Ed1944

A month from today I am scheduled for ACDF with Plating & Bone Stimulator on C6/C7. I had xrays and MRI for the diagnosis. Basically the report was multilevel cervical degeneration, one herniated disk, one bulging disk, a coule levels of nerve compression. The C6/C7 level was the worst and has been effecting the nerve to my left arm. Luckly I am right handed. I have lost quite a bid of my strength in that arm muscle. It started eight years ago with frequent sore necks but apparently age has caught up with me. Until recently it was just that; a sore neck most of the time. Then an aching of the left arm constantly. Not a severe pain, say a 5 or 6 with 10 being the highest. Went to the doctors had the tests, which showed a lot of degeneration of the joints and one herniated disk. The aching stopped as sudden as it started, then when I turned my head my hand would fall asleep (pins & needles). But now the symptoms are about were they were a couple months ago. The surgeon stated that if I wait to long the nerve being compressed will pass the point of being able to recover and surgery would not be an option as little gain would be noted. Obviously I do not want that to happen and would rather do it now and be certain no more damage can be done and hopefully the nerve will recover. But I am feeling guilty that I am going in for fairly major surgery without feeling that bad right now. I guess if the pain was still there I would not be writing this but I do not want to loose my chance to save the nerve to the tricep muscle. I trust the surgeon that he would not do all that the surgery consists of without good reason from the tests. I have done the non evasive treatments without any help. I am to the point of either calling it off and hope all stays as it is now or just get it done with. I know what will happen if I call it off; the neck pain will be back even worse. Has anyone else had this scenario? I am a male age 61 in otherwise good health.