[quote=Leed;2407346]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.

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I did get a copy Leed, and will post the findings in the morning. I do use ice packs and sometimes moist heat helps. I agree that the ice is better for the inflammation, and I have a lot of it.