glenntaj,

I agree. And you stated what I have found to be true. In my experience I was going to a research medical center. Not that they weren't great docs...long story...but they didn't get to the source of the problem. So, when I switched to an actual SPINE group; they found the problem immediately. Needless to say, I was a little upset after having wasted 3 years chasing myself! I also want to add that the group I go to was the first in the US to do the FIRST CERVICAL artificial disc replacement; so I tend to think they know what they are doing. The point is...sometimes the very best places are right down the road.