You are doing terrific for a person in your spinal condition. It looks like movement including exercise helps.

No surgery? This is good news. I know the surgeon will recommend surgery. I am seeing this well recognized neurosurgeon that even successfully uses stem cell treatments on his patients. He had taken people that could not walk much at all due to bad surgery by bad surgeons and made them significantly better. He is that good.

I read the radiologists report on my MRI and neck x-ray. Even though what the neurologist told me is basically true, he did not tell me the whole story. My spinal chord is not being compressed yet, probably the outer sheath just being irritated. It appears that a bone spur is primarily causing the stenosis. I also have a degenerative disc condition, and also arthritis in at least one of the joints. I think any one of these things can explain pain. None of this was told to me by the doctor.

“If symptoms result and a diagnosis is made, treatment of bone spurs usually begins with doctor-recommended treatments like rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, hot and cold compression therapy, massage and physical therapy.”

“Treatment of cervical bone spurs is usually first attempted with a course of conservative approaches, although the surgical removal of the problematic bone spur is occasionally considered if symptoms do not improve, or become worse.” (My own highlited text)

I do not see anywhere where surgery is necessary, or even if it is, the replacement of the entire vertibra is warranted. This is potentially really good news. I feel better now. Still I will get a second opinion. I think I will have some dessert.