Hello,
I am a frustrated almost 40 year old male. For around 10 years I have been taking a lot of Advil (600mg - 1800mg) per day for neck discomfort. Over the last 10 years it has been increasingly worse. I got a CT that revealed osteophites 9 years back. I went to a spine doc that told me my "posture was to good" and take these muscle relaxers for 10 days and I will be better, that was 9 years ago. Basically, dismissed me.
Fast forward 18 months ago I got another CT and went to a Neurosurgeon and he showed me scans and my bone spurs. He prescribed 800mg ibuprofen 2x per day. Let's just say he's not someone I would go back to, he looked and smelled like he just got off a bender...
Since then in the last 8 months I have had 4 separate instances where I could not move in certain directions without excruciating pain sending me to floor and my neck being stuck to right for a few days. I looked up slipped disc and my symptoms fit description exactly.
My General Physician ordered a CT of neck & shoulder and referred me to an Ortho. Here's a pic and results of CT (I am no longer "stuck" like this):


* * *Final Report* * *

DATE OF EXAM: Feb 6 2014 2:13PM

AFX 1358 - XR CERVICAL AP/LAT/OBL

PROCEDURE REASON: pain
* * * Physician Interpretation * * *

HISTORY: pain
TECHNIQUE: Cervical spine 4 views. Left shoulder 2 views
COMPARISON: Cervical spine, 8/13/12
RESULT:Counting reference: Craniocervical junction. C6-7 disc space is
diffusely narrowed with small posterior osteophytes bilaterally
encroaching on the neural foramina slightly more prominently on the left.
This is relatively unchanged in comparison with the previous examination
of 8/13/12.
Normal internal and external rotation with normal glenohumeral
alignment and joint space. .
IMPRESSION: SPONDYLOSIS C6-7 WITH SMALL POSTERIOR OSTEOPHYTES, WITHOUT
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN COMPARISON WITH THE EXAMINATION OF 18 MONTHS AGO.

THIS is where things get interesting for me. I go to Ortho he gets me off ibuprofen for something easier on the stomach and some muscle relaxers for spasms. Orders physical therapy. By the time I go to my three week follow up with him my thumb is numb from the knuckle area forward and if I move my neck in a certain direction it sends tingling down the back of my arm into the middle finger area. I am still like this, now 8 days in since I noticed. He ordered an MRI, these are the results:

* * *Final Report* * *

DATE OF EXAM: Mar 12 2014 6:17PM

AFM 0482 - MRI CERVICAL SPINE WO CONTRAST

PROCEDURE REASON: Degeneration of cervical intervertebral disc
* * * Physician Interpretation * * *

MRI CERVICAL SPINE WO CONTRAST

HISTORY: Neck pain.

COMPARISON: Comparison examination from 09/09/2005 is not available but
was reported as normal.

EXAMINATION: Routine cervical spine MR protocol without gadolinium.

CERVICAL RESULT:

Counting reference: Craniocervical junction.

Alignment: History of a normal cervical doses. There is mild loss of
disc height at C5-C6 and C6-C7 reflecting degeneration.

Craniocervical junction: Craniocervical junction is normal.

Cord: The visualized cord is within normal limits of signal intensity
and morphology.

Bone marrow signal/fracture: No evidence of pathologic marrow
infiltration. No evidence of prior fracture.

Cervical soft tissues: The paraspinal soft tissues are within normal
limits.

C2-C3: Canal and foramina are patent.

C3-C4: Canal and foramina are patent.

C4-C5: Canal and foramina are patent.

C5-C6: Bulge cause mild narrowing of the spinal canal. Right neural
foramen is patent. Mild left neural foraminal stenosis due to
uncovertebral joint hypertrophy.

C6-C7: Bulge cause mild narrowing of the spinal canal. Right neural
foramen is patent. Moderate left neural foraminal stenosis due to
uncovertebral joint hypertrophy.

C7-T1: Mild left neural foraminal stenosis due to uncovertebral joint
hypertrophy. Canal and right neural foramen are patent.
IMPRESSION:

DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE AT C5-C6 AND C6-C7. NO FOCAL PROTRUSION OR
EXTRUSION.

He recommended I go to a pain management doc and likely get injections. I just want to make sure I am going down the right path as I have been so uncomfortable for so long. It has really impacts life as far as mood, patience, and grumpy from discomfort.
I appreciate any insight to scans and your thoughts on best steps. Also, will I inevitably need surgery down the road? Thank you!