1. Find a good neurologist in your area. The board has a list. If need be and you can, travel to one that may be a bit farther. It may be worth it.
2. Ask questions of the doctor. He/she is there for YOU. Be proactive. This is a learning experience. You need to understand YOUR situation before you can get help or knowingly consider the treatment options offered.
3. If Physical Therapy is prescribed, ask about the goals of that PT. Again, be proactive and ask questions. You want to understand ALL that your situation entails.
4. Get an anatomy book. Look at the pictures of the structures and tissues in YOUR situation. Find out and learn how they are all interrelated and IF and HOW they may impact YOUR situation.
5. Pay VERY CLOSE attention to your day to day activities. You'd be amazed at something as simple as reaching for a comb may bring all sorts of problems. It may not be the act of reaching, but it may be the WAY in which you are reaching. It is that detail oriented, IMHO.
6. Do not assume that you aren't doing anything to cause this. You may not be, then again, it may be just normal everyday simple tasks. Some things can be corrected and some may not be able to be corrected. Try to understand and know the difference.
7. Know that there is good pain and bad pain. Understand and learn the difference.
8. Try to understand what YOUR pain is trying to tell you IF it is trying to tell you something. Know that in many instances your pain may not be an immediate response to an action but may surface several hours after the aggravating event/activity.
9. Read the posts and thread on this forum. Know that some of it may help you and some may not. We are EACH unique and different. We each have some things in common but what therapy works for one, may not work for another. Hence the comment to get to know YOUR unique anatomy and YOUR unique situation.
10. There are many modalities that have helped people on this forum and many of us are seeking others in an attempt to get cured/relief. Some that have been expressed are: Stretching, exercise, aeorbics, swimming, massasge, acupuncture, chiropractic, ART, Yoga, Hot tubs, Ice packs, and many, many others. There is a list or two on this forum. Check it out.
11. Know that professionals are there to HELP you (if you find competent ones) and that it is a TEAM effort. They are not in YOUR body and thus need YOUR assistance to help you and you need their expertise to help you.

Good luck.