balmy,

I know the horrific pain. And have had two cervical fusions. As Friends2U said, instant relief when they were done! Of course these were two different years...but to wake up and feel NONE of that familiar pain was great! If the doc is saying surgery, I would listen. You don't want permanent nerve damage. The surgery itself, to me, wasn't bad at all. You do not feel the hardware if fusion is what you are speaking of. All I felt was the incision in my neck and the pain with that was like nothing more than a bee sting. I wish you well with your decision. And I should have added. My second fusion was outpatient; I was up and about (still felt sedated of course) by 3:00 pm that afternoon. So, you see...it is not that bad. Of course there are others that have had to have more done. I am just speaking of two levels done at different times.