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@marcd2k -I can sympathize 100%. My myofascial release (MR) wasn't covered either at the time because it was still considered an 'experimental' therapy. I ended up getting billed for a large portion of it (over $1000). Same thing for platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections: $700+ a session (x3) and not covered by insurance. (I didn't go through with them because I decided my tendon was probably too hard by that point for PRP to be effective without being preceded by an aggressive dry-needling procedure (A.K.A tenotomy)
BTW, I have similar stats and like you, they don't tell the fully story either. I recently had a lumbar X-ray which found "moderate to severe degenerative disc disease at multiple levels", especially at L5-S1. But I haven't had much lower lumbar or pelvic pain at all in the last 10 years.
With regard to sauna and red light, I think it is true that it can backfire, especially if overdone. Shortly after my injury I purchased a portable sauna and would spend 45 minutes in there followed by a hot shower. Then sleeping on a hard ice pack, every night. In retrospect, that was likely counterproductive.
One last story: When I was in my late 30's I had a headache all the time that wouldn't go away. I thought I maybe had a brain aneurysm or something. After about a month, I saw my PCP and she correctly diagnosed it as a tension headache originating from the muscles at the base of my skull. It was from using a flat pillow and sleeping on my back. Funny thing is, the pain at times felt like the hair on the very top of my scalp was being yanked! Just another example of how pain can be completely 'referred' to from somewhere else.
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@multifidus13 It seems we can identify with each other's issues, hopefully we can also find out our diagnoses out, as this is not a lot of fun.
I've heard from the beginning of this journey about the opposite symptom imaging, either CT or MRI scans. The first chiropractor I saw said there are people with my spine walking around without a symptom in the world, and then there are people with what is considered normal scans in intense pain. So, an image will not always tell the story.
My wife bought me a red-light device, and it has an automatic timer so it shuts off after 20 minutes. I used it on the lowest setting for the 20 minutes, and within a couple of hours, my right side muscles started locking up. And they have never been back to where they were before I tried the red-light therapy, leaving me in more pain once again.
I also have a strange history with headaches. Back in 1993 I started having migraines. They called it an Ophthalmological Migraine because the first indication I would get is like a sun spot right in the middle of my right eye about 15 minutes before the headache itself started. This ended up giving me a heads-up when I was about to have a migraine, and the prescription Imitrex back then was brand new and only in syringe form. They gave me a spring-loaded device to insert a syringe into, then press the device against my thigh, push a button, and it injected into my leg. I would then lay down for a couple of hours, and I'd be groggy, but the head ache would be gone, when I got back up.
And the migraines stopped on their own in 1996, so I was very fortunate to not have them continue. My boss at the time had monthly migraines his entire adult life. I can't imagine that, it would make me nuts, and that's where I'm getting with my current situation, feeling like I'm going to lose my mind sometimes.