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Jun 19, 2012, 06:36 PM
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Member Since: Oct 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 6,543
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Hi ~ When you get the results of the MRI, ask for a copy of the REPORT for yourself. Then post it here, as I'm pretty good at deciphering them. LOL Perhaps I can make some sense out of it. Doctors usually don't tell you everything that's in the MRI. 
When I had my spinal surgeries, my neuro sent me to "back school" -- there, we learned the proper techniques of doing things. One BIG thing we learned was to NEVER use heat on our spines! Heat draws blood to the heated area, thus causing more swelliing and inflammation and pain. ICE reduces the swelling and inflammation, does not draw blood to the area, and reduces pain! You should of course wrap ice in a towel and never put ice directly on the skin. We were told to put ice on for 20 minutes every 2 hours. This has always helped me, unless I'm in a terrible flare.
I've been a chronic painer for over 26 years, and have had 2 open spine surgeries, plus a spinal cord stimulator implant and removal, and every single procedure that a pain doctor can do. So now I'm just on pain management -- there's nothing else they can do for me. NUTS. 
If Tramadol isn't helping, you might want to talk to him about putting you on an Opiate, i.e. MS Contin, Methadone, etc. OR, perhaps sending you to a pain management doctor. Keep us posted on what goes on, and let us know about your MRI. God bless. Hugs, Lee 
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