Dawn,

Good luck tomorrow. And your NS should be able to explain things to you thoroughly. Make sure he shows you on your MRI FILM(s) so that you can get a better understanding. And, sad to say, if it is arthritis, there is no diet that is going to rid you of it. There are anti-inflammatory diets but for actual arthritis; nope...no cure. And I don't think it is possible to rehydrate a disc otherwise we would all be doing that. Therapy can help but it just depends on what the NS says. It could be possible too that he might recommend injections instead. Again, it just all depends. I wish you luck and post back. Oh, and quit lifting. I am like you...I still will lift sometimes but in the last few months I have cut way back on lifting anything over 5 or 10 lbs. Anything over that...no way...I have my husband do it.