sidestepper, Thank you for your understanding reply. Also, thank you very, very much for explaining some things to me. I got the result of the MRI. It seemed to minimize my problem. It said, "Mild degenerative changes at C5-6 and C6-7 without significant narrowing of the spianl canal." Also, it said, "Neural Foraminal narrowing is worst on the left at C5-6." That last bit corresponds with my left hand going numb for 2 months this past Spring. So I'm glad to see some correlation between what the test showed and my experience. I still have numbness in the 2 smallest fingers of my left hand.

But the constand "pulling" sensation is very fatigueing. It's like I've got a big heavy horseshoe hanging around my neck all day.

Also, if I look at myself in a mirror sideways (holding a second mirror) the shape of my neck in profile is considerably changed from a few years ago. I mean - it's like the mirror shows more about the abnormality than the MRI. The x-rays also seemed to show a little more cause for concern. They were done with me lying on my back.

Have you ever had imaging of your spine done while your stood up? I feel like this would show more of the problem.

It means a lot to me that you say that not every MRI is done the same. I'm very grateful that you've told me that you had an MRI that missed important pathology. I will not let any doctor make me think I'm just being neurotic by complaining that something is bothering me a lot. I can't thank you enough for that.

Thanks for explaining about the shots. I have been given a referral to a neurosurgeon to talk about steroid shots. (That's what the nurse practitioner said could possibly be done for me.) I always thought I would never even consider steroid shots. I'll see what they tell me. Thanks for the info about shots and patches.

I'm so glad you've had a reduction of pain from your surgery. It's always a risk to go through that. I do understand that your situation was far more advanced than mine. You've had so much guts about everything. I hope you get more improvement as you heal. Keep me posted.