Thanks for all the wonderful information. I did call my neurosurgeon today and asked if he could prescribe some type of pain meds as the pain was beginning to wear me down. I am happy that this did occur and I asked the nurse why he didn't mention this to me earlier. She said that the doctor never brings this up. I'll take this as a lesson learned. I am looking forward to thursday as this is when I take some baby steps toward some conservative non-surgical treatment.
I did manage to do two things since I last wrote to try alternative approaches to this issue. 1. I went and got a massage to loosen up all the neck / back muscles - this worked a little but only for a short time. and 2. I forgot about the inversion table that I had purchased for my back a few years ago. This seemed to also provide some temporary relief.
I have been considering going to my chiropractor to see what he can do - he did help me prevent a back surgery a few years ago.
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