Thank you, liveforfish. Unfortunately, I don't have insurance. But your recommendation is a good one, and I can possibly be seen by other practitioners. I am covered by a county program at a state run hospital complex.

I appreciate hearing your story. I'm glad you had access to a really good neurosurgeon. With surgeons, bedside manner is really not of primary importance.

I did get a bad vibe, and I'm going to see what options I have. In a year, of so, I will be elegible for medicare. Then I can access the healthcare system that I would rather go to.

Good point about the nerve. His only remark was, "I don't know what's causing that." Like you say, it's got to be pressure or damage affecting a nerve. Right now, it's not distressing, but I wonder what it could develop into.

I live in a poor state. I don't think any doctor who is the best in any field lives here. I hope you got those herniated discs fixed and that you've resumed normal activity. My MRI and x-rays have been read as showing only mild degenerative damage. Trouble is that fear of setting off pain has me avoiding a lot of activity. Since I stopped doing all kinds of stuff, I don't have bad pain. It's just not a good way to live.