@salsa
I am 100% in line with your suggestions.
I had cervical surgery to REPLACE C5/6, followed by lumbar surgery, less than 6 months later.
I had an X-LIFT FUSION on L3/4.
I had been taking shots for years and they were no longer helping for any period of time.
I had no quality of life!
Just as you said, the pain 24/7 wore me down!
I decided it was time to have surgery.
****On the side, I have no medical proof, but I think that the issues I am currently having with severe nerve damage came from waiting too long for surgery. As you know, the shots do not cure anything, they just hide the pain.
The cervical surgery was a breeze.
I was on pain meds just a couple of days and I felt like myself within a week.
Of course, I was far from being healed.
Now, the lumbar surgery is a very different surgery.
The pain was HORRENDOUS!!!!
For 3 months I suffered day in and day out.
Then one day, I woke up and the pain was gone!!!
I found out that when they work on the lumbar, muscles are moved and possibly cut, which causes the pain.
That happens in the thigh/groin area.
It has been 9 months since my surgery and I am PAIN FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)