I just wanted you to know I am thinking about you. I really hope that pain flair, goes down. I also read about the other post with a negative resolution to spinal surgery. I sure do know about being scared that way. I had heard storyies each direction. Surgery as you already know is the last resort. I just want to re affirm, that if this has to happen to you, for you to regain some quality of life it is worth the risk. I had a failed first fusion, followed my a re-do and C3-7. My results have not been perfect, but I am so much better. There can be good results from surgery. I did not go willingly to surgery either. A lot of crying and panick. I just want you to know that not every surgry turns out bad, that some do work, even after a first failure.
I really hope that you can have some good quality of life no matter what you choose to do. Have a good day Seahorse. I am off to one of my doctors as usual...humph! ginnie