@ray666 Hi Ray. To answer your question, I had a lot of PT and was working on thoracic outlet syndrome working on my neck and shoulders, and during that time my progress stopped advancing. Then it was discovered that I had spinal cord compression from a ruptured disc and bone spurs. No amount of PT can help you avoid surgery if that is the situation and the bone spurs keep growing and mine doubled in size in 9 months. If the compression is worsening, surgery is the logical choice. It all depends on your situation and if it is getting worse or remaining somewhat stable. PT will help realign the spine and try to preserve normal curvature and improve posture. That can ease pressure on the spine and it could be enough to relieve symptoms. What also happens is muscle spasms in muscles along the spine that change the curvature and/or moves the vertebrae which usually increases symptoms. PT can temporarily relieve that until the next spasm happens and those become more frequent as the spine condition worsens. Discs also collapse and the vertebrae get closer together, so the space between them where the nerves exit the spine get smaller. There may already be a problem there with bone spur growth or a herniated disc in that space, and it gets worse as the disc gets smaller. Failed PT for a certain period of time is also used to justify surgery for the insurance company. They review everything before they will pay for surgery, so this is a part of that. It is always worth trying PT to see if it helps or if it can delay surgery. My situation got bad enough that all I had to do was bend my neck forward and I sent an electric shock down my body. I didn't want to wait that long, but I had consulted a number of non-Mayo surgeons who would not help me. That is why I came to Mayo for my surgery which was a fusion at C5/C6. Your neurosurgeon is the best one to answer this question for you and how it applies to your spine issues.

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