Back Pain Support Group

You need to get an MRI to see if the MRI will show any damage from the accident. If the MRI does not show anything, ask your Doc for a Myelogram, or a Discogram. They are more invasive tests, but much more accurate than x-ray's and even MRI. Good luck to you....

I agree with an MRI. They have come a long way. I injured myself in 97 and at that time the MRI didn't show anything and they had to do a Myelogram.
They did another MRI a few years ago and the test had advanced and picked a lot more up (pinched nerve, bulged discs and degenerative disc disease)
The only pain cocktail that worked for me is Zanaflex and Vicodin. Vicodin seems worthless by itself and the only muscle relaxer that worked was the Zanaflex, anything else was basically baby aspirin.
I was treated with 3 epidural injections, I was still miserable up until the very 3rd one and then did notice some relief. It wasn't fantastic, but better - I had thought for certain I would have been in a wheelchair by 30 - among other things, I had sciatica and my foot would start hopping by itself at times. There was one day I was lying on the couch and I realized I couldn't move my legs at all - I had to physically reach down to pick them up with my arms (that's when the thought of wheelchair came to mind).
As I wrote in another post I saw you had replied in, I find Thermacare backs a great relief as far as heat goes. Better than muscle rub, icy hot patches or even heating pads due to the way they conform to the spot you need them the most in.

I was also treated years later after my epidurals with injections in the hotspots - lidacaine, b12 and cortisone. That gave me some relief as well.

Also, I don't have insurance right now (but that doesn't make the problem go away of course). I find myself taking generic tylenol pm's at night. My theory is that it "resets" the system as it makes your body relax more as you sleep. - Just my theory but I'm not as stiff and sore in the mornings getting out of bed.

I agree with Tipper1207, you need an mri. xrays only show so much. Keep on the doctor, if he does not listen, then change. If you think something is wrong with you and the doc ignores you, fire him and go somewhere else. I know, a doctor almost cost me my life in 1990 because he would not listen to me and all he had to do was order a blood test. When I found a capable doc, I was given 6 months to live. Thank God. Miracle but here I am 19 years later.

My next apt is two weeks from now but I am really stretched thin as it is. Xrays should be in on Monday with results. Today has been rough. Even with muscle relaxers my muscles are still tight. Neck and back still painful. My doctor thinks that the xrays are not liable to show anything. I will see in a few days. Until then I just got to keep biting my lips.