I'm so sorry for what you're going through!

I had foraminal stenosis to the left as well. I was in the worst pain I could imagine for four months until I had surgery. I can't imagine it continuing without a chance of relief. My pain was so severe that the doctors said I was a walking stroke or heart attack due to the fact that the pain was affecting b/p and heart rate so much.

Please go for another opinion. I promise you don't have to live in that kind of pain. My surgery saved me for sure. It was such an easy surgery for me and the pain afterward was a one compared to before...and that includes immediately following surgery!

There are some risks to having cervical surgery, some my NS didn't mention, so keep close with questions, ask NS lots of questions and read up online!

As for the contact with the cord, I would have a second opinion on that as well.

Good luck and please check in to let us know!