Your case is one of the most complex I've heard. A second and even third opinion can't hurt. I consulted my primary care doc, my pain managment doc/neurologist, my neurosurgeon, and 4 vascular surgeons before moving forward with surgery. I was even prepared to travel Colorado to see Dr. Brantigan who specializes in complex cases. You may want to do a phone consultation with him to maybe explore your options: http://www.drbrantigan.com/