@cudabinacontenda I agree. Surgery is a big step and will have a long recovery. PT can help a lot. I went 2 years with my symptoms before surgery. I would have had surgery sooner if possible, but I was turned down by 5 surgeons who were confused about my case. It all turned out OK. The physical therapist was doing myofascial release which helped me move better and also doing neurostimulation at the nerve roots to stop the pain signals. I was being very careful and even used bead filled neck wraps to try to protect my neck and limit movement to prevent pain. It is different for everyone. With your prior surgical experience you should know when the time is right. Your plan of annual imaging is good to assess changes in your condition. Were your past recoveries from spine surgery difficult?