One small issue if you do have the surgery, flying in an airplane is agony, there is no gentle way to describe it. I just got home from Wisconsin. The g forces from landing and takeoffs and the pressure changes always brings me to the brink. I take a bunch of pain meds so that I can sleep my way through it but I tell you that pain is special. Today it is like someone bashed my arms and legs with a ball bat. It will clear up in a day or so but I am eating pain pills like candy ... I don't say this to scare you. I just hate the docs saying wow you will be 100 % playing football again ... No .. there is some bad down sides to surgery on the spine, big time bad ... however, for me it was have the surgery or don't walk ... on the neck it was have the surgery or be paralysed ... so I had no choice. Spaw has my phone number, feel free to call anytime.   Spaw is an absolute expert on hearts and knows more than the docs about heart disease, me I am pretty good with backs since I sure have been there ...