Well, for one thing, the hole where the nerves go thru to get to the spinal canal is severely narrowed, so it could be "pinching" on the nerves and that would cause severe pain!

You have some bone spurs too with some thickening ligaments that are causiing spinal cord compression, and that's NOT GOOD. This is the same from C4-5 thru C6-7. Plus you have disc space reductiion which means degenerative changes.

Keep in mind that you will NEVER be able to vacuum again, or do any raking, or mopping. It's the forward and backward motion that really does a number on spinal patients. Also you should NOT be doing any lifting, twisting, you should avoid stairs, no extensive reaching, stay OFF ladders, even step-ladders, if you use the bathtub and don't have safety bars, have someone in there with you to help you in and out; you CANNOT lift your Dad!!! Someone else is going to have to do that!!! There's probably a bunch of other restructions, but your doc will have to tell you.

Keep in mind that after surgery, the levels above and below the surgery site will fail -- that's because they have to take on more of the load after surgery. That's called the "domino effect." So somewhere down the road, you'll probably need more surgery unless you take the physical therapy route. Studies have shown that people who have surgery have the same results as those who have just physical therapy!!! Although in this particular case, the foramen needs to be opened. Otherwise, you'd probably do fine with therapy.

I wish you the very best. Please let us know how you come out. God bless and please take care! And keep postiing! Hugs, Lee