@asilyag I'm sorry you had a bad experience with surgeon #1, and I agree, he is not worth your time or your dime. I was rejected by 5 surgeons before I came to Mayo Rochester and I had surgery there. I was loosing the ability to control my arms, and I'm an artist, and was very worried. That was 2 years of seeking help only to be denied, so 6 months for you isn't going to be substantial. I wish I had come to Mayo first and not wasted my time. My diagnosis was confusing because of unusual symptoms and they just didn't understand. I had spinal cord compression in the central canal at C5/C6 and it caused pain all over my body. If you were in an emergency situation, that's different, and often there is a wait of 2-3 months for a consult with a good surgeon. If you want compassionate care and excellence in talent, going to Mayo is a good choice. I can't speak highly enough of my neurosurgeon, Jeremy Fogelson, and he was kind. In Ohio, you also have Cleveland Clinic and that is a good place too. You need other opinions, and with lower spine surgery several opinions are preferable because recovery is more difficult with bearing most of your body weight there and you need a good surgeon to get it right. I'm sure you know that being a nurse. Do you know what your spine diagnosis is now and what sub-specialty of a spine surgeon would be a good fit?

My story:
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/using-the-art-of-medicine-to-overcome-fear-of-surgery/