Annie, I KNOW you're in an awful lot of pain -- but you have to remember that surgery is NOT going to relieve that pain. At least not much. Surgery is for mechanical problems. Surgery is NOT for pain. Most of the time after surgery you're left with the same pain or worse.

If the surgeon says you need surgery, then tell him you want to get other opinions. You're certainly allowed and encouraged to do this. A smart patient WILL get 2-3 opinions before deciding on what to do.

Hopefully, physical therapy will take care of this. Latest studies have shown that people who have had physical therapy have the SAME RESULTS as those who have had surgery!!! Now, that's quite interesting considering the amount of people who have surgery! If I knew back when I had surgery what i know now, I would NEVER have had surgery. I am not the same, I'm much worse off than I was before surgery, and i'm getting progressively worse all the time. I should NEVER have had surgery. Unfortunately I had TWO surgeries. What a dope I was. But there was no internet back then, so I couldn't properly research, etc.

I wish you the very best Annie. Let us know how your visit with the Neuro goes, ok? I'll be looking for your post. Take care and God bless. Hugs, Lee

I have been following the posts. I sure hope things work out for you with the appt. with the neruo surgeon. I also want to tell you that in my own case, my pain was addressed, and the surgery did work for me. I am three years out and have very little pain. I am C3-7. I had herniations and reversed the curve of my spine which is structual as Leesa remarked about. I wish you all the best. ginnie