hang on! get as many opinions as possible before any talk of surgeries. i had 3 emg, discogram, 3 conflicting ENT doctors, umteem MRI's and same with CT scans, x-ray way more than I would like to have had in 3 lifetimes, a nuclear stress test just to mention a few I can remember. If I could do things differently I would have, like holistic healing. I along with a sister 2 years younger than myself are going through HELL she also suffers many skeletal problems her right hand has been replaced with plate and screws, and I at level c5/6 c6/7 first surgery I failed to fuse anterior, second posterior. It is only 4 months since the second one was done. I now have a plate in front and a cage in the back. I am not a success story, I suffer more now then ever. I feel your pain, I no it is hard at times, a good support system is first in my opinion, always have an advocate with you. And never go to doctors alone. I wish you comfort any way you can find it.