had cortisone injections in the facet joints in my neck (c-spine) around christmas time. it did help. but a short term solution. when i asked today about long term / down the road solutions, the doctor said that i did have a pretty significant bone spur there and we might have to end up with surgery in the future. he suggested that i talk to one of their surgeons and get a surgeon's opinion.

my presumption is that since surgery is what surgeons do, they will recommend surgery.

i'd like to hold off on surgery as long as i can. i know it comes with its own set of issues. on the other hand, if it took away some of the muscle spasms and pain and disfunction that i experience, especially when i flare, what a relief that would be.

at this point i'm gathering information, so when the time comes, i'm ready to make the most informed decision possible.

i do find it interesting that no one ever thinks my issues are that bad, til they have a look and then are always amazed at just how bad things are.

anyway, any and all experiences, opinions, advice, is welcomed.

thanks in advance,

Sue,
I am in the same boat with you. I am getting 3 new M.R.I.s and possibly a 4th. I have 2 today and one tomorrow. Before I have anymore injections or Rhizotomies the Dr. want's new M.R.I.s. That, and I have a buldging disc at L4 & L5 and they think there is a lot more going on upwardly. My whole neck feel's bad so I am that I am glad to be getting the M.R.I.s The last one's I had showed some fusing so it will be interesting to see the comparison 5 year's later.

I have had two shoulder surgeries, both grew back abnormal and two back surgeries. The first was great. Just a simple laminectomy and back to work in 2 week's. I didn't know because they didn't tell me that it would eventual deteriorate in the future and I would need to have a fusion there. So now I had the fusion and it feel's great. The shoulder's always hurt and might need to be replaced so that is why they will do another M.R.I. after looking at the back and neck. I know wherever they do surgery, it turns arthritic but hey since we are already there!!!!

thanks for the feedback, greatly appreciated.

i know surgery comes with its own risks, and my husband thinks it should be a last resort type of thing. part of me thinks that. the other part thinks that instead of spending all my energy managing a problem, what if we could "just fix it" and live our lives without so much "managing".

let me know what decisions you make, how things go.

i think i will talk to several surgeons, and my other doctors, get lots of advice. for now, except for during my late summer flares, with the proper managing, i can live with it right now. just need to stop flaring right now.

i did tell my husband, if it gets to a point that its as bad all the time as it is now when i flare, then i'll have no choice. but for now, i'll talk to the surgeons.