@backincontrol I do like your name! That is actually the title of a book written by a spine surgeon (David Handsom) who became a spine surgery patient himself. I have that book and it is excellent. He also has a website by that name.

I am also a Mayo spine surgery patient. I know Dr. Bydon is excellent and doing important research at Mayo. I came to Mayo after 5 local spine surgeons missed the diagnosis because my cervical spinal cord compression was generating pain all over my body. I'm glad to know another Mayo spine patient. I had a C5/C6 fusion with no hardware and stayed in a neck brace until it began to fuse.

Good to meet you!
Jennifer