Opinions on my back problem?

Question

ive had a pack problem ...for a year...progressivly getting worse...i am heavy...but the pain got worse about a month and a half ago and it is different from pinched nerves. i had an x ray and everything came back normal. i had blood work done..and i had elevated c-reactive protien level of 22 which indicated inflamation. i also got tested for a specific gene thats related to spondyiltits or what ever..and that came back normal....so i am being sent for an mri....i am on anti imflamatorries...they work...however should i not take them before i go get the mri...also what are the procedures for an mri...how do you prepare...eat or drink? any needles??? ive already lost 60 bls so i cant help but think..ya my joints were stressed but...now they should be under less stress...anyways..do u think this is some sort of arthritis osto or rumhetoid...what might they find....any persnal experiences...it gets severly irritated if i dont take the anti inflamatorries..i go for a long walk every day..but if i dont take the anti-imflamatories..i can barly walk...chronic inflamation????

any ideas or suggestions opinions..i am also only 20 years old..:(

Answer 1

You should not be doing any activity, including walking if it aggravates your problem at all.  

The MRI does not require any preparation, just don't wear anything metal, like jewellery etc.  The MRI is short for magnetic resonance imaging.  It will give a good clear image of all of the soft tissue structures in your spine.  They may be looking at your discs, which would not have been clear on your previous x-ray.

Drink plenty of water and stop those long walks, gentle stretching (glutes, hamstrings etc) is much more beneficial to you.  Get advice from a physical therapist for the excercises.

Hope you feel better soon.  Dont worry about being young with this, I have suffered with back problems since I was 14.  I am 28 years old now and its all about on going management and listening to your body.

Answer 2

Taking anti inflammatory will not affect the MRI results, and there are no needles. All you do is lie on a table which then gets moved into the MRI scanner. You lie very still and all that happens is a very loud noise is produced while the machine is operating.  You will probably be given ear plugs.