Hi Ozzy,

Unfortunately, regardless of others' experiences, it's like investing -- "past performance is no guarantee of future results".

IMO, you've got two doctors, one of whom you like, that seem to be (my impression) hinting as strongly as they can against surgery. There are some good reasons for this.

PT doesn't have to end when the visits do. I'm still doing exercises I learned there years ago, because they still help some. There are also still other therapies to investigate/try. I got/get a lot out of myofascial trigger point therapy. Other folks have gotten results from biofeedback/self-hypnosis, accupuncture, changes in lifestyle, and other therapies -- in and/or out of pain management, which may be where you're headed. Even diet can have some effect.

Since each patient and their spine is different, it can take some time to find the right combination of therapies for you. Keeping a journal helps; the memory can cloud (especially under some of the meds we get put on) when it comes to recalling what helped and what didn't, and the details/impressions at the time.

I think what's most important is to keep trying, keep learning researching, and keep communicating with your support network -- doctors, family, friends, here, elsewhere.

Doc