Hi Rose76, A few words of advice which may or may not help you with your appt.

1) MRIs are amazing and can help you find out what is going on. They also can show you a lot of stuff that is going on that has nothing to do with your symptoms. A great question to ask the doctor when he tells you what is on the MRI is " Do any of these things correlate with my symptoms?" Don't be afraid of a No answer that can be just as helpful

2) About med seeking don't bring it up. I have seen people that weren't seeking meds come off like they were because they tried too hard to emphasize that they weren't. The Dr. will probably bring up medications and when they do just answer them honestly and you should be fine.

3) I wouldn't worry too much about being labeled neurotic because of you have anxiety about your spine. It is normal to have anxiety about something that has affected your life to the extent that your condition has. In fact anxiety is actually part of your condition so don't be concerned if your Dr picks up on it,it's probably a good thing.

4) Pain comes in many forms and is difficult to describe, It is truly a subjective sign. This means there is no test that will show what you feel. You are the expert on what you are feeling so explain what you are feeling the best that you can the Dr. will need to listen to what you are saying

5) WRITE DOWN YOUR QUESTIONS for the doctor before you see him and bring it with you. Make sure they address what you need to know . Prioritizing the questions on the list may not be a bad Idea.

6) If the appointment doesn't go the way you'd like It's ok to feel a little disappointed but don't get too frustrated you have gained more insight into your condition and there is still more work you can do to improve your condition.

-Chrain