I was diagnosed 6 years ago with congenital cervical spinal stenosis C4-C6. I saw 3 neurosurgeons and 2 orthopeodic surgeons. They all wanted to operate but I went with the neuro who wanted to "watch" the condition & see how it progressed. Have had MRI's each year and a myelogram last year. Hit my head 5 weeks ago, had BIG problems for about 3 weeks, now feeling ok. New MRI shows less than 2mm space from C3-C6 and Neuro wants to take immediate action. Here is my dilemma. He (and his orthopedic) want to take out all 3 disks, fuse the spine and install titanium rods (anterior approach). I had seen another Orthopoedic at Washington U here in St Louis and liked him a lot. He vehemently disagreed with this course of action, citing my age (52) and recommends I undergo a laminectomy or laminotomy. He said that if I were to follow the other course of action that I would eventually have the balance of the disks in my cervical spine fail and I would be dealing with pain meds the rest of my life AND future surgeries due to the compromising of the spine. He says that the only way to make space for the cord is with the laminectomy/otomy, becasue the disks aren't totally "bulging" into the spinal column, he says the problem is a congenitally narrow canal exacerbated by aging issues. I have been putting this off becasue of this difference of opinion and am frozen in what to do. can anyone offer me sound advice on what I need to do?? Also, for note, I do not tolerate pain medications well at all. Appreciate some sound advice that may help me decide which course of acxtion to undertake. Until then, I am sitting on my hands.