserved disc height. Broad-based disc bulge. No acquired canal stenosis. Moderate right and mild left-sided facet arthropathy. Neural foramina are patent.

But hardly a day goes by when I am pain free. I have been to PT for 3 months but no major improvement. What should be my next step? Doctor suggested epidural steroids but seeing the discussion in this channel about epidural I am not very helpful.

I am feeling hopeless and frustrated. Please help.

Posted Jul 23, 2026, 4:58 AM UTC

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