@nasbyevan Let me say "screw the neurologist!" haha. (I hope you take that with a modicum of humor). I was at the neurologist - the surgeon - who became the HEAD of the entire dept at UCSD for 17 years. He would have never given me surgery until I pooped on myself or had foot drop. I was on my way. I said, "okay, I'll go home and just take the opioids then".... to which he replied, "no, we'll send you to the Orthopedic surgeon!" I was disappointed as neurologists have 3 more years training than an orthopedic surgeon! I had had a MISERABLE 3 years getting refers to 3 other surgeons. I walked into the 4th surgeon who came in after I lost patience with the interns dumb questions (it had been 17 years of questions!) my prince charming said "you need immediate surgery." I said "do it." it was all in the Xray. He showed me how the vertebra were compressing at L3, 4, 5. I had ALL of what you had - every year for 17 years. By the time they rolled me into surgery, my nerves were crushed beyond regrowth. I HAD the EMGS and all the rest! I got my life back and I love my surgeon for giving me what I could get after his wonderful surgery. The neurologist would have never given me surgery. The orthopedic surgeon saw it entirely differently. See a GOOD orthopedic surgeon. The best you can research!