I’m white. I drink occasionally. I smoke rarely. I weight train regularly. For the past decade. That’s 10 years. I have suffered from incessant lower back and hip pain that can get so intense that I don’t sleep well and bending to put on my shoes can be extremely uncomfortable and even painful. I’m stiff. Arching my back is painful. Rounding my back is painful. Laying flat on my back is painful if I don’t elevate my knees. Impact such as running and jumping is painful. Oddly, if I am very mindful of form I cans still squat 250lb and deadlift 300 without pain. I have tried resting from lifting for short periods and long periods with no improvement in symptoms. My doc wanted me to do PT, so I went for about 6 weeks. The exercise and movements they prescribed were useless. PT said I had weak core even though I have visible abdominals with 12-15% body fat. My glute medius and other hip muscles are tender to massage and I have tried regular massage as well in order to loosen them. Massage therapist says they are like guitar strings and thinks there is something going on and recommends imaging/MRI.
Lately I can move in just the right (wrong) way or even just be standing and I will get a sudden stab of pain. I’m so sick of this shit. I want to know what is wrong and how to fix it. I’m 38 and active. (But I have a desk job.) I want an MRI to see soft tissues so I can rule out possibilities like bursitis, arthritis, disk or nerve issues, etc and doc refuses to refer to MRI. He says I need an X-ray first. I’m American and I have pretty good insurance but I don’t want to spend the time and money on an X-ray. It makes no sense. I’m ready to switch doctors. Would you make me do an X-ray before MRI? If so, why? Am I right to seek a new doctor that will take me seriously after a decade of pain and refer me to MRI?