Teacup,

I was told when the disc is protruding you need surgery. I had a disc like this and had a laminectomy at Hopkins two years ago.. You also have diminished cord signal which is not a good thing...so I would say that you will probably be offered some kind of surgery, eventually. You also have a hemangioma...I too was sent for McKenzie PT...McKenzie is not well thought of in some circles now..Depends who you talk to these days...If I were you I would find a good top doc..NSS or OSS and try to let them tell you what to do...I have permanent nerve damage...especially if you have swelling and trouble walking...PT is not a bad thing...but I would definitely see a NSS or OSS...Who gave you the book? I have trouble with any doc that gives you a book...Maybe he should keep it and read it...