Surgery should be the last option. Your quality of life is what is important. If this is putting you into the position you can do nothing, then maybe you need to start an investigation with a good neruologist. I am fused C3-7 after a failed first surgery at C6-7. My surgery worked for me, and it was worth all I had to go through to get to this point. Your idea of weight loss is a good one too. I didn't have this second surgery until I had lost 65 pounds, and got my weight where I should be. I did that to make the second surgery a little easier to go through. I was terrified of another failure so I did all I could for myself, and did the homework about my condition, and the neurologists before I went ahead. You can loose the weight, and it will help you with what ever decision you make about your back. I couldn't excersise eithor, and I would try to help you with that. I know from your post you are in some terrible pain. You may also try a pain specialist. I had one before my second surgery. He kept me going for 6 years, until we discovered I continued to degenerate in my spine. I do have degenerative disk disease, and joint disease. In my case I had no choice about the surgery as the pain specialist couldn't control my pain anymore and he was the one who got me to a new neurologist after looking at my MRI. Your quality of life is whats important. If you are to that point, please go ahead and look for a good neurosurgeon. Sometimes you can get a name from Neruo talk for what state you are in. I do wish you all the best. If you have a question, or if I can do anything for you, please tap back. Lots of people have knowledge on readings of your tests too. take care ginnie