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chronic backpain

i am a 39 yr old male who has worked in heavy industry all my life. i have been diagnosed with two broad based posterior disc bulges at l4/5 and l5/s1 and an annular tear at l4/5. this was diagnosed by mri ater a fairly large fall at work. i stepped into an open hole with right leg which was 1.5 metres deep. i have been off work now with severe pain and am getting confused with my doctors as this is a workcover case i would like some info please.the doctors are saying that my injury is modest and my pain far outweighs the clinical findings.they also say that i have minor signs of disc degeneration.thedoctors maysay this but i am in such pain that it affects every facet of my life.why am i in so much pain if my injuries are only modest. can anyone please advise.
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thankyou for your advice. i will talk to my doctors
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Avatar universal
I'm sure someone with broader knowledge will have some answers for you.  In the meantime, there are conditions that cause pain proportion to be out of line for the injury, like RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy).  RSD USUALLY comes from some type of trauma, injury or surgery.  Mine developed after many surgeries and in hindsight was probably inevitable for me.

The sooner you get a diagnosis of RSD the better the outcome.  It can be treated but it is difficult.  Mine is treated with a combination of medication and procedures.  

RSD can progress to other areas beyond the injured area.  You may want to ask your doctor about this or see a specialist.

One thing I will say is your pain is your pain.  Don't let anyone let you think it's not real or not as bad as you say.  They aren't experiencing it.

Let us know what happens.

(Mine is also a work injury to my hand and workers comp is not always the easiest to deal with, though so far I've been fortunate with them approving everything for me.)
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