Thank you ginnie. With this diagnosis comes a tear in the dural lining that surrounds the spinal cord and brain; the tear allows the spinal cord itself to kink or slip through the opening causing a variety of symptoms in both kind and intensity. The more I read, the more concern I have, but finding the correct neuro doc is imperative. Thus the main reason for my posts here. I don't believe the surgery relates to fusion or disc management but instead freeing the cord from its entrapment and repairing the dural sac tear. Some of the more recent literature reports 130 (with one reporting 176) or so documented cases world wide. I'd really like to find the docs with the most experience in repairing this type of lesion.