Dear @judyindisguise - First off, I love your screen name. Makes me smile.

I get your hesitancy to have spinal surgery. I had back pain for decades (I convinced my wife 30 years ago that mopping floors and any part of cleaning house was a trigger for me ...). I was also advised by a good friend (who happened to be head of neurosurgery at a major teaching hospital) to defer surgery as long as possible. And I did.

A few years ago my symptoms took a significant and fearful turn from "just" pain (which I could mostly manage with exercise, weight management, and some OTC pain meds) to sudden leg numbness. For me, my personal risk analysis shifted from (1) Avoid surgery at all costs to (2) Avoid experiencing permanent debilitating nerve damage at all costs.

I managed my risks from that point by (1) Seeking multiple opinions. (2) Having the diagnostic equipment be "the best" and most current. (3) Going to the best medical facility. (4) Selecting a neurosurgeon who was acknowledged to be in the top-perfomer category.

I had a cervical and a lumbar surgery (in two parts) in 2023. I can attest that not every spine surgery then requires some unexpected (and undesired) follow-up corrective surgery. I'm not suggesting the recovery process was easy - this is MAJOR surgery - but I am so much better off now (one year post) and I've hopefully put to rest concerns about permanent nerve damage landing me in a wheelchair.

Your case is unique as all spine situations are unique. Dig in. Research. Talk to others. Be your own best advocate. Most of all - maintain a positive attitude!!!