when to panic ... boiled frog syndrome etc.

[rob_zzz]

Has anyone ever heard the story that if a frog is placed in in cold water, and then the heat is turned up very, very slowly, the frog doesn't notice and eventually boils alive? Well apparently this is an urban myth and they do actually jump out (and I don't have anything against frogs so I'm not about to try it myself lol!).

But for the people with cervical spine issues that don't involve significant pain and only "relatively mild" neurological symptoms and few signs - I'm wondering at what point should one get surgery - and also at what point does one 'panic' and rush into surgery asap.

Given that upper motor neuron damage doesn't reverse as easily as lower motor neuron damage (from what I've heard anyway), and so surgery is about halting progression rather than fixing things this is a challenging dillemma and not greatly assisted by the long timeframes it takes to get anything done with the medical system, from waiting times for specialist consultations to waiting times for scans and for surgery. (e.g. I am waiting to speak to my surgeon, I made an appointment three weeks ago, my appointment is in two weeks and thats pretty good going compared to how it can be).

I'm pretty sure I'm at a point where I need surgery - I'm wondering if I should be pressing for seeing my local fusion surgeon asap, or waiting until I can get an ADR scheduled overseas (if its deemed appropriate). I'm walking, I'm typing, but I'm not feeling particularly happy with whats happening in my arms and legs at the moment thats for sure. But maybe I'm a panicking hypochondriac - though after two years of high levels of stress about this situation I don't think so.

Rob.