@jm1 Julie, that's a great suggestion! The hard collar I had after my spine surgery was my best friend for 3 months. Mine was a Miami J collar, somewhat similar to this one. Even before my spine surgery, I was wrapping my neck with a beaded microwavable heat wrap and tying a scarf around it to support my neck. It helped a lot to stop neck movement especially when there is spinal cord compression.

@ab6540183 I think this may help with your symptoms while you wait. I did see the image you posted from your MRI and it was similar to mine, although mine only involved one level of compression.

I agree with Julie, relax as best you can. You may be aggravating your neck by typing on the computer so much. Listening to music helps a lot if it is something you love. You CAN set your mind to it, and lessen the amount of pain that you feel. I know that may sound crazy, but I did that after a very painful epidural spinal injection that caused the most intense pain I have ever felt, much more pain that going through spine surgery or breaking my leg. I had to talk myself down from that ledge of being in fear and the loss of control to the pain. Believe that the pain will not be there forever. You will get through it. It takes slow deep controlled breathing, hear music in your head even if none is playing, and imagine something pleasant. I imagined an eagle soaring above all of the problems and that I was that eagle up there in the sky free from pain. It worked and I didn't pass out on the table. I regained control with my mind.

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