I should have added, just in case someone else may be reading this and has soreness elsewere,
Never Ever put then near your throught or if the person has a pace maker or any other similar device DO NOT USE THEM.

Billye,
My wife has 'spurs' on her disc's all over her spine. they've probably been there a long time- but we didn't know til an x-ray showed them when she was hospitalized for back pain and on a morphine drip for 2 days.
The docs said there was nothing to be done, surgery not indicated. Therapy probably best. WRONG !!
Magnets were her lifesaver.
She found someone who knew someone that heard of someone......etc. Long story short- Nikkon was where she wound up (its on the web). She's a RN manager & on her feet a lot. She uses the shoe inserts (claims its good for both feet & back-something to do with magnetic flow thru the iron in the blood [!?]) and wears a rectangular magnetic 'plate' about 6"x10" (some are smaller too) on her lower back. 24/7 !!- sleeping too !. There are various methods to put a layer of thin fabric (between 2 pr of undies, etc) between the magnet & skin. she just uses what's most comfortable with what she's gonna wear.
Anyway......... she went from being incapacitated & on sick leave, to working normally without much back pain at all (she doesn't complain much at all now). She doesn't have to rely on anything but the magnets. Swears by them. She's careful; about lifting and straining her back, but does all the normal grocery shop , clothes shopping .,shoe buying , etc- & carrying the packages home, that any one else can do.
Says its all about the magnets & the docs just scratch their heads (and don't have any answers).
Voilà! Magic! After about the 1st week she felt some improvement. Then gradual improvement until she doesn't even think about her back- but has a magnet therapy on her feet and back every day. Jury still out ? Not for her !
She even became a 'distributor' (costs about $100 to the Nikkon 'people')so she could get more at cost for family & friends- never 'sold' just took orders and they repaid her. She hasn't done that for a year or two. But she's been wearing those danged magnets for about 5 years, now. Just "swears by 'em".

Nikons are what I have. There are three of those things. I bought them on eBay still in the original box and they look like they have never been used. But there weren't any instructions in the box. They are the original Nikon magnets and very strong. So they have sat for about a year now. As soon as I can take the bandage off my back from the last set of injections (to the facets) that didn't work, I'll be trying them for awhile. Thanks Brian and Bob for the help.

It would be nice if I could get one area to quit hurting.

Billye

billye.....was your MRI standing or lying?.....

It was lying down. I've never seen one where it was done standing. Wow!

Every one I've ever had done was done in a tube with me flat on my back.

Billye

Billye,

I've been thinking about your response to the suggestion that cold may help your back pain if inflammation is part of the problem. Heat or other energy is contraindicated where inflammation is present. It may actually increase inflammation and make the swelling and muscle spasming worse. Without knowing for sure, I'd guess that a strong magnetic field would have the same negative effect if inflammation is present.

The pain reducing, swelling reducing, and healing effect of cold packs can be dramatic. I was a serious recreational runner and backpacker for about 20 years and had my share of injuries, aches, and pains. Ice packs were the first thing I used for instant pain relief and quick healing.

Cold can't hurt you, and may dramatically help. Cold promotes healing because it increases blood flow while it reduces spasms and inflammation. At the same time, pain is reduced because cold shuts down the nerves in the area. I found that if inflammation was involved in the pain, the cold felt good after the initial shock. To reduce the initial cold shock, wrap the ice pack in a single or double layer dish towel when first applying.

For safety, don't use the blue cold packs you put in the freezer. If your freezer is, let's say -10 F. degrees, you can get frostbite. Safer, cheaper, and gentler are ice packs you make yourself. Fill a quart size clear plastic freezer bag 3/4 full with ice cubes. Add some water to make a nice semi-floppy containter that will conform to your body shape. The water mixed in prevents any possibility of frost bite because it rapidly warms the ice cubes to exactly 32 F. degrees. Double bag the pack to prevent leaks, and enjoy for 20 minutes on, 20 off, then 20 on again. The pain reduction should occur within minutes as the cold moves deeper. The area will feel cool to the touch but you'll experience warmth and comfort in the area as soon as it is totally cooled down, and when you remove the pack. The pain relief will last for hours, or even all day.

If this works on you as good for you as it does for me, ice packs will become your first line defense for inflamatory pain.

billye, there is a stand up mri near me. ( dfw area ) i can pm you the name and the address if you want it. i drive past it taking lil'monkey to the ortho.

Thanks David for all the info about cold packs. I will certainly try them. And it makes since that the magnets might be a problem when there is inflammation involved. I'll report back in. (probably more than you want to hear)

Curious...I've pm'd you. Thanks so much. I didn't even know these things existed.

Billye

____"has a magnet on her feet and back everyday___"

Bob B.,

What kind of magnetic therapy does she use for the feet? Is it a magnetic shoe insert? What is the strength of the magnet? Cost?

Carlie

__________________________________________________ _____________

"Get knocked down 7 times. Get up 8 times".