Due to a recent traffic accident (where I was hit from behind), I've been experiencing neck and lower back pain. My chiropractor recommended an MRI.

I had my first-ever MRI yesterday, and I'll admit I was a tad nervous.

Mostly because of the claustrophobic thing. But also because of the magnetized machinery thing. (The entire MRI scanner is magnetized such that it is strong enough to send things like hospital guernies, floor buffer machines, and office equipment flying across the room in the process of being SUCKED into the machine itself!)

These visuals (and these stories) were stuck in my brain the entire time:

But, I also managed to find some humorous things about the whole process of getting an MRI.

In the event that you have to go in for an MRI in the near future, perhaps you will find some value in the things that I learned:

Seriously.

If you've got neck pain like I've got neck pain, then you're not functioning on all cylinders 24/7 like you should be.

Take it from me... the following neck stretches REALLY work!

Try these simple moves that increase "neck flex" and "neck strength" the next time you've got a pain in the neck!

As I've written here before, I go to a chiropractor regularly. It started as treatment for carpal tunnel, shoulder, and neck pain.

After monthly visits over the course of 7 months or so, I tried weaning myself off of chiropractor visits. However, largely due to the fact that I spend upwards of 13 hours a day at a computer, the pain managed to creep back into my neck and shoulders again.

So now I go in for a chiropractic adjustment "as needed", which is about every other month.

A Chiropractor Can Cure Whatever Ails You
There are certainly a number of benefits to having a chiropractor put your body back in alignment through a series of adjustments called "spinal manipulations".

However, there's also a serious warning about neck adjustments that I just learned about.

Following is some important advice before letting a chiropractor crack your neck, including some of the risks associated with chiropractic neck adjustments...

He tried to teach me about sublixations and the science of chiropractic medicine.

What he REALLY taught me was:

• ...the best sleep positions
• ...how to keep your body in alignment yourself
• ...how to treat lower back pain
• ...the value of hot/cold packs

For the past year, I've been going to a chiropractor. It became necessary after I started experiencing incredible tension in my neck and shoulders -- from all the time I spend at the computer.

I was actually very, very (VERY!) skeptical of chiropractors at first. I had always heard that once you START going, you can't STOP because they talk you into needing adjustments for the rest of your life.

What I found: This is true.

BUT...