Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] I have had a MRI on my lower back and while it showed DDD and arthritis it does not show any disc compression or bulging. I had C5-C7 replaced in January 2013 with a plate and new bone. I am wondering if an X Ray while i am standing up will give a different picture of why I am having extreme pain when standing? Any suggestions
[|AI|]  Hi, The DDD must be causing the pain in your lower back. Sometimes it may cause instability in your spine and this doesn't show up in an MRI as you are basically lying down. To diagnose that, you generally need 3 X-rays in standing position. The first is called an AP X-ray where basically the rays pass from your front to back and give a picture of your lumbosacral spine. The other two are called dynamic X-rays which are taken from the side (lateral) while you bend forward (flexion) and backward (extension). This might show the reason why you are having pain on standing. You should discuss it with your physician and schedule them. Meanwhile, if the pain is severe, you can start taking over-the-counter Tylenol; provided you are not allergic to it and not consuming alcohol too during that period.