Well, no one pushes for surgery, but when they do it isn't for resolution of pain. It is for cord preservation and mechanical function and it seems as if both of those areas are being hindered. Listen to YOUR body. I would also suggest going out of network to get a second opinion. I was told I was good, it was in my head only to find out I had a broken neck for two years.... They can try injections as an alternative, medrol dose pack (oral steroids). PT is NOT going to improve this condition. In fact it could make it worse as there is possible erosion to the cord and nerve root from that bone spur. If it were soft tissue then PT would be a viable option. Give Naproxen a try if you have not already. I tried all of the anti inflammatory and I just had an amazing breakthrough in condition with mine with a drug called diclofenac sodium. The two popular names for it are Cataflam and Voltaren.

Gator, I am already in the process of obtaining an appointment with Cleveland Clinic, which is a five hour drive from me. It is just unreal to wait 7 weeks after having an mri before you can see the doctor for the results. I am not happy with my care here in my hometown, and the surgery was a nightmare! To make a long story short, my surgery was delayed almost five hours because he told me he had one "short" procedure to do before he did mine. My surgery wasn't finished until one a.m. in the morning and I was actually sent home from the recovery room less than seven hours after the surgery! I was never admitted to a room because they said they didn't have one! I almost developed pneumonia because I didn't receive a spirometer or any other things you normally receive when coming home from surgery. I have vowed that if I ever have to have surgery again, it won't be at the same medical facility. I agree with you totally about the physical therapy. I woke up one morning in April, and I had an ache under my left shoulder blade. I thought I had just slept wrong, but the pain worsened until I couldn't ignore it any more. I waited two months, and I saw my primary care doc. They did an x-ray, which of course, doesn't show much and sent me straight to physical therapy. My insurance company wouldn't pay for an mri until I had completed six weeks of therapy. Four weeks into therapy, the therapist, who performed terribly painful manipulations on my neck, ruptured another disc, the C6-7. I started out with the C4-5 ruptured but at the time I didn't know that. When she hurt me so badly that day, the pain immediately started down my arm and extended through my fingers. Then the tingling started and my thumb and two fingers went completely dead. The "electrical" shocks that went down my arm felt like I was sticking my fingers into an electric socket. So my insurance company gave in and let me have the mri, it showed exactly what I was dealing with, ruptured discs at level C4-5 and C6-7 that were in the process of damaging my spinal cord. I had to wait a month to get in with a neurosurgeon and I didn't know how much longer I could live with the horrific pain. He immediately told me there was no alternative, that nothing could be done except the surgery. And so it was done and again I am suffering pretty badly. As far as the Naproxen, it used to be my drug of choice because I have severe osteoarthritis in both knees and my feet. However, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease about 7 years ago and I am unable to take any NSAIDS. I can only take narcotic pain meds at this time. I cannot believe you actually had a broken neck for two years! But actually, I can. It seems as if a lot of people in the medical profession just don't give a darn. I've found you have to be really pro-active in order to get anything done. I really appreciate your taking the time to answer my posts. I should hear back from CC tomorrow about my appointment, which they said they would schedule in three to five days after I faxed them my medical reports. In the town I live in, it takes 2 or 3 months or longer to get in to see a neurosurgeon. It's just down right ridiculous!