for your advice, waterfield.. Yes, I'm aware that spine surgery risks are great and there's no guarantee of feeling any better and actually feeling worse .. I've had to weigh those risks for several months, now, and I don't really feel like I have a choice anymore.. I've hurt so bad for so long and quality of life is so bad right now I don't know what else to do.. I mean, I work all day, go home and sit on the couch all night with ice on my neck.. We go to eat and to movies and that's it - that's all I can really do..

I've had entire dive trips since 1991 wrecked by this, and at best, may feel ok half the trip.. I've had this same headache for 34 years that is normally a 5 on a 10 scale, but goes 10 on 10 scale 3-4 days of every week.. I just cancelled my biggest show of the year that I've done for 13-14 years... It just goes on and on..

Yeah, like I said, I need honest answers from someone who doesn't have an iron in the fire.. I realize there are differing opinions between doctors, but I never thought there would be as radical a difference as I heard yesterday.. It felt like a blow off more than anything and I've had a TON of those over the years.. what bothers me is I've read reviews on the guy I went to that said the same thing.. He's a great spine surgeon, but if pain is your chief complaint (my left hand is going numb as well) he doesn't want to deal with it..

Thank you for the MD Anderson thought.. I will try to contact them after work today and see what they say - provided they are still open when I get home.. that's the biggest drawback to not having a cell phone - trying to contact places during business hours..

Thanks again...

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Friendship is like peeing your pants.. Everybody can see it, but only you can feel the warmth..