I am waiting for my first consultation with my neurosurgeon in two weeks. My symptoms and MRI read similar to yours. I am off work since I use my hand to draw and the neck problems have resulted in such severe pain running down my right hand I can no longer hold a pencil for more than a few minutes. My fingers are always numb and pain is unbearable.

How well do you cope with the pain meds they have you on? I'm currently on high doses of oxycontin, which dulls the pain, makes you sleepy, but really doesn't work well for nerve pain. Just helps you tolerate it.

Have you been given other options besides surgery? Being in Ontario, Canada we have different type of health care, with little options for choosing doctors and second opinions, we have to be put on referral lists and wait to be called. It's a very slow process.

I sympathize with what you are going through, my entire life has been put on hold because of this. Keep positive and smiling!