Hi painfree and thanks very much for that link. I'll read it more thorougly and share with my massage therapist.

Right now I'm so confused and upset and mad I could spit nails and then walk on them in bare feet!

I saw my pdoc today for the results of the MRI last Friday. So many big words I can't remember them all, so I am picking up a copy of the report on Thursday and can post it here and see if anybody can glean anything from it.

He basically told me that this MRI showed significant changes in my lumbar region from my last MRI a few years ago. He said there is severe L4-L5-S1 disc degeneration with severe disc space collapse and a large anterior bone spur. And significant degeneration in the coccyx.

Then he told me there wasn't any point in referring me to a back specialist because nothing could be done but to treat the pain at the pain clinic. The pain clinic with the doctor whom I got fed up with when he shrugged his shoulders and said there was nothing he could do for my tailbone!

I told him this, so he said, well...I'll refer you for a 2nd opinion with the other doctor at the pain clinic, or you can go and see the spine specialist here where I live except that he is a surgeon.

So, they called the Pain Clinic to set up an appointment with the other pain doctor for 'a second opinion'. The pain clinic upon hearing that I have gone to Doctor #1 for years on end said that they don't do 2nd opinions within their clinic and that I'd either have to switch doctors permanently and see Doctor #2, or go back to Doctor #1.

I stood at the desk for at least 5 minutes with my head in my hands getting pi$$ier by the second! I finally opted for my pdoc's nurse to try and set up an appointment with the spine specialist, IF he'll see me.

So that's where I stand...nowhere! Waiting to see if I can see the spine specialist IF he'll see me. I'm so confused now. My doctor didn't seem to think it was the right way to go because the specialist is a surgeon and they refer people to him when they think surgery MIGHT be called for, but did give that to me as an option.

Or get referred to Mayo in Rochester.

Anyway, he said the differences from the last MRI were very significant. I can't believe I have severe degeneration in my sacrum/coccyx whatever. Well hello. No wonder it hurts like he!! back there.

I'm just upset. I'll come back and post those MRI results when I get them on Thursday, see if anybody here can make sense of them.

It's bad enough I have the same thing going on with the cervical spine but at least right now it's reasonably under control...the pain I mean. The little electric zappies down into my upper back from neck aren't all that pleasant, but hey, it's all good.