janice - In many ways, in my opinion, this all comes down to liability issues. A surgeon must have a concrete feeling that an operation will improve the standard of the health and life for the patient. And unless he/she feels that can be accomplished with minimum risk, little chances of a procedure being performed. In my case, I walk into the office of a neurosurgeon, no assistance, no walker and yes in pain. If a procedure is performed and after that, I'm worse off, then what. Two top neurosurgeons in my area told me the same thing.