[Katie]

Exactly! When I asked a similar question here before, I got the same response about asking a doctor instead of an internet forum. My answer was that was there were so many people here with similar past experiences, and no huge egos (usually) that their answers would be more well rounded than many surgeons.

My experience with surgeons has been less than helpful, with one telling me I had carpal tunnel, without doing any neurological testing and ignoring the diagnosis of some of the world's best, down to others telling me that I wasn't a car and couldn't go around getting spare parts put in. That even hip replacements were only 'somewhat successful'. I have yet to come across a local doctor who can give me a reliable diagnosis, but have had excellent feedback from members of this and other forums.

Not everyone can travel to doctors they can trust, especially to get multiple opinions. But the collective knowledge here is amazing. He's not asking for them to do surgery, but to provide some intelligent feedback based on experience.

"the guidance you need must come from..... along with your own gut instinct based on personal knowledge from research" and "ASK QUESTIONS" I believe he is actually following your advice, by asking questions and for personal knowledge from others who have been there, done that.

JKDE, having said all that, all I can offer is my experience. My cervical levels are not generating pain in my arms and hands either, just occasionally in my neck . However, my MRIs show that my spinal cord is severely compressed by the herniated discs along with the ligaments. My hands and arms have started to go numb when I work in a certain position, but there is no pain and never has been. Two top doctors have told me that I am at great risk of quadriplegia from this and that I need surgery urgently, but I have been unable to successfully work though an Insurance appeal yet and cannot afford a five level surgery on my own. (I need three levels in my lumbar treated as well)

Good luck with this, and I hope others chime in. I also hope that you can find a surgeon that you can trust to give you a solid diagnosis, but I know how difficult that is.